Lizard and Iguana Control: Cost and What Actually Works
Iguana removal costs $200 to $500 a visit. Geckos around the porch light are usually an insect problem, and fixing that is cheaper than removing lizards.
Iguana removal typically costs $200 to $500 per visit, and populations rebound quickly without habitat changes. Small house lizards and geckos are rarely a pest problem in themselves: they gather around porch lights at night to hunt cockroaches and moths. If you have a lot of lizards, you usually have a lot of insects, and fixing that is cheaper than removing lizards.
Lizard control is really two different jobs. Large invasive iguanas are a wildlife problem. Small lizards and geckos are an insect problem wearing a disguise.
Two different problems
| Green iguanas | House lizards and geckos | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it is an issue | South Florida in particular | Warm southern states generally |
| Size | Adults can reach 4 to 6 feet | A few inches |
| Damage | Burrowing, landscaping, seawalls, droppings | Droppings near lights; otherwise minimal |
| Who handles it | Wildlife removal specialists | General pest control addressing insects |
| Typical cost | $200 to $500 per visit | Part of general pest service |
| Root cause | Habitat and food plants | Insects attracted to light and harbourage |
Contractor-reported pricing compiled in 2026. Florida pest control generally costs $100 to $700 per treatment depending on scope.
Why geckos around the porch are a signal
House geckos hunt at night, and outdoor lights draw the moths and insects they eat. A wall of geckos around the porch light is a feeding station. Removing the lizards leaves the insects, and new lizards arrive to eat them.
- Change exterior lighting to fittings that attract fewer insects, or reduce how long lights stay on.
- Treat the insect pressure, particularly cockroaches and moths around entry points. See roach treatment costs.
- Seal gaps around doors, windows and utility penetrations so lizards following insects do not come indoors. See pest-proofing your home.
- Reduce harbourage such as clutter and dense planting against walls.
Iguanas: a wildlife problem
Green iguanas are an invasive species that has become a major nuisance in parts of South Florida, with adults reaching 4 to 6 feet. The damage comes from burrowing near foundations and seawalls, eating landscaping, and droppings on docks, pools and patios.
Removal at $200 to $500 per visit reduces the population on your property, but iguanas return quickly from surrounding areas unless the habitat changes. Rules on handling and removal of reptiles are set by state wildlife authorities and differ between native and nonnative species, so this is work for a licensed wildlife removal operator rather than a DIY project. Our guide to wildlife removal costs covers how wildlife work differs from pest control.
Reducing iguana pressure
- Remove preferred food plants or protect them, since landscaping is a major draw.
- Fill burrows once confirmed empty, and protect seawall and foundation edges.
- Remove basking spots such as rock piles near water where practical.
- Coordinate with neighbours, because a single treated property is quickly recolonised.
- Use a licensed operator for removal, and confirm current state rules.
Frequently asked questions
How much does iguana removal cost?
Typically $200 to $500 per visit from a wildlife removal operator. Populations rebound quickly from surrounding properties, so ongoing visits or habitat changes, including removing food plants and basking areas and filling empty burrows, are usually needed to keep numbers down.
How do I get rid of lizards around my house?
For small lizards and geckos, reduce what attracts them: insects. Change outdoor lighting to fittings that draw fewer insects, treat cockroach and moth pressure near entry points, and seal gaps around doors and windows. Removing lizards without addressing the insects brings new lizards back.
Are geckos harmful to have around the house?
Small house geckos are generally a nuisance rather than a damaging pest. They hunt insects such as cockroaches and moths, often around lights at night. Heavy gecko activity is usually a sign of insect pressure worth addressing, and droppings near lights are the main complaint.
Does pest control get rid of lizards?
General pest control addresses the insects lizards feed on, which reduces lizard activity indirectly. Large invasive iguanas are wildlife work and are handled by licensed wildlife removal operators under state wildlife rules rather than by standard pest treatment.
Sources
- Contractor-reported iguana removal and Florida pest control pricing compiled by wildlife control and pest control cost guides, 2026.