Controlled Alien Species for Rescue & Holding Facilities

For the purposes of the Controlled Alien Species Regulation, the B.C. Government considers an animal rescue or holding centre to be an organization that is permitted to temporarily take in seized, abandoned or surrendered controlled alien species located in B.C. while attempting to find appropriate homes for them. 

Exotic animals are known as controlled alien species in B.C.

Apply for a Permit

The Rescue Centre Possession Permit is intended for use by rescue or holding centres and facilities who wish to temporarily possess or transport prohibited controlled alien species within B.C.

A rescue centre is an organization whose mandate is to take in and find homes for unwanted, seized, abandoned or surrendered Schedule 1 controlled animal species individuals, for a period up to nine months.

Fill out the following application to request a Rescue Centre Possession Permit for possession of a prohibited controlled alien species by an animal rescue or holding centre:

• Controlled Alien Species Rescue Centre Permit Application (PDF, 292KB)

Submission

Applicants have three options for submitting their permit applications:

1. Mail your permit application to

ATTN: Controlled Alien Species Permit
Wildlife Branch
PO Box 9391 STN PROV GOVT
Victoria, BC 
V8W 9M8

2. Email your application to ControlledAlienSpecies@gov.bc.ca

There are currently no fees for controlled alien species permits in B.C.

Please allow a minimum of 60 business days for your application to be reviewed and processed.

Rules for Possession

Once a Rescue Centre Possession Permit has been granted, rescue centres and holding centres will be able to:

• Temporarily possess controlled alien species that were seized, abandoned or surrendered in B.C. as specified in the Rescue Centre Possession Permit
• Ship and transport controlled alien species, accompanied with their permit

Rescue centres and holding centres will be prohibited from:

• Permanently possessing a controlled alien species
• Breeding controlled alien species
• Releasing controlled alien species
• Breaching a condition of their controlled alien species permit
• Transferring controlled alien species into B.C.

The penalties associated with breeding or releasing for a first time offender are one of the following:

• Fines ranging from $2,500 to a maximum of $250,000
• A term of imprisonment not exceeding two years
• Both a fine and a sentence

The penalties for possession without a permit for a first time offender are one of the following:

• Fines up to a maximum of $100,000
• A term of imprisonment of one year
• Both a fine and a sentence