Land rules
Metal detecting in Oregon
Oregon's shore and state park rules point to one list. On the ocean shore, metal detecting needs no written permit in the areas on the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department's "Detecting Allowed" list. In state parks, detecting off that list needs written permission from the park manager or a designated employee.
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What the texts say
One line per rule: the land it covers, what it says, and the text it comes from, with the date we read it.
| Land | Rule | Text |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon ocean shore state recreation area Allowed with limits | Metal detecting needs no written permit in the areas on OPRD’s "Detecting Allowed" list. | OAR 736-021-0090(11) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on law.cornell.edu |
| Oregon ocean shore properties Permission required | Anywhere not on the "Detecting Allowed" list, a special use permit or the park manager’s written permission is required. | OAR 736-021-0100(4)(c) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on law.cornell.edu |
| Oregon ocean shore state recreation area Digging or removal prohibited | No one may dig up or remove sand, soil, rock, historical or fossil materials without the department's written permission. Sections 3 and 4 make exceptions for tribal members and small personal-use amounts. Disturbing an archaeological site needs a permit. | OAR 736-021-0090(1), (2)(b), (3) and (4) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on law.cornell.edu |
| Oregon ocean shore, western snowy plover occupied sites Local rules | All recreation is restricted within the demarked dry sand areas from March 15 to September 15. The department may end the restrictions on July 15 if nesting stops. | OAR 736-021-0090(15)(a)(A) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 17, 2026 on law.cornell.edu |
| Oregon state parks Permission required | At any park property, or part of one, not on the "Detecting Allowed" list, using a metal detector needs written permission. It comes from the park manager or a designated employee. | OAR 736-010-0040(11)(d) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 17, 2026 on law.cornell.edu |
| Oregon state parks Digging or removal prohibited | Digging up or removing sand, soil, rock, historical or fossil materials needs written permission from a designated park employee. Excavating or removing archaeological or historical objects needs the director's authorization. | OAR 736-010-0055(2) and (3)(a) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 17, 2026 on law.cornell.edu |
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What the ocean shore rules say
Two Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) decide on the shore. OAR 736-021-0090(11) points to a list on the department's (OPRD) website. In the areas on that "Detecting Allowed" list, no written permit is needed.
OAR 736-021-0100(4)(c) covers shore properties not on the list. Using a detector there needs a special use permit or the park manager's written permission. Read the current list on the OPRD website before each trip.
Plover sites add a season. In western snowy plover occupied sites, all recreation is restricted within the demarked dry sand areas from March 15 to September 15.
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State parks inland
State parks follow OAR 736-010, which points to the same list. At any park property, or part of one, not on the "Detecting Allowed" list, using a metal detector needs written permission. It comes from the park manager or a designated employee.
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Digging and historical materials
On the shore, no one may dig up or remove sand, soil, rock, historical or fossil materials without the department's approval in writing. Exceptions cover tribal members and small personal-use amounts. Disturbing an archaeological site needs a permit.
State parks set the same limit. Digging up or removing sand, soil, rock, historical or fossil materials needs written permission from a designated park employee. The list says where you may use a detector; the digging rules decide whether you may dig.
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Federal land in the state
Federal land follows federal rules. On BLM land, reasonable amounts of rocks and mineral specimens may be collected for noncommercial purposes. Developed recreation sites and areas with a posted ban are excluded. Mechanical collecting devices are barred, except metal detectors. Unless otherwise authorized, willfully disturbing or removing any archaeological or historic resource is prohibited.
In national forests, digging in, disturbing or removing any prehistoric, historic or archaeological resource is prohibited. National Park Service areas prohibit possessing or using a metal detector, with a few exceptions. Under ARPA, an item is an archaeological resource only if it is at least 100 years old. Removing one needs a permit or a listed exemption.
| Land | Rule | Text |
|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Land Management public lands Allowed with limits | Reasonable amounts of rocks, mineral specimens and semiprecious gemstones may be collected for noncommercial purposes. This does not apply on developed recreation sites and areas, or where a posted rule prohibits it. Explosive, motorized or mechanical devices may not be used to collect them, except metal detectors. | 43 CFR 8365.1-5(a)(3) and (b) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on ecfr.gov |
| Bureau of Land Management public lands Digging or removal prohibited | Unless otherwise authorized, willfully defacing, disturbing, removing or destroying any personal property, structure, or scientific, cultural, archaeological or historic resource is prohibited. | 43 CFR 8365.1-5(a)(1) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on ecfr.gov |
| National Forest System lands Digging or removal prohibited | Digging in, disturbing or removing any prehistoric, historic or archaeological resource is prohibited. | 36 CFR 261.9(g) and (h) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on ecfr.gov |
| National Park Service areas (national parks, seashores, and monuments the NPS manages) Prohibited | Except as the chapter provides otherwise, possessing or using a metal detector is prohibited. Exceptions include a device broken down and stored or packed to prevent its use, and one used for authorized scientific, mining or administrative work. | 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on ecfr.gov |
| Federal public lands and Indian lands Digging or removal prohibited | Excavating, removing, damaging or defacing an archaeological resource, or trying to, is prohibited without a permit or a listed exemption. A knowing violation is a federal crime. | 16 U.S.C. 470ee(a) and (d) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on law.cornell.edu |
| Federal public lands and Indian lands Definition | An item is an archaeological resource under ARPA only if it is at least 100 years old. | 16 U.S.C. 470bb(1); 43 CFR 7.3(a) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on law.cornell.edu |
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What stays with the land manager
The shore and state park rules stop at state park land. City and county parks and private land follow their own rules. Get the answer in writing.
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Questions
Answered from the texts on this page, read Oct. 16, 2026 to Oct. 17, 2026.
The ocean shore rule says no written permit is needed in the areas on OPRD's "Detecting Allowed" list. On shore properties not on the list, a special use permit or the park manager's written permission is required.
The rule says no one may dig up or remove sand, soil, rock, historical or fossil materials without the department's approval in writing. Its exceptions cover tribal members and small personal-use amounts, so ask OPRD before you dig.
OAR 736-010-0040 says detecting at a park property not on the "Detecting Allowed" list needs written permission from the park manager or a designated employee.
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