You can keep a sloth as a pet in Florida, but you need a Class III personal pet permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) before the animal comes home with you. The permit itself is free. The sloth, its enclosure, its food, and the decades of care ahead of you are not.1Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Application and Information
Why Sloths Fall Under Class III
Florida sorts captive wildlife into three classes. Class I covers the most dangerous species and cannot be kept as personal pets. Class II requires a paid permit with strict conditions. Class III is the catch-all for every non-domesticated species not named in the first two.2Legal Information Institute. Florida Administrative Code 68A-6.002 – Classes of Captive Wildlife Sloths aren’t listed in Class I or II, so they default into Class III.
Class III is lighter regulation, not no regulation. You still need the FWC-issued permit before you legally possess the animal, and the application asks for documentation that you can house and feed it properly.1Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Application and Information
What the Personal Pet Permit Lets You Do
The permit ties the sloth to a specific address. You can take it to the vet and travel with it, but the permit does not authorize public exhibition. Bringing a sloth to a school, park, farmers’ market, or paid meet-and-greet is a different permitting track with its own requirements.3Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Wildlife as a Personal Pet
The permit runs for two years and must be renewed before it expires. You also need to notify the FWC if you move, transfer the animal, or if it dies or escapes.3Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Wildlife as a Personal Pet
How to Apply
Applications go through the FWC’s online portal, Go Outdoors Florida. Along with the standard application you file a personal pet questionnaire, and every captive wildlife permit holder must submit a Critical Incident and Disaster Plan covering escape and hurricane scenarios.3Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Wildlife as a Personal Pet4Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. FWC Reminds Captive Wildlife Facilities, Owners, Operators to Prepare
Processing takes roughly four to six weeks for a complete application. Missing documents are the main reason applications get bounced back.5Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Captive Wildlife Frequently Asked Questions
One rumor worth killing: the 1,000-hour hands-on experience requirement that gets quoted online applies to Class I, Class II, and a handful of specific Class III primates (capuchin, spider, and woolly monkeys). Sloths aren’t on that list.6Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Class III Wildlife The pre-issuance cage inspection the FWC runs for higher-risk species also doesn’t apply to standard Class III animals.7Florida Administrative Code. 68A-6.004 – Possession of Class I, II, and III Wildlife Permit Application Criteria
Cage and Habitat Requirements
Florida’s administrative code sets minimum enclosure dimensions. For one or two sloths, the cage must be at least 4 feet wide, 6 feet long, and 8 feet tall. Each additional sloth adds 25 percent to the cage’s length.8Legal Information Institute. Florida Administrative Code 68A-6.0128 – Standard Caging Requirements for Armadillos, Pangolins, Anteaters, and Sloths
Dimensions alone aren’t enough. The enclosure needs horizontal climbing apparatus big enough for every sloth inside to use at once, perching areas, and at least one nest box or shelter per animal. Rules also require a safe physical-stimulation device, such as natural or artificial tree limbs, suited to the species.8Legal Information Institute. Florida Administrative Code 68A-6.0128 – Standard Caging Requirements for Armadillos, Pangolins, Anteaters, and Sloths
Sloths are tropical animals. They need warm, humid conditions year-round, which in central or northern Florida means climate-controlled indoor space or a heated outdoor enclosure through the cooler months.
Feeding Is the Hard Part
Sloth digestion is nothing like a dog’s. They process food slowly, tolerate only limited protein and sugar, and need a high-fiber, low-starch diet built around specialized leaf-eater or browse biscuits. A balanced daily intake runs about 10 percent of body weight.9USDA APHIS. Feeding Two-Toed Sloths
Alongside the biscuits, the diet includes fresh browse (small branches with leaves and flowers from plants like hibiscus or mulberry), non-leafy vegetables such as sweet potato and zucchini, leafy greens like romaine and kale, and moderate amounts of fruit. Hard-boiled eggs can supplement protein occasionally. Seeds must be removed from anything you feed, since they can cause digestive blockages.9USDA APHIS. Feeding Two-Toed Sloths
Sourcing the browse alone takes real work, especially outside subtropical areas with year-round foliage. This isn’t a grocery-store pet.
Cost and Lifespan
A captive-bred sloth usually runs $2,000 to $5,000 at purchase, with two-toed sloths typically pricier than three-toed. Purchase price is the smallest line item. You’re also paying for an enclosure that meets FWC size and enrichment standards, year-round specialized food, climate control, and vet care from an exotic animal specialist. Experienced exotic vets are hard to find even in Florida, and their visits cost well above routine dog or cat care.
Two-toed sloths, the species most common in the pet trade, can live 40 to 50 years in captivity. The commitment can outlast a mortgage.
Two-Toed Versus Three-Toed
Almost every sloth sold as a pet in the United States is a two-toed sloth (genus Choloepus). Three-toed sloths are extremely difficult to keep alive in captivity, with more restrictive diets and poor tolerance for captive stress. Two of the six wild sloth species carry conservation designations, and the pygmy three-toed sloth is listed as critically endangered. A seller offering a three-toed sloth should raise immediate questions about both legality and the animal’s survival.
Penalties for Skipping the Permit
Because the permit is free, keeping a sloth without one is a Level One violation. A first offense carries a $50 civil penalty, a repeat jumps to $250, and a judge in county court can impose up to $500.10The 2025 Florida Statutes. Florida Statutes 379.4015 – Nonnative and Captive Wildlife Penalties Refusing to sign the citation or ignoring the fine for 30 days escalates it to a second-degree misdemeanor, with up to 60 days in jail and another $500 fine.11The 2025 Florida Statutes. Florida Statutes 775.083 – Fines The FWC can also impose a separate civil penalty of up to $5,000 per animal for criminal violations of captive wildlife rules, capped at $10,000 per animal across related violations.
Federal Rules That May Also Apply
The state permit covers Florida law, but federal rules can enter the picture too. The Animal Welfare Act requires licensing for anyone who sells or publicly exhibits animals. Buying a sloth strictly for personal enjoyment, with no resale or exhibition, is generally exempt. The exemption covers anyone who “buys animals solely for his or her own use or enjoyment and does not sell or exhibit animals.”12USDA APHIS. Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations The seller you buy from, however, does need to be a properly licensed dealer.
If the sloth is imported, additional permitting through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may apply, particularly under CITES. And if the specific species carries an endangered or threatened listing, the Endangered Species Act bars private pet ownership outright; the FWS does not issue permits to keep listed species as pets.13U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Endangered Species Permits Frequently Asked Questions For the two-toed sloths typically sold domestically this isn’t usually a concern, but it’s one more reason to confirm exactly what species you’re buying.