Land rules
Metal detecting in state parks
Each state sets its own park rule. The texts we read set four kinds of limits: a ban, a permit, designated areas and rules on finds. In Texas, for example, using a detector in a state park is an offense unless a permit authorizes it.
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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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky state parks Prohibited | Except for park personnel, law enforcement and utilities, using a metal detector is prohibited in all Kentucky state parks. | 304 KAR 1:050, Sections 1 and 2 (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on apps.legislature.ky.gov |
| North Carolina state parks Prohibited | Metal detectors are not allowed in any state park area. The one exception is finding lost personal property, with a Special Use Permit from the park superintendent or a designee. | NC DEQ, Metal Detectors page (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on deq.nc.gov |
| Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, California Prohibited | Possessing or using a metal detector is prohibited. The listed exemptions are carrying one unused in a vehicle on a public road and a permit under 43 CFR 423.50. The district superintendent can also grant a written exception. | Order 690-006-2022 (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on parks.ca.gov |
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Where the rule starts from a ban
Kentucky and North Carolina ban detectors in all their state parks and list the only exceptions. Kentucky allows them only for park personnel, law enforcement and utilities. North Carolina allows them only to find lost personal property, with a Special Use Permit.
In California, the ban we read is local. Folsom Lake State Recreation Area prohibits possessing or using a detector, with a few listed exceptions. It is one district order, not a statewide rule.
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Permits and designated areas
Three texts start from a permit. Texas requires one for any use of a detector in its parks. In Virginia state parks, a special use permit from the park manager is required, and only on designated manmade beaches. On Long Island, detecting needs a permit and stays within designated areas of listed parks.
Three others name the places. Ohio opens sand beaches, and mowed areas except mowed areas of golf courses, rental facilities and campgrounds. Washington limits detecting to posted areas of approved parks and approved campsites, during posted daylight hours, and you must register with park staff first. On the Oregon ocean shore, areas on OPRD's "Detecting Allowed" list need no written permit.
Outside those places, the manager decides. Ohio needs the area manager's written permission anywhere else, and Oregon needs a special use permit or written permission off its list.
| Land | Rule | Text |
|---|---|---|
| Texas state parks Prohibited without a permit | Operating or using a metal detector in a state park is an offense unless a permit authorizes it. | 31 TAC 59.134(i) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on law.cornell.edu |
| Ohio state parks (Division of Parks and Watercraft) Allowed with limits | Metal detecting is allowed on sand beaches and mowed areas, except mowed areas of golf courses, rental facilities and campgrounds. | OAC 1501:46-7-08 (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on law.cornell.edu |
| Virginia state parks Permit required | Metal detectors may be used only on designated manmade beaches, and only with a DCR special use permit obtained from the park's manager. | Virginia State Parks rule, quoted by DHR (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 17, 2026 on dhr.virginia.gov |
| Washington state parks Allowed with limits | Metal detecting is allowed only in posted areas of approved state parks and in approved campsites, during posted open daylight hours. Approved campsites are the user's own or unoccupied ones. | WAC 352-32-235(1)-(2) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 17, 2026 on app.leg.wa.gov |
| New York, Long Island state parks Permit required | Metal detecting is allowed by permit only, in designated areas of listed parks. Jones Beach, Sunken Meadow, Hither Hills, Montauk Point, Napeague, Orient Beach, Valley Stream and Wildwood are among them. | NYS Parks, Long Island Region Metal Detecting Permit Guide (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on parks.ny.gov |
| 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 |
| Ohio state parks Permission required | Detecting anywhere else needs written permission from the area manager. | OAC 1501:46-7-08 (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on law.cornell.edu |
| Washington state parks Registration required | You must register with park staff at the park before detecting. | WAC 352-32-235(3) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on app.leg.wa.gov |
| 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 |
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What you dig and what you keep
Even where detecting is allowed, finds have rules. California's park rule bars removing, injuring or destroying any object of archaeological or historical interest or value. Florida's park rule bars digging, harmfully disturbing or removing park property and materials, from soil and sand to artifacts.
In Washington, anything that appears historical or archaeological stays where it was found. It must be reported to park staff at once. On Long Island, items worth more than $20 and any archaeological artifact go to Park Police.
Of the 12 states we researched, we found no official text we could read for Michigan and Oklahoma. The texts here cover state parks only, not city or county parks. Our rules overview covers federal land.
| Land | Rule | Text |
|---|---|---|
| California state park system Removing historic finds prohibited | No one may remove, injure or destroy any object of archaeological or historical interest or value. | 14 CCR 4308 (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on law.cornell.edu |
| Florida state parks Digging or removal prohibited | No one may destroy, injure, move, dig, harmfully disturb or remove listed items from a park area. The list covers buildings, structures, historic ruins, soil, sand, gravel, rocks, minerals, artifacts and other materials. | Fla. Admin. Code R. 62D-2.013 (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on law.cornell.edu |
| Washington state parks Removing historic finds prohibited | Anything that is or appears to be of historical or archaeological significance stays where it was found. It must be reported to park staff at once, and the area of the find is then closed. | WAC 352-32-235(6)(b) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on app.leg.wa.gov |
| New York, Long Island state parks Finds turned in | Items worth more than $20 and any archaeological artifact go to Park Police. | NYS Parks, Long Island Region Metal Detecting Permit Guide (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on parks.ny.gov |
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Questions
Answered from the texts on this page, read Oct. 16, 2026.
It depends on the state, and the texts differ in kind. Kentucky prohibits it in all state parks, with listed exceptions, while Ohio opens sand beaches and mowed areas, with exceptions. Ask the park office before you search.
Some of the texts we read require one. Texas makes detector use in its state parks an offense unless a permit authorizes it. Virginia requires a special use permit for its designated beaches.
The texts we read limit it. Florida's park rule bars removing park property, artifacts and other materials from a park area, and California bars removing objects of archaeological or historical interest.
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