{ "name": "Permitted Pursuits verdict dataset", "description": "Whether each outdoor hobby is allowed, needs a permit, is prohibited or is unclear at specific US places, with conditions, governing rules, primary sources and the date each was last checked.", "documentation": "https://permittedpursuits.com/data", "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "attribution": "Permitted Pursuits (https://permittedpursuits.com)", "disclaimer": "Reference summaries, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the managing agency.", "last_verified": "2026-10-12", "count": 159, "fields": { "url": "The Site page this row comes from. Cite the page, not the row.", "hobby": "Hobby slug (metal-detecting, foraging, rockhounding, fossil-hunting, gold-panning, beachcombing, magnet-fishing).", "hobby_name": "Hobby display name.", "state": "US state slug.", "state_name": "US state name.", "place": "The specific place the verdict applies to.", "county": "County, where the page records one.", "land_type": "Kind of land (public-beach, state-park, blm-land, national-forest…).", "verdict": "allowed, permit-required, prohibited or unclear — for this hobby at this place only.", "permit_required": "Whether a permit, licence or written authorization is needed.", "summary": "The verdict in one sentence, as shown at the top of the page.", "conditions": "Key conditions (zones, limits, seasons, tools). In the CSV, separated by \" | \".", "governing_rules": "Agencies and rules that set the verdict (\"Who Sets the Rules Here\"). CSV: \" | \".", "required_permits": "Permits required, with cost where known. CSV: \" | \".", "sources": "Primary-source URLs the page was checked against. CSV: \" | \".", "last_verified": "Date (YYYY-MM-DD) the rules were last checked against the sources.", "last_updated": "Date the page was last edited.", "lat": "Latitude of the place (approximate centre).", "lng": "Longitude of the place (approximate centre).", "corrections": "Links to published corrections affecting this page. CSV: \" | \"." }, "rows": [ { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/beachcombing/california/glass-beach-fort-bragg", "hobby": "beachcombing", "hobby_name": "Sea Glass & Beachcombing", "state": "california", "state_name": "California", "place": "Glass Beach", "county": "Mendocino", "land_type": "state-park", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Glass Beach is a former city dump turned tourist landmark — and taking the sea glass home is technically prohibited under California's state park rockhounding rule, even though enforcement is close to nonexistent. Fifty-plus years of visitors pocketing pieces is also why the colorful glass is visibly running out.", "conditions": [ "Removing sea glass, rocks, or any natural material from Glass Beach is prohibited under California's state park rockhounding rule (14 CCR § 4611) — the Sonoma-Mendocino Coast District superintendent has publicly stated the glass 'should not be removed' and doing so 'could' result in a citation", "Enforcement is minimal in practice — no rangers are posted to check pockets — but the prohibition is the actual rule, not a myth, regardless of what a local business owner or fellow visitor might tell you", "Two informally named nearby sites, 'Glass Beach 2' and 'Glass Beach 3,' sit near or possibly outside the MacKerricher State Park boundary where collecting may not be restricted, but the exact boundary line isn't clearly marked or officially published — don't assume any specific spot is outside the park without verifying on the ground", "The visible glass supply has visibly thinned since the site became a tourist attraction, as decades of visitors removing pieces has outpaced what wave action exposes" ], "governing_rules": [ "California State Parks — MacKerricher State Park (Sonoma-Mendocino Coast District)", "14 CCR § 4611 (Rockhounding) and § 4306 (Plants and Driftwood)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=436", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/14-CCR-4611", "https://regulations.justia.com/states/california/title-14/division-3/chapter-1/section-4306/", "https://www.kron4.com/news/california/california-state-parks-doesn-t-want-you-collecting-sea-glass-or-agates-at-the-beach/", "https://www.visitcalifornia.com/experience/glass-beach-fort-bragg/" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-07", "last_updated": "2026-07-07", "lat": 39.4527, "lng": -123.8135, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/beachcombing/florida/sanibel-island-beachcombing", "hobby": "beachcombing", "hobby_name": "Sea Glass & Beachcombing", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Sanibel Island", "county": "Lee", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Empty shells are unlimited on Sanibel with no permit. Anything still occupied — sand dollars and sea stars included — is barred by city ordinance and state rule.", "conditions": [ "Empty shells, driftwood and sea glass: no permit, no bag limit, no closed season on City of Sanibel public beaches", "Live shellfish are prohibited under Sanibel City Code § 74-183, which defines them as any living mollusk (Phylum Mollusca) or echinoderm (Phylum Echinodermata) — sand dollars, sea stars and sea urchins are covered, not just shells", "The same ban runs county-wide as a state rule, FWC Rule 68B-26.004 F.A.C., which prohibits harvesting or possessing live shellfish anywhere in Lee County", "Picking a shell up to check whether something is living inside it is expressly not \"harvest\" under § 74-183, provided the animal is not harmed", "City Code § 74-182(11) prohibits destroying or grossly interfering with the natural wrack line by grooming or nonselective raking — the wrack line is where the shells are, so pick through it rather than rake it", "All shelling is prohibited in the waters of the J.N. \"Ding\" Darling National Wildlife Refuge" ], "governing_rules": [ "50 CFR 27.61", "FWC Rule 68B-26.004, F.A.C. — Prohibited Harvest of Live Shellfish in Lee County", "Sanibel City Code §§ 74-181 to 74-184 (Beach and Dune System)" ], "required_permits": [ "Beach parking ($5.00 per hour, 24 hours a day)" ], "sources": [ "https://library.municode.com/fl/sanibel/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPAGEOR_CH74WA", "https://library.municode.com/fl/sanibel/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPAGEOR_CH74WA", "https://library.municode.com/fl/sanibel/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPAGEOR_CH1GEPR", "https://www.mysanibel.com/489/Shelling-Regulations", "https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/sea-shells/", "https://flrules.org/gateway/ruleno.asp?id=68B-26.004&Section=0", "https://www.mysanibel.com/290/Paying-for-Parking-on-Sanibel", "https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/379.401" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-10", "last_updated": "2026-09-28", "lat": 26.452, "lng": -82.011, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/beachcombing/new-jersey/cape-may-diamonds-beachcombing", "hobby": "beachcombing", "hobby_name": "Sea Glass & Beachcombing", "state": "new-jersey", "state_name": "New Jersey", "place": "Sunset Beach & Higbee Beach (Cape May Diamonds)", "county": "Cape May", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Collecting Cape May diamonds is allowed at privately owned Sunset Beach with no permit. At Higbee Beach, a state WMA, taking stones is illegal.", "conditions": [ "Sunset Beach is privately owned by the Hume family (Sunset Beach Gift Shops), who openly welcome diamond hunting. No permit, fee or bag limit applies to hand-picking loose quartz pebbles", "Higbee Beach is a state Wildlife Management Area. N.J.S.A. 23:7-9 bars removing minerals or other state property from Division of Fish & Wildlife land, even though travel guides still send collectors there", "Cape May Point State Park, between the two, bars removing any rock without written Division permission under N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.10(c)", "Stay off the dunes at every site. At Higbee they're closed to all entry year-round under N.J.A.C. 7:25-2.19(a)8", "Don't climb on or salvage from the SS Atlantus wreck; take only the loose pebbles on the sand" ], "governing_rules": [ "Sunset Beach (Hume family / Sunset Beach Gift Shops)", "NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife — Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area", "NJDEP State Park Service — Cape May Point State Park", "New Jersey public trust doctrine (tidelands)" ], "required_permits": [ "Collecting at Higbee Beach WMA", "Collecting at Cape May Point State Park" ], "sources": [ "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-7-25-2-19", "https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2015/title-23/section-23-7-9", "https://dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/njfw/njac-7-25-subchapter-2.pdf", "https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/news-2024-02-01-portions-of-higbee-beach-wma-closed-through-december-2026/", "https://dep.nj.gov/nrr/restoration/active-restoration-projects/higbee-beach/", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-7-2-2-10", "https://sunsetbeachnj.com/pages/ss-atlantus-the-concrete-ship", "https://sunsetbeachnj.com/pages/flag-ceremony", "https://capemaymag.com/feature/sunset-beach-and-the-wayward-sign/" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-25", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 38.946, "lng": -74.97, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/beachcombing/oregon/agate-beach-oregon", "hobby": "beachcombing", "hobby_name": "Sea Glass & Beachcombing", "state": "oregon", "state_name": "Oregon", "place": "Agate Beach", "county": "Lincoln", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Loose agates, jasper, and shells are legal to pocket at Agate Beach under Oregon's Beach Bill — up to a gallon a day. Cross into Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area just south, though, and the rule flips entirely: nothing leaves, not even a pebble.", "conditions": [ "Under Oregon's Beach Bill (ORS 390.610 et seq.) and OAR 736-021-0090, loose surface material — agates, jasper, petrified wood, shells — may be collected for personal use up to one gallon per person per day and three gallons per person per calendar year", "Digging into bedrock, cliffs, seawalls, or excavating sand and soil to search for buried material is prohibited under the same rule — only material already loose on the surface qualifies", "Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, the BLM-managed headland immediately south, prohibits collecting entirely — the posted rule there is to leave rocks, shells, and tide pool life exactly as found", "Western snowy plover nesting closures (March 15–September 15) restrict access to posted dry-sand areas on parts of the central Oregon coast — check current signage before walking off the wet sand", "The most productive collecting conditions follow winter storms (November–March), the opposite of the busy July–August tourist season when most visitors actually show up" ], "governing_rules": [ "Oregon Beach Bill — ORS 390.610 et seq.", "OAR 736-021-0090 — Cultural, Historic, Natural and Wildlife Resources", "Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area (BLM)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://oregon.public.law/rules/oar_736-021-0090", "https://regulations.justia.com/states/oregon/chapter-736/division-21/section-736-021-0050/", "https://www.blm.gov/visit/yaquina-head-outstanding-natural-area", "https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/prp/pages/prp-oceanshore-rules.aspx" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-13", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 44.6773, "lng": -124.0618, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#oregon-ocean-shore-collecting-rule" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/beachcombing/oregon/bandon-beach-oregon", "hobby": "beachcombing", "hobby_name": "Sea Glass & Beachcombing", "state": "oregon", "state_name": "Oregon", "place": "Bandon Beach", "county": "Coos", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Loose agates, sea glass, and driftwood are legal to collect at Bandon Beach under Oregon's Beach Bill. Face Rock and every other sea stack offshore are permanently off-limits — federal refuge land you can look at but never touch.", "conditions": [ "Loose agates, jasper, sea glass, shells and similar items may be collected for personal use under OAR 736-021-0090: up to one gallon per person per day, three gallons per person per calendar year, no digging; driftwood has its own limit of one cubic yard a day and three cords a year", "Every offshore rock, reef, and sea stack visible from Bandon Beach — including Face Rock itself, Table Rock, Cathedral Rock, Elephant Rock, and the Coquille Point rocks — is part of Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge and permanently closed to public entry or climbing, regardless of tide", "A western snowy plover nesting closure is active right now: from March 15 through September 15, the beach south of China Creek to Floras Lake is restricted to foot and equestrian traffic on wet sand only — every other use is prohibited in that stretch through mid-September", "An open flame ban has been in effect at Bandon State Natural Area since July 20, 2026, prohibiting wood, charcoal, candle, and tiki-torch fires; portable propane stoves with a shutoff valve are still allowed", "Bandon runs its own 'Message in a Bottle' hunt — individually crafted bottles hidden daily at four specific spots — a distinct program from Lincoln City's better-known glass-float hunt 90 miles north; the collecting limit is one bottle per person per year" ], "governing_rules": [ "Oregon Beach Bill — ORS 390.610 et seq. / OAR 736-021-0090", "Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service", "Western snowy plover management area closure" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://oregon.public.law/rules/oar_736-021-0090", "https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=45", "https://www.fws.gov/refuge/oregon-islands/visit-us/rules-policies", "https://bandon.com/message-in-a-bottle-bandon/" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-30", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 43.1046, "lng": -124.4295, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#oregon-ocean-shore-collecting-rule" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/beachcombing/washington/birch-bay-state-park", "hobby": "beachcombing", "hobby_name": "Sea Glass & Beachcombing", "state": "washington", "state_name": "Washington", "place": "Birch Bay State Park", "county": "Whatcom", "land_type": "state-park", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Beachcombing for souvenirs is more restricted at Birch Bay State Park than most tourism guides suggest. Washington's own park rules prohibit removing driftwood and wood debris beyond a designated firewood-permit process, and the state's general natural-resource rule treats rocks and shells the same way — a real correction to the common 'gather shells as you go' assumption.", "conditions": [ "Washington State Parks' own park rules prohibit collecting firewood or wood debris — driftwood included — anywhere in the park area, except in pre-approved sites during a specific window under a paid wood-debris permit issued by the park manager (WAC 352-32-290)", "A broader state rule (WAC 352-28-010) restricts cutting or removal of natural resources on state park land to what's part of an approved resource conservation plan, with only narrow, specifically named exceptions (seaweed harvest, certain edible-plant gathering, specimen collection under protocol) — no comparable exception for shells or beach rocks was found published for Birch Bay specifically", "This is meaningfully stricter than Oregon's public-beach framework, which explicitly allows a daily gallon of loose surface material under the state's Beach Bill — Washington's default rule for state park beaches runs the opposite direction", "Shellfish harvesting (clams, mussels, oysters, Dungeness crab) is a completely separate, WDFW-licensed activity governed by its own season and biotoxin-closure rules — not part of ordinary beachcombing and not a workaround for the driftwood/shell restriction" ], "governing_rules": [ "Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission", "WAC 352-32-290 — Wood Debris Collection", "WAC 352-28-010 — Cutting, Collection and Removal of Natural Resources", "Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife" ], "required_permits": [ "Wood debris collection permit (firewood)", "WDFW shellfish/crab license" ], "sources": [ "https://parks.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/Park-Rules-and-Regulations.pdf", "https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=352-32-290", "https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=352-28-010", "https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=352-32-235", "https://wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/shellfish-beaches/200060", "https://parks.wa.gov/find-parks/state-parks/birch-bay-state-park" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-24", "last_updated": "2026-08-24", "lat": 48.9089, "lng": -122.7581, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/beachcombing/washington/kalaloch-beach", "hobby": "beachcombing", "hobby_name": "Sea Glass & Beachcombing", "state": "washington", "state_name": "Washington", "place": "Kalaloch Beach", "county": "Jefferson", "land_type": "national-park", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Beachcombing is prohibited at Kalaloch — the same 36 CFR 2.1 blanket ban that covers every Olympic National Park beach. Visitors regularly assume the beach's razor clam digging means collecting is allowed too; it's a completely separate, currently-closed state fishery that has nothing to do with the natural-object ban.", "conditions": [ "No rock, driftwood, sea glass, or any other natural object may be removed from Kalaloch Beach under 36 CFR § 2.1(a)(1), the same park-wide rule that covers every Olympic National Park beach; the one exception is unoccupied seashells, which the park's superintendent's compendium limits to a handful per person per park visit", "Razor clam digging happens on a defined stretch of this same beach (South Beach Campground to Brown's Point) under a completely separate WDFW/tribal-comanaged food fishery — it does not create any exception to the natural-object collecting ban", "The Kalaloch razor clam beach has been closed for the 2025–26 season due to depressed clam populations, so even that separate activity is currently unavailable", "Leashed dogs (6 ft or shorter) are allowed on this stretch of beach — one of the few oceanfront sections of the park where pets are permitted at all", "Quinault Indian Nation land begins immediately south of the park boundary near Beach Trail 3 — a separate jurisdiction not covered by NPS rules" ], "governing_rules": [ "National Park Service — 36 CFR § 2.1(a)(1)", "Olympic National Park Superintendent's Compendium", "Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, co-managed with coastal treaty tribes", "Quinault Indian Nation" ], "required_permits": [ "Olympic National Park entrance pass ($30 per vehicle (7-day); $15 per person for hikers/cyclists without a vehicle; $55 annual park pass)", "WDFW razor clam license" ], "sources": [ "https://www.nps.gov/olym/learn/management/superintendent-s-compendium.htm", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-I/part-2/section-2.1", "https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/olympicbeaches.htm", "https://home.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/pets.htm", "https://wdfw.wa.gov/newsroom/news-release/wdfw-closes-kalaloch-beach-razor-clamming-jan-19-21-digs-proceed-twin-harbors-mocrocks-and-copalis", "https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/entrance-fee-prices.htm" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-19", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 47.6104, "lng": -124.3752, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#nps-gathering-allowances-and-usfs-personal-use", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#olympic-beaches-nps-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/beachcombing/washington/ruby-beach-olympic", "hobby": "beachcombing", "hobby_name": "Sea Glass & Beachcombing", "state": "washington", "state_name": "Washington", "place": "Ruby Beach", "county": "Jefferson", "land_type": "national-park", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Beachcombing is prohibited at Ruby Beach — every rock, piece of sea glass and driftwood is protected under 36 CFR 2.1 inside Olympic National Park, and empty shells are limited to a handful per visit. The one exception most visitors never hear about: you can burn driftwood found on-site in a permitted beach campfire, you just can't carry any of it home.", "conditions": [ "No rocks, driftwood, sea glass, or any other natural object may be removed from Ruby Beach under 36 CFR § 2.1(a)(1); the one exception is unoccupied seashells, which the park's superintendent's compendium limits to a handful per person per park visit", "Living tide pool organisms (sea stars, anemones, crabs) may not be collected, handled roughly, or removed under the same regulation", "Beach campfires below the high-tide line are permitted and may burn driftwood found on-site — the ban is on removal, not on-site use", "The beach continues north about 3 miles to the mouth of the Hoh River, where Olympic National Park land ends and Hoh Indian Reservation land begins — a separate jurisdiction not covered by this page", "Sneaker waves and unstable driftwood logs near the surfline are a serious, well-documented hazard here, independent of the collecting rules" ], "governing_rules": [ "National Park Service — 36 CFR § 2.1(a)(1)", "Olympic National Park Superintendent's Compendium (approved January 2026)", "Hoh Indian Reservation" ], "required_permits": [ "Olympic National Park entrance pass ($30 per vehicle (7-day); $15 per person for hikers/cyclists without a vehicle; $55 annual park pass)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-I/part-2/section-2.1", "https://home.nps.gov/olym/learn/management/lawsandpolicies.htm", "https://www.nps.gov/olym/learn/management/superintendent-s-compendium.htm", "https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/olympicbeaches.htm", "https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/entrance-fee-prices.htm" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-03", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 47.71083, "lng": -124.41556, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#nps-gathering-allowances-and-usfs-personal-use", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#olympic-beaches-nps-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/foraging/california/mendocino-national-forest", "hobby": "foraging", "hobby_name": "Foraging", "state": "california", "state_name": "California", "place": "Mendocino National Forest", "county": "Mendocino/Lake/Glenn/Colusa", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Foraging is allowed in Mendocino National Forest for incidental personal use, capped at 1 gallon per person per month — the only Region 5 California forest in this queue with an explicit numeric limit, and far stricter than the informal 'incidental amount' rule used elsewhere. Nearly 90% of the forest has burned since 2020.", "conditions": [ "Incidental personal-use collection of mushrooms and most special forest products is free and capped at 1 gallon per person per calendar month — an explicit numeric figure, unlike the undefined 'incidental amount' standard used at Six Rivers National Forest further north", "Collection beyond that requires a paid permit: $20 for up to 8 gallons over 4 consecutive days, or $50 for up to 20 gallons over 30 consecutive days", "Unlike most other national forests, Mendocino prohibits personal-use collecting inside its wilderness areas altogether, not just commercial harvest — the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel and Snow Mountain wildernesses are both closed to foraging", "Nearly 90% of the forest's acreage has burned in wildfire since 2020, including the 1,032,648-acre August Complex — the largest fire in California history — so road access and area closures change year to year more than the harvest rule does" ], "governing_rules": [ "U.S. Forest Service — 36 CFR Part 261", "Wilderness Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1133(c), plus a Mendocino-specific personal-use closure", "California Dept. of Food and Agriculture — Sudden Oak Death quarantine" ], "required_permits": [ "Personal-use permit, above incidental amount ($20 (8 gal/4 days) or $50 (20 gal/30 days))", "Commercial mushroom collecting" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/mendocino/passes-permits/forestproducts", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/mendocino/permits", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/mendocino/alerts/fire-restrictions-effect", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mendocino/home/?cid=FSEPRD860382", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/261.6" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-24", "last_updated": "2026-08-24", "lat": 39.3958, "lng": -122.9767, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/foraging/california/six-rivers-national-forest", "hobby": "foraging", "hobby_name": "Foraging", "state": "california", "state_name": "California", "place": "Six Rivers National Forest", "county": "Del Norte Humboldt Trinity Siskiyou", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Personal-use foraging is allowed in Six Rivers National Forest at no charge for incidental amounts — but unlike Oregon forests just across the state line, there is no published gallon-per-day limit. Anything beyond incidental use needs a free-use permit capped at $20 in value per person per year.", "conditions": [ "Incidental personal-use amounts of mushrooms, berries, and most special forest products are free and require no permit", "Collection beyond incidental amounts requires a free-use permit, capped at $20 in product value per person per calendar year — there is no published pounds- or gallon-per-day figure like neighboring Oregon forests use", "Commercial harvest (typically defined at 10+ lbs of mushrooms) requires a paid permit at $2.00/lb, with a 10-lb minimum and 150-lb maximum per permit", "Seasonal Port-Orford-cedar road closures shut vehicle access to central and northern forest roads from the fall rains through late spring — this overlaps directly with peak chanterelle season", "Commercial collection is prohibited inside the forest's wilderness areas (Siskiyou, Trinity Alps, North Fork, Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel) under the Wilderness Act's ban on commercial enterprise" ], "governing_rules": [ "U.S. Forest Service — 36 CFR Part 261", "Wilderness Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1133(c)" ], "required_permits": [ "Free-use permit (special forest products) ($0 (free permit, $20/year value cap))", "Commercial special forest products permit ($2.00/lb, $20 minimum charge)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sixrivers/forest-products", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sixrivers/permits", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/261.6", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/srnf/news-events/?cid=STELPRDB5103687" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-05", "last_updated": "2026-08-05", "lat": 41.3032, "lng": -123.5322, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/foraging/florida/apalachicola-national-forest", "hobby": "foraging", "hobby_name": "Foraging", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Apalachicola National Forest", "county": "Liberty", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Gathering berries, mushrooms and other edible plants for your own consumption needs no permit in Apalachicola National Forest: National Forests in Florida says so on its permits page, and publishes no quantity limit. Commercial collecting needs a fee-based permit from the District Ranger. Two exceptions matter: saw palmetto berries need the Forest Service's written permission and a free state FDACS permit (taking them from more than two plants without both is a Florida felony), and carnivorous plants, many of them state-listed, may not be removed.", "conditions": [ "Gathering berries, mushrooms, nuts and greens for your own consumption needs no permit — National Forests in Florida says no permit is needed \"when you are gathering edible material (morels, etc.) for your own consumption\" (36 CFR § 223.279 lets each forest set its personal-use level; no quantity is published, so keep it to what you'll eat)", "Selling anything you gather is prohibited without a permit (36 CFR § 261.6); commercial collecting needs a forest-products permit from the District Ranger, with fees based on quantity and location", "CRITICAL: Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) berries: harvesting from more than two plants without the Forest Service's written permission and a free FDACS harvest permit is a third-degree felony under Fla. Stat. § 581.189; even one or two plants need the landowner's permission (§ 581.185)", "CRITICAL: Carnivorous plants (pitcher plants, sundews, butterworts, bladderworts) are not food and are not covered by the personal-use allowance; many are state-listed as endangered or threatened. Don't dig or remove them (36 CFR §§ 261.6, 261.9)", "Hand-pick; don't damage plants or dig up mushrooms" ], "governing_rules": [ "USDA Forest Service — National Forests in Florida; 36 CFR §§ 223.279, 261.6, 261.9", "Florida Statute § 581.189 — Florida Plant Act", "Florida Statute § 581.185 and the Regulated Plant Index (FAC 5B-40.0055)", "Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1538)" ], "required_permits": [ "Commercial forest products permit", "FDACS saw palmetto harvest permit (form FDACS 08025) plus Forest Service permission" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/florida/permits", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/florida/offices", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/florida/about-area", "https://www.fdacs.gov/Agriculture-Industry/Plant-Industry-Permits/Native-Plant-Harvesting-Permit", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599/0581/Sections/0581.189.html", "https://www.fdacs.gov/agriculture-industry/plant-industry-permits/saw-palmetto-berry-harvesting", "https://ccmedia.fdacs.gov/content/download/88738/file/saw-palmetto-berry-harvesting-faq-english.pdf", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599/0581/Sections/0581.185.html", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/florida/Fla-Admin-Code-Ann-R-5B-40-0055" ], "last_verified": "2026-10-12", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 30.16, "lng": -84.85, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-national-forests-personal-use", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#nps-gathering-allowances-and-usfs-personal-use", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-saw-palmetto-permit" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/foraging/florida/big-cypress-national-preserve", "hobby": "foraging", "hobby_name": "Foraging", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Big Cypress National Preserve", "county": "Collier", "land_type": "national-preserve", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Big Cypress National Preserve lets you pick berries, citrus fruits and bananas by hand for personal consumption, under the preserve's superintendent's compendium. Mushrooms, nuts and other plant parts aren't on that list, so taking them is prohibited under 36 CFR 2.1, and the compendium bans picking palmetto berries outright.", "conditions": [ "Berries, citrus fruits and bananas may be picked by hand for personal consumption, without a permit, under the Big Cypress superintendent's compendium (36 CFR 2.1(c))", "Picking palmetto berries is prohibited in the preserve (compendium). Separately, Fla. Stat. § 581.189 makes harvesting saw palmetto berries on public land without the landowner's permission and an FDACS permit a third-degree felony", "Mushrooms, nuts, palm hearts and any other plant parts are not designated for gathering, so removing them is prohibited under 36 CFR 2.1(a)(1)", "Florida-listed plants (orchids, bromeliads, carnivorous plants) may not be collected from public land under Fla. Stat. § 581.185", "Pick by hand; no digging, uprooting or damaging plants", "Commercial harvest of any preserve product requires a Special Use Permit from the preserve superintendent" ], "governing_rules": [ "Big Cypress National Preserve superintendent's compendium — 36 CFR 2.1(c)", "Florida Statute § 581.189 — Saw Palmetto", "Florida Statute § 581.185 — Preservation of Native Flora" ], "required_permits": [ "Saw palmetto harvesting permit (FDACS)", "Special Use Permit — commercial harvest" ], "sources": [ "https://www.nps.gov/bicy/index.htm", "https://www.nps.gov/bicy/learn/management/upload/BICY-Compendium-Final-07-22-2026_digitallysigned.pdf", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/2.1", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599/0581/Sections/0581.189.html", "https://www.fdacs.gov/agriculture-industry/plant-industry-permits/saw-palmetto-berry-harvesting", "https://ccmedia.fdacs.gov/content/download/88738/file/saw-palmetto-berry-harvesting-faq-english.pdf", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599/0581/Sections/0581.185.html", "https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599/0581/Sections/0581.211.html", "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/06/05/2025-10191/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-endangered-species-status-for-ghost-orchid" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-29", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 25.9897, "lng": -81.0784, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#big-cypress-designated-gathering", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-foraging-plant-penalties", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-saw-palmetto-permit" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/foraging/florida/fakahatchee-strand", "hobby": "foraging", "hobby_name": "Foraging", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park", "county": "Collier", "land_type": "state-park", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Foraging is prohibited at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. Florida's state park rule (FAC 62D-2.013) bars removing any plant life from a state park, and collecting plant specimens without the park's permission is a second-degree misdemeanor under Fla. Stat. § 258.008. The preserve's state-listed orchids, including the endangered ghost orchid, are also protected statewide by § 581.185.", "conditions": [ "Florida state park rule FAC 62D-2.013(4)(b): \"No person shall transplant or remove any plant life from any park\" — this covers berries, fruit, seeds and flowers as well as whole plants", "Collecting natural objects (plants, animals, minerals) in a state park needs a permit under FAC 62D-2.013(7), issued only for scientific or educational collection that benefits park management — never for foraging", "Collecting plant specimens without the park's express permission is a second-degree misdemeanor and gets you ejected from all Florida state park property (Fla. Stat. § 258.008(3)(c))", "The ghost orchid and other state-listed endangered or threatened plants are also protected on all public land in Florida by Fla. Stat. § 581.185", "For foraging in the Big Cypress region, Big Cypress National Preserve (NPS) allows berries, citrus fruits and bananas to be picked for personal consumption under its superintendent's compendium (36 CFR 2.1(c)) — see that page for rules" ], "governing_rules": [ "Florida Administrative Code 62D-2.013 — Park Property and Resources (Florida State Parks)", "Fla. Stat. § 258.008 — Prohibited activities; penalties", "Fla. Stat. § 581.185 — Preservation of Native Flora of Florida" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/fakahatchee-strand-preserve-state-park", "https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleNo.asp?id=62D-2.013", "https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0258/Sections/0258.008.html", "https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599/0581/Sections/0581.185.html", "https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599/0581/Sections/0581.211.html", "https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0258/0258.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-06-01", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 25.9748, "lng": -81.4135, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#big-cypress-designated-gathering", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#nps-gathering-allowances-and-usfs-personal-use", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-foraging-plant-penalties" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/foraging/florida/ocala-national-forest", "hobby": "foraging", "hobby_name": "Foraging", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Ocala National Forest", "county": "Marion", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Personal-use foraging of common edible plants and berries is allowed in Ocala National Forest for incidental quantities. No permit required for casual gathering. Critical exception: saw palmetto berries need the Forest Service's written permission and a free state FDACS permit — taking them from more than two plants without both is a Florida felony.", "conditions": [ "Personal-use foraging of common edible plants, berries, mushrooms, and nuts is allowed without a permit for incidental quantities — not for commercial sale (36 CFR § 223.279)", "CRITICAL: Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) berries: harvesting from more than two plants without the Forest Service's written permission and a free FDACS harvest permit is a third-degree felony under Fla. Stat. § 581.189; even one or two plants need the landowner's permission (§ 581.185)", "Protected species cannot be collected under any circumstances: state or federally listed orchids (multiple species), carnivorous plants (pitcher plants, sundews, bladderworts), and yellow star-anise (Illicium parviflorum, federally endangered)", "Do not collect anything on or within 100 feet of any posted archaeological site or historic structure", "Commercial harvesting of any forest product requires a Special Use Permit from the Lake George or Seminole Ranger District", "Incidental-use quantities are not numerically defined in USFS Ocala regulations — collect modestly for personal meals, not bulk harvest" ], "governing_rules": [ "USDA Forest Service — 36 CFR § 223.279 and Ocala National Forest Land Management Plan", "Florida Statute § 581.189 — Florida Plant Act", "Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1538)", "Florida Statute § 581.185 — Preservation of Native Flora" ], "required_permits": [ "Saw palmetto harvesting permit (FDACS)", "Special Use Permit — commercial harvest" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/ocala", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599/0581/Sections/0581.189.html", "https://www.fdacs.gov/agriculture-industry/plant-industry-permits/saw-palmetto-berry-harvesting", "https://ccmedia.fdacs.gov/content/download/88738/file/saw-palmetto-berry-harvesting-faq-english.pdf", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599/0581/Sections/0581.185.html", "https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599/0581/Sections/0581.211.html", "https://www.fdacs.gov/Agriculture-Industry/Plants/Regulated-Plant-Index", "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2024-title36-vol2/pdf/CFR-2024-title36-vol2-part223.pdf" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-22", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 29.2299, "lng": -81.712, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#nps-gathering-allowances-and-usfs-personal-use", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-foraging-plant-penalties", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-saw-palmetto-permit" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/foraging/florida/osceola-national-forest", "hobby": "foraging", "hobby_name": "Foraging", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Osceola National Forest", "county": "Columbia", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Personal-use foraging is allowed in Osceola National Forest with no permit needed to gather edible material for your own consumption, according to National Forests in Florida (36 CFR § 223.279); no quantity limit is published. Critical exception: saw palmetto berries need the Forest Service's written permission and a free state FDACS permit — taking them from more than two plants without both is a Florida felony. All carnivorous plants and state-listed threatened species are strictly prohibited.", "conditions": [ "No permit for gathering edible material for your own consumption — National Forests in Florida says so on its permits page and publishes no quantity limit (36 CFR § 223.279 lets each forest set its personal-use level)", "Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) berries: harvesting from more than two plants without the Forest Service's written permission and a free FDACS harvest permit is a third-degree felony under Fla. Stat. § 581.189; even one or two plants need the landowner's permission (§ 581.185)", "All carnivorous plants (pitcher plants, sundews, bladderworts) and all state-listed threatened and endangered plant species: collection strictly prohibited under Florida law and USFS policy", "Commercial collecting of any forest product needs a permit from the District Ranger, with fees based on quantity and location" ], "governing_rules": [ "36 CFR § 223.279 — USFS Personal Use Forest Products", "Florida Statutes §§ 581.185 and 581.189 (FDACS Division of Plant Industry); Florida Endangered and Threatened Species rules" ], "required_permits": [ "Saw palmetto berry harvesting (Free)", "Commercial forest products permit" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/osceola", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/florida/permits", "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2024-title36-vol2/pdf/CFR-2024-title36-vol2-part223.pdf", "https://www.fdacs.gov/agriculture-industry/plant-industry-permits/saw-palmetto-berry-harvesting", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599/0581/Sections/0581.189.html", "https://ccmedia.fdacs.gov/content/download/88738/file/saw-palmetto-berry-harvesting-faq-english.pdf", "https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/threatened-endangered/" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-27", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 30.2381, "lng": -82.4467, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-national-forests-personal-use", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#nps-gathering-allowances-and-usfs-personal-use", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-foraging-plant-penalties", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-saw-palmetto-permit" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/foraging/michigan/huron-manistee-national-forest", "hobby": "foraging", "hobby_name": "Foraging", "state": "michigan", "state_name": "Michigan", "place": "Huron-Manistee National Forests", "county": "Wexford", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "No permit is needed to pick morels for your own table in the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Selling isn't covered, and warbler areas close May 1–July 15.", "conditions": [ "The forest's own permits page lists gathering edible material \"(morels, etc.) for your own consumption\" as an activity that needs no permit", "No per-person quantity limit is published for the Huron-Manistee — unlike the Pacific Northwest forests covered elsewhere on this site, there is no 1-gallon figure to hide behind, so keep the harvest to what you will eat", "The exemption is for your own consumption only. Removing forest products beyond what is authorized is prohibited under 36 CFR 261.6(h), and the Michigan Food Code separately requires every wild mushroom sold in the state to be inspected by a certified mushroom identification expert", "Occupied Kirtland's warbler breeding areas in young jack pine are closed to entry May 1 through July 15 and posted with signs — the same weeks morel hunters are in the woods", "Forest Service-operated trailheads, launches and picnic areas charge a $5 day-use fee (cash or check at the fee tube)" ], "governing_rules": [ "36 CFR 261.6 (Timber and other forest products); 36 CFR 261.53 (special closures)", "Michigan Food Code — wild-foraged mushroom sales", "Mich. Admin. Code R 299.922(h) (State Land Rules)" ], "required_permits": [ "Expert Mushroom Identifier certification (to sell)", "Commercial mushroom harvest on national forest land" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/huron-manistee/permits", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/huron-manistee/passes", "https://fs.usda.gov/r09/huron-manistee/recreation/kirtlands-warbler-and-jack-pine-wildlife-tours", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/261.6", "https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/morels", "https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/morels/morel-identification", "https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/foraging", "https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/-/media/Project/Websites/dnr/Documents/PRD/parks/AdministrativeRules-ParksRecAreas.pdf", "https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/about/media/pressreleases/2026/05/05/mdard-provides-safety-and-sales-guidelines-for-wild-foraged-mushroom-season", "https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/laws/regulations/spring-turkey", "https://www.mesick-mushroomfest.org/" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-14", "last_updated": "2026-09-14", "lat": 44.25, "lng": -85.8, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/foraging/oregon/deschutes-national-forest", "hobby": "foraging", "hobby_name": "Foraging", "state": "oregon", "state_name": "Oregon", "place": "Deschutes National Forest", "county": "Deschutes", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Personal-use mushroom and plant foraging is allowed in Deschutes National Forest under USFS rules — 1 gallon per day free; commercial quantities require a free ranger-district permit. The forest is one of the most significant matsutake zones in North America. Six designated wilderness areas within the forest boundary are excluded from all commercial collection.", "conditions": [ "Personal-use foraging of mushrooms, berries, and common edible plants is allowed without a permit for quantities up to 1 gallon per day (36 CFR § 223.279)", "Commercial mushroom or berry picking requires a free Special Forest Products permit from the Bend-Fort Rock or Sisters Ranger District — apply before collecting for sale", "Six wilderness areas within the forest are excluded from commercial collecting: Three Sisters, Mount Washington, Mount Jefferson, Diamond Peak, Waldo Lake, and Drift Creek — personal use is still allowed in wilderness", "Protected species and rare plants cannot be collected under any circumstances; check current USFS sensitive species list for Deschutes NF", "Motorized vehicles must stay on designated roads; off-road travel to foraging sites is not permitted" ], "governing_rules": [ "USDA Forest Service — 36 CFR § 223.279 and Deschutes NF Special Forest Products Program", "Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — Six designated wilderness areas" ], "required_permits": [ "USFS Special Forest Products permit (commercial mushroom and berry picking) (Free)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/deschutes/passes-permits/forestproducts/", "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2024-title36-vol2/pdf/CFR-2024-title36-vol2-part223.pdf", "https://gp.fs2c.usda.gov/gp/", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/deschutes", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/16/1133" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-13", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 43.88, "lng": -121.45, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#nps-gathering-allowances-and-usfs-personal-use" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/foraging/oregon/mount-hood-national-forest", "hobby": "foraging", "hobby_name": "Foraging", "state": "oregon", "state_name": "Oregon", "place": "Mount Hood National Forest", "county": "Clackamas", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Mount Hood National Forest allows personal-use foraging of mushrooms, berries, and greens without a permit for quantities under 1 gallon per person per day. The forest's proximity to Portland — less than an hour's drive — makes it one of the most-visited foraging destinations in Oregon. Chanterelles, huckleberries, and morels are the primary draws. Commercial harvest requires a free permit from the Hood River or Zigzag Ranger District.", "conditions": [ "Personal-use foraging of mushrooms, berries, and greens is allowed without a permit up to 1 gallon per person per day under 36 CFR § 223.279 and Mount Hood NF policy", "Commercial harvest above personal-use limits requires a free permit from the Zigzag or Hood River Ranger District", "No harvest in designated Wilderness Areas: Mount Hood Wilderness, Badger Creek Wilderness, Bull of the Woods Wilderness, Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness, and Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness", "No harvest in Research Natural Areas (Multnomah Falls RNA, others) — boundaries shown on district maps", "Federally listed endangered plants may not be removed from national forest land (Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1538). Oregon's state plant list protects listed species on non-federal public land, so it applies if you cross onto state, county or city land, not on the national forest itself", "No digging, uprooting, or use of mechanical harvest tools; surface collection and mushroom cutting at stem only" ], "governing_rules": [ "USDA Forest Service — 36 CFR § 223.279 and Mount Hood NF Special Orders", "Oregon Department of Agriculture — listed plants (ORS 564, OAR 603-073)" ], "required_permits": [ "Commercial harvest permit" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/mthood", "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2024-title36-vol2/pdf/CFR-2024-title36-vol2-part223.pdf", "https://www.oregon.gov/oda/plant-conservation/Pages/listed-plants.aspx", "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title16/html/USCODE-2023-title16-chap35-sec1538.htm", "https://snowparkpermit.oregon.gov" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-05", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 45.3737, "lng": -121.7, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#oregon-state-plant-list-federal-land", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#nps-gathering-allowances-and-usfs-personal-use" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/foraging/oregon/rogue-siskiyou-national-forest", "hobby": "foraging", "hobby_name": "Foraging", "state": "oregon", "state_name": "Oregon", "place": "Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest", "county": "Jackson Josephine", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Personal-use foraging is allowed in Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest at no charge, up to 1 gallon per day without a permit. Oregon Caves National Monument — physically embedded within the forest — prohibits all plant and fungal collecting under 36 CFR 2.1. Commercial beargrass harvest requires a ranger district permit.", "conditions": [ "Personal use: up to 1 gallon per day, no permit required, at no charge", "Oregon Caves National Monument (within the forest boundary) prohibits all plant and fungal collecting under 36 CFR § 2.1", "Commercial harvest of any species requires a free Special Forest Products permit from the managing ranger district", "Selling personal-use harvest without a commercial permit is a federal violation under 36 CFR § 261.6(f)", "Beargrass commercial harvest has additional permit requirements in some districts — verify with the Illinois Valley Ranger District before any commercial collection" ], "governing_rules": [ "U.S. Forest Service — 36 CFR Part 261", "National Park Service — 36 CFR § 2.1" ], "required_permits": [ "Commercial Special Forest Products Permit ($0 (free permit))", "Beargrass commercial harvest permit" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/rogue-siskiyou", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-261", "https://www.nps.gov/orca/index.htm", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recarea/?recid=72357" ], "last_verified": "2026-06-16", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 42.1011, "lng": -123.649, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#nps-gathering-allowances-and-usfs-personal-use" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/foraging/oregon/siuslaw-national-forest", "hobby": "foraging", "hobby_name": "Foraging", "state": "oregon", "state_name": "Oregon", "place": "Siuslaw National Forest", "county": "Lane Lincoln Benton", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Foraging is allowed in Siuslaw National Forest — up to 1 gallon per day without a permit. Matsutake is the exception: 6 per day maximum, must be cut in half on-site. The Oregon Dunes NRA within the forest follows the same rules.", "conditions": [ "Personal use: up to 1 gallon per day of any mushroom species except matsutake — no permit required", "Matsutake exception: up to 6 mushrooms per day; each must be cut in half lengthwise immediately after picking", "Commercial harvesting (over 1 gallon/day): free permit required from any Siuslaw NF ranger district office", "Selling or trading mushrooms gathered under personal-use rules is a federal violation under 36 CFR § 261.6(f)", "The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is part of the Siuslaw NF and follows the same rules" ], "governing_rules": [ "USDA Forest Service — Siuslaw National Forest (Pacific Northwest Region, Region 6)", "36 CFR § 261.6(f) — Commercial Sale of Forest Products" ], "required_permits": [ "Commercial mushroom harvest permit (Free)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/siuslaw/permits/mushroom-permits", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/siuslaw/passes-permits/forestproducts", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-261/subpart-A/section-261.6", "https://cascademyco.org/mushroom-info-menu-guide/mushroom-picking-permits/" ], "last_verified": "2026-06-05", "last_updated": "2026-06-05", "lat": 44.0223, "lng": -124.0622, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/foraging/oregon/umpqua-national-forest", "hobby": "foraging", "hobby_name": "Foraging", "state": "oregon", "state_name": "Oregon", "place": "Umpqua National Forest", "county": "Douglas", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Free personal-use foraging in Umpqua NF — 1 gallon per day, no permit needed. Crater Lake NP borders the forest and prohibits all wild plant collection.", "conditions": [ "Personal-use limit is 1 gallon per day per person — no permit required below this threshold", "Commercial harvesting (any quantity for resale) requires a free Special Use Permit from a ranger district", "Selling personal-use harvest without a commercial permit is a federal violation under 36 CFR § 261.6(f)", "Crater Lake National Park immediately borders the southeast of the forest — inside the park, only blueberries, huckleberries, serviceberries and thimbleberries may be picked (1 quart per person per day each, per the compendium); no mushrooms", "USFS Sensitive Species and ESA-listed plants may not be collected regardless of quantity" ], "governing_rules": [ "USDA Forest Service — 36 CFR Part 261", "NPS — 36 CFR 2.1", "Oregon (no additional state restriction on personal-use USFS harvest)" ], "required_permits": [ "Commercial Mushroom Harvest Special Use Permit ($0)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.nps.gov/crla/learn/management/superintendent-s-compendium.htm", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/umpqua", "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2024-title36-vol2/pdf/CFR-2024-title36-vol2-part223.pdf", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-261/subpart-A/section-261.6", "https://www.nps.gov/crla/learn/management/lawsandpolicies.htm" ], "last_verified": "2026-06-10", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 43.2608, "lng": -122.435, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#nps-gathering-allowances-and-usfs-personal-use" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/foraging/oregon/willamette-national-forest", "hobby": "foraging", "hobby_name": "Foraging", "state": "oregon", "state_name": "Oregon", "place": "Willamette National Forest", "county": "Lane", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Willamette National Forest is one of the most productive and legally accessible foraging destinations in the Pacific Northwest. Personal-use collection of mushrooms, berries, and greens is free for quantities under the permit threshold — currently 1 gallon per day for mushrooms and berries on Willamette. Commercial pickers require a free permit above personal-use limits. Oregon white truffles, chanterelles, morels, and huckleberries make this a marquee foraging destination.", "conditions": [ "Personal-use foraging of mushrooms and berries is allowed without a permit up to 1 gallon per person per day on Willamette National Forest under 36 CFR § 223.279 and Willamette Ranger District policy", "Greens, fiddlehead ferns, and other plant material: similar personal-use standards apply; quantities for personal consumption do not require a permit", "Commercial harvest of mushrooms and berries requires a free permit from the relevant Willamette Ranger District; commercial quantities are defined as amounts exceeding personal-use thresholds or harvest for sale", "Oregon white truffle (Tuber oregonense) and other truffles are subject to the same rules — no permit for personal-use quantities", "Federally listed endangered plants may not be removed from national forest land (Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1538). Oregon's state plant list protects listed species on non-federal public land, so it applies if you cross onto state, county or city land, not on the national forest itself", "No harvest within Wilderness Areas (Three Sisters, Mount Washington, etc.) where all resource extraction is prohibited" ], "governing_rules": [ "USDA Forest Service — 36 CFR § 223.279 and Willamette National Forest Special Orders", "Oregon Department of Agriculture — listed plants (ORS 564, OAR 603-073)" ], "required_permits": [ "Commercial mushroom/berry harvest permit" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/willamette", "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2024-title36-vol2/pdf/CFR-2024-title36-vol2-part223.pdf", "https://oregontrufflefestival.org", "https://www.oregon.gov/oda/plant-conservation/Pages/listed-plants.aspx", "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title16/html/USCODE-2023-title16-chap35-sec1538.htm" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-03", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 44.265, "lng": -122.076, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#oregon-state-plant-list-federal-land", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#nps-gathering-allowances-and-usfs-personal-use" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/foraging/washington/mt-baker-snoqualmie-national-forest", "hobby": "foraging", "hobby_name": "Foraging", "state": "washington", "state_name": "Washington", "place": "Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest", "county": "Snohomish", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "permit-required", "permit_required": true, "summary": "Foraging in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest requires a free-use permit obtained in person at a ranger district office before harvesting. Personal use is capped at 5 gallons per household per year; all designated wilderness areas within the forest are closed to collection.", "conditions": [ "Free-use permit required before harvesting — request it from a ranger district; the forest lists 2 weeks to a month for processing, so apply well ahead", "Personal use limit: 5 gallons per household per year across the entire forest", "Ask the ranger district about wilderness areas before picking there; wilderness rules can differ from the rest of the forest", "More than the free 5 gallons needs a charged personal permit (mushrooms other than matsutake: 12.5 gallons for $25, up to 62.5 gallons for $125)", "Selling, bartering, or giving away personal-use quantities is a federal violation under 36 CFR § 261.6(f)" ], "governing_rules": [ "USDA Forest Service — Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest", "National Park Service — North Cascades National Park" ], "required_permits": [ "Free-use personal foraging permit (No fee)", "Commercial foraging permit ($25 per 12.5 gallons (standard mushroom species); matsutake at appraised value)", "NW Forest Pass (parking) ($5/day or $30/year)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/mbs/passes-permits/forestproducts", "https://www.nps.gov/noca/learn/management/superintendent-compendium.htm", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-261/subpart-A/section-261.6" ], "last_verified": "2026-06-29", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 47.75, "lng": -121.5, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#nps-gathering-allowances-and-usfs-personal-use" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/foraging/washington/okanogan-wenatchee-national-forest", "hobby": "foraging", "hobby_name": "Foraging", "state": "washington", "state_name": "Washington", "place": "Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest", "county": "Chelan Okanogan Kittitas Yakima", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Foraging is allowed on Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. For morels, personal use is free up to 5 gallons per person per day, but you must carry the forest's free Incidental Use Mushroom Information Sheet; commercial picking needs a permit.", "conditions": [ "Morels for personal use: free, up to 5 gallons per person per day, with the forest's free Incidental Use Mushroom Information Sheet in your possession; check with the ranger district for other species and berries", "Commercial harvesting requires a forest product permit from the relevant ranger district before collecting", "Designated wilderness areas (Alpine Lakes, Glacier Peak, Henry M. Jackson, Lake Chelan-Sawtooth, Norse Peak, and Noisy-Diobsud) prohibit commercial harvesting; personal-use rules apply in wilderness", "North Cascades National Park allows listed berries (up to 1 quart per person per day) and edible fungi (cut, not pulled) to be gathered by hand for personal use (superintendent's compendium, 36 CFR 2.1(c))", "Selling personal-use harvest is a federal violation under 36 CFR § 261.6(f) regardless of quantity" ], "governing_rules": [ "U.S. Forest Service / Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest", "North Cascades National Park (NPS)" ], "required_permits": [ "Commercial mushroom / plant harvesting (Free)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/okawen/", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-261", "https://www.nps.gov/noca/learn/management/superintendent-compendium.htm" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-01", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 47.5, "lng": -120.5, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#north-cascades-subalpine-meadows", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#nps-gathering-allowances-and-usfs-personal-use" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/foraging/washington/olympic-national-forest", "hobby": "foraging", "hobby_name": "Foraging", "state": "washington", "state_name": "Washington", "place": "Olympic National Forest", "county": "Jefferson", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Foraging is allowed in Olympic National Forest without a permit for personal use: 1 gallon of each mushroom species a year, and berries up to 1 gallon a day and 3 a year. The adjacent Olympic National Park allows only 1 quart a day of berries and mushrooms, and none near nature trails.", "conditions": [ "Personal use, no permit: mushrooms up to 1 gallon per species per calendar year; berries up to 1 gallon a day and 3 gallons a year", "Commercial mushroom harvest needs a paid permit (for example, 50 gallons for $50 over 14 days); commercial berry picking isn't allowed", "Selling personal-use harvest is a federal violation under 36 CFR § 261.6(f)", "Olympic National Park allows edible fruits, berries, nuts and mushrooms to be picked by hand for personal consumption, up to 1 quart per person per day (cranberries and native blackberries: 3½ gallons once every two weeks), but not within 200 feet of nature trails (superintendent's compendium, 36 CFR 2.1(c))", "Quinault Indian Nation land on the southwestern boundary requires tribal permission — it is not USFS open access" ], "governing_rules": [ "USDA Forest Service — Olympic National Forest", "National Park Service — Olympic National Park", "Quinault Indian Nation" ], "required_permits": [ "Commercial harvest Special Use Permit (Free)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/olympic", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-261", "https://www.nps.gov/olym/learn/management/lawsandpolicies.htm" ], "last_verified": "2026-06-22", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 47.4531, "lng": -123.89, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#nps-gathering-allowances-and-usfs-personal-use" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/foraging/west-virginia/monongahela-national-forest", "hobby": "foraging", "hobby_name": "Foraging", "state": "west-virginia", "state_name": "West Virginia", "place": "Monongahela National Forest", "county": "Pocahontas", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Digging ramps needs no permit on the Monongahela, but personal use stops at two gallons per person — roughly 180 plants. Selling any of them is prohibited.", "conditions": [ "No permit for personal use. The forest's own permits page puts gathering a reasonable amount of edible material — mushrooms, ramps and the like — for your own consumption among the activities that require no paperwork.", "Personal use has a hard ceiling: two gallons per person in possession at any one time, which the Forest Service puts at roughly 180 whole plants, roots and leaves included. That is about what fills a plastic grocery bag.", "Selling is the line. Commercial ramp harvest on this forest is prohibited outright, and the prohibition explicitly reaches reselling ramps you dug under the personal-use allowance.", "You cannot collect on anyone else's behalf. The two gallons belong to the person doing the digging, not to a household or a carload.", "This allowance is specific to National Forest System land. West Virginia's state parks and forests bar taking any plant or plant part without a Division permit, and New River Gorge removed ramps from its gathering list." ], "governing_rules": [ "36 CFR 261.6 (Timber and other forest products)", "36 CFR 2.1(c)(2) gathering list, New River Gorge Superintendent's Compendium", "West Virginia State Park Rules and Regulations — natural resource protection" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/mnf/passes-permits/forestproducts", "https://www.alleghenymountainradio.org/guidelines-for-responsibly-collecting-ramps-on-monongahela-national-forest-2/", "https://www.nps.gov/neri/learn/management/superintendents-compendium.htm", "https://wvstateparks.com/rules-and-regulations/", "https://wvdnr.gov/lands-waters/west-virginia-state-parks/west-virginia-state-park-rules-and-regulations/", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/261.6", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/monongahela/alerts/cranberry-glades-botanical-area", "https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nnlandmarks/site.htm?Site=CRGL-WV" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-21", "last_updated": "2026-09-21", "lat": 38.75, "lng": -79.75, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/colorado/garden-park-fossil-area", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "colorado", "state_name": "Colorado", "place": "Garden Park Fossil Area", "county": "Fremont", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Fossil collecting is prohibited across all of Garden Park Fossil Area — a BLM Area of Critical Environmental Concern where even invertebrate fossils, normally open to casual collecting on BLM land, cannot be removed.", "conditions": [ "All fossil and rock collecting is closed across the entire Garden Park Fossil Area, not just vertebrate material — the site carries a triple protective designation (BLM Area of Critical Environmental Concern since 1996, Colorado Research Natural Area since 1991, and National Natural Landmark, expanded to 3,208 acres in 2013) that closes the area to consumptive resource use altogether", "This is stricter than the PRPA default most BLM fossil sites on this list follow, where invertebrate and plant fossils stay open to casual collecting of up to 25 lb per person per day (43 CFR 49.810) while only vertebrate material is restricted — Garden Park's ACEC/Research Natural Area status removes that invertebrate carve-out entirely at this specific site", "Visitors are limited to two marked overlook pullouts along Shelf Road with interpretive signage; climbing on the quarry scarps or moving any rock or fossil material there is not permitted", "Casual rock and mineral collecting may still be possible on ordinary BLM land elsewhere in Fremont County outside the ACEC boundary. Federal rules allow 'reasonable amounts' of rocks and minerals for personal use (43 CFR 8365.1-5(b)), and BLM Colorado publishes no pound figure for them. The boundary is not obvious on the ground — confirm it directly with the Royal Gorge Field Office before treating any nearby parcel as open" ], "governing_rules": [ "BLM Royal Gorge Field Office", "National Natural Landmark Program (National Park Service / BLM)", "Paleontological Resources Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 470aaa et seq. (PRPA 2009)" ], "required_permits": [ "Research excavation permit" ], "sources": [ "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-A/part-49/subpart-I", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8365.1-5", "https://www.blm.gov/visit/garden-park-fossil-area", "https://www.blm.gov/office/royal-gorge-field-office", "https://www.blm.gov/press-release/garden-park-fossil-area-earns-national-recognition", "https://www.congress.gov/111/plaws/publ11/PLAW-111publ11.pdf" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-31", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 38.5302, "lng": -105.2188, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/colorado/picket-wire-canyonlands", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "colorado", "state_name": "Colorado", "place": "Picket Wire Canyonlands", "county": "Otero", "land_type": "national-grassland", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Every dinosaur track at Picket Wire Canyonlands is a vertebrate trace fossil, covered by PRPA's ban on casual collecting — this site is observation-only.", "conditions": [ "Every one of the site's 1,900-plus dinosaur tracks is a vertebrate trace fossil, and the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act prohibits casual collection of vertebrate material from federal land without a research permit — there's no invertebrate-collecting carve-out here the way there is at most fossil sites on this list, because the exposed bedrock is essentially the trackway surface itself", "Access requires real planning, not a collecting permit: either an 11.2-mile round-trip hike, bike, or horseback trip from Withers Canyon Trailhead, or a reserved seat on a Forest Service-guided high-clearance 4x4 tour offered only on specific Saturdays in April, May, September, and October", "The tracksite sits in Otero County — some older regional write-ups place it in Las Animas County, likely because the broader Comanche National Grassland unit does extend across that county line about a mile and a half south of the trailhead", "The same observation-only standard covers the canyon's other historic features on the same route — a 19th-century mission and cemetery, Native American rock art, and the Rourke Ranch historic site — none of it is collectable" ], "governing_rules": [ "USDA Forest Service — Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC)", "Paleontological Resources Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 470aaa et seq.", "36 CFR Part 291 — Paleontological Resources Preservation regulations" ], "required_permits": [ "Guided 4x4 tour reservation" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/psicc/recreation/picket-wire-canyonlands", "https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/234166", "https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/dinosaur-lake-story-purgatoire-valley-dinosaur-tracksite/", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/science-technology/geology/paleontology/casual-collecting", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-291" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-28", "last_updated": "2026-08-28", "lat": 37.6596, "lng": -103.5723, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/florida/peace-river-fossil-hunting", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Peace River", "county": "Desoto", "land_type": "river", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Shark teeth need no permit on the Peace River; bone needs Florida's $5 fossil permit. FDEP says state lands from Bartow to Wauchula are closed to collecting.", "conditions": [ "Fossil shark and ray teeth, invertebrate fossils and fossil plants may be collected and kept with or without a permit (Florida Museum of Natural History)", "Vertebrate fossils — bone, horse and mammoth teeth, turtle shell, dugong rib — from the river bottom require a Florida Fossil Permit; the fee is capped at $5 by Fla. Stat. § 1004.576", "FDEP's official Peace River Paddling Trail guide states that fossil collecting is not permitted on state lands between Bartow and Wauchula — the upper third of the trail, including Paynes Creek Historic State Park", "The permit covers state land only. Banks and uplands above the ordinary high-water line are mostly private property, and the Florida Museum's definition of state lands excludes both private property and state parks", "Human artifacts — arrowheads, pottery — cannot be collected under a fossil permit; removing them from state lands is a crime under Fla. Stat. § 267.13" ], "governing_rules": [ "Fla. Stat. §§ 1004.57–1004.576 — Program of Vertebrate Paleontology", "Fla. Stat. § 253.03 — sovereignty submerged lands", "Fla. Admin. Code R. 62D-2.013", "Fla. Stat. § 267.13 — archaeological resources", "DeSoto County Parks & Recreation; Hardee County" ], "required_permits": [ "Florida Fossil Permit (vertebrate fossils) ($5 per year — the application fee is capped at $5 by Fla. Stat. § 1004.576)", "Brownville Park day entry (DeSoto County) ($2/day; $25 annual pass; campers exempt)" ], "sources": [ "https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/Peace_R_Guide_5.pdf", "https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-fossil-permit/", "https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-fossil-permit/legal-info", "https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/1004.576", "https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/253.03", "https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/267.13", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/florida/Fla-Admin-Code-Ann-R-62D-2-013", "https://www.desotobocc.com/418/Brownville-Park-Campground", "https://www.desotobocc.com/361/River-Levels", "https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/earth-systems/blog/action-of-the-week-go-fossil-hunting" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-14", "last_updated": "2026-09-28", "lat": 27.2979, "lng": -81.8465, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/florida/venice-beach-fossil-hunting", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Venice Beach", "county": "Sarasota", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Fossil shark teeth need no permit at Venice Beach. But the ordinance that allows them exempts material that washes up, not material you dig out.", "conditions": [ "Shark and stingray teeth, invertebrate fossils and fossil plants are exempt from the Florida Fossil Permit and may be kept for personal use", "Vertebrate bone — whale, dugong, horse, tapir, Ice Age mammal — collected from state land requires a Florida Fossil Permit from the Florida Museum of Natural History, capped by statute at $5", "City of Venice Code § 46-62(a)(12) and Sarasota County Code § 90-33(a)(16) both prohibit digging or removing fossils from beaches; the exemption in each covers \"shells, sharks' teeth, and other natural materials that wash up\"", "Sifting loose surf-zone shell hash is the accepted practice; cutting into the beach face, bank or dune is not within either exemption", "Caspersen Beach Park remains closed to vehicles after the 2024 storms — pedestrian and bicycle access only, with parking at South Brohard Park", "A fossil permit never authorizes artifact collection; human artifacts on state land require a separate 1A-32 archaeological research permit" ], "governing_rules": [ "Fla. Stat. §§ 1004.57, 1004.575, 1004.576 — Program of Vertebrate Paleontology", "Sarasota County Code § 90-33(a)(16), § 90-38", "City of Venice Code § 46-62(a)(12), § 46-62(b)(1)" ], "required_permits": [ "Florida Fossil Permit (vertebrate fossils) (Application/renewal fee capped at $5 by Fla. Stat. § 1004.576)" ], "sources": [ "https://library.municode.com/fl/venice/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPAGEOR_CH46PARE", "https://library.municode.com/fl/sarasota_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH90PAREPULA", "https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-fossil-permit/legal-info", "https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/1004.576", "https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/1004.575", "https://sarasota.wateratlas.usf.edu/upload/documents/FAQs-about-Sharks-Teeth.pdf", "https://www.scgov.net/government/emergency-services/hurricane-recovery-7270", "https://www.sarasotacountyparks.com/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/603/6738" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-10", "last_updated": "2026-09-28", "lat": 27.0688, "lng": -82.4517, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/maryland/calvert-cliffs-state-park", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "maryland", "state_name": "Maryland", "place": "Calvert Cliffs State Park", "county": "Calvert", "land_type": "state-park", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Miocene shark teeth may be collected from the beach at Calvert Cliffs State Park, but the cliffs that produce them are closed — climbing them or walking beneath them is prohibited, and collecting from the cliff face is illegal.", "conditions": [ "Collecting is limited to fossils already lying loose on the beach and in the surf zone, plus material in blocks that have fallen from the cliffs — no permit and no fee beyond parking.", "Collecting from the cliffs themselves is illegal, and climbing on or walking beneath them is prohibited outright because of active landslide risk.", "The beach is reached only on foot: 1.8 miles each way on the Red Trail from the parking lot, so everything you sift with has to be carried in and out.", "Sieves and shovels may be used to sift beach sand — a meaningful contrast with the tool bans at many collecting sites.", "Day use is $5 per vehicle plus $2 for out-of-state vehicles, cash only; the park is open dawn to dusk." ], "governing_rules": [ "Maryland Department of Natural Resources — Maryland Park Service", "COMAR 08.07.06.13 (Use of State Parks — Plants, Rocks, Minerals, and Animals)", "Md. Natural Resources Article § 5-209", "Adjoining shoreline north and south of the park beach" ], "required_permits": [ "Day-use vehicle fee ($5 per vehicle, plus $2 for out-of-state vehicles; $10 small bus, $20 large bus)", "Scientific or commercial collecting permit" ], "sources": [ "https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/southern/calvertcliffs.aspx", "https://www.mgs.md.gov/geology/fossils/fossil_collecting.html", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/maryland/COMAR-08-07-06-13", "https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2025/09/25/hunting-ancient-species-prehistoric-shark-teeth-can-be-found-at-public-lands-near-you/", "https://www.mgs.md.gov/geology/fossils/calvert_cliffs_fs.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-07", "last_updated": "2026-09-07", "lat": 38.4028, "lng": -76.4219, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/maryland/purse-state-park", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "maryland", "state_name": "Maryland", "place": "Purse State Park (Purse Area, Nanjemoy WMA)", "county": "Charles", "land_type": "wildlife-management-area", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Shark-tooth hunting on the Potomac beach at Purse is allowed, and Maryland DNR promotes it. Collect loose material on the shoreline only: the cliffs are off-limits and artifacts can't be kept.", "conditions": [ "Collect loose fossils and shark teeth on the beach shoreline only; Maryland DNR says fossils embedded in the cliffs and riverbanks are protected", "Purse is no longer a state park: it's the Purse Area of Nanjemoy Wildlife Management Area, so the wildlife-area rules in COMAR 08.03.02 apply", "Arrowheads and other artifacts can't be taken, and metal detectors can't be used, without Maryland Historical Trust and DNR permits (COMAR 08.03.02.18)", "The beach is only workable around low tide, and the WMA is open to hunting in season" ], "governing_rules": [ "Maryland DNR Wildlife & Heritage Service — COMAR 08.03.02 (Use of Wildlife Areas)", "Maryland Natural Resources Article § 10-1101", "Maryland Historical Trust" ], "required_permits": [ "Maryland Historical Trust permit + Service use permit" ], "sources": [ "https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2025/09/25/hunting-ancient-species-prehistoric-shark-teeth-can-be-found-at-public-lands-near-you/", "https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/pages/publiclands/southern/nanjemoy.aspx", "https://dsd.maryland.gov/regulations/Pages/08.03.02.10.aspx", "https://dsd.maryland.gov/regulations/Pages/08.03.02.18.aspx", "https://dsd.maryland.gov/regulations/Pages/08.03.02.15.aspx", "https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gnr§ion=10-1101", "https://www.mgs.md.gov/geology/geohazards/marlboro_clay.html", "https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2004/1264/html/trip9/log.html", "https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/stationhome.html?id=8578931" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-28", "last_updated": "2026-09-28", "lat": 38.4303, "lng": -77.2528, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/montana/hell-creek-blm", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "montana", "state_name": "Montana", "place": "Hell Creek (BLM, Montana)", "county": "Garfield", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "The BLM-administered lands in the Hell Creek area of northeastern Montana allow casual collection of invertebrate fossils and petrified wood under PRPA 2009 — 25 lbs/day, no permit. The dinosaur bones this formation is famous for are vertebrate fossils under PRPA and may not be casually collected. The distinction catches nearly every first-time visitor.", "conditions": [ "Common invertebrate fossils (ammonites, bivalves, marine snails from the underlying Bearpaw Shale) and plant fossils may be casually collected, up to 25 lb per person per day, non-commercial (PRPA 2009 / 43 CFR 49.810). Petrified wood has its own federal limit: 25 lb plus one piece per day, 250 lb per year (43 CFR 3622.4)", "CRITICAL: Dinosaur bones, teeth, and tracks — and all other vertebrate material — may NOT be casually collected under any circumstances; research permit required from BLM Miles City Field Office; removal is a federal felony", "Collecting applies to open BLM land only — private ranchland surrounding and interspersed with the BLM sections requires written landowner permission; trespass is common and prosecuted", "Makoshika State Park (Glendive) and the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge sections of this region have separate regulations — no fossil collecting allowed in the NWR", "Commercial sale of casually-collected fossils is prohibited — personal use only under PRPA casual-use rules" ], "governing_rules": [ "Paleontological Resources Preservation Act 2009 (PRPA) — 16 U.S.C. § 470aaa; 43 CFR Part 49", "BLM Miles City Field Office — Resource Management Plan", "Montana Antiquities Act (Mont. Code Ann. § 22-3-421 et seq.)" ], "required_permits": [ "Research permit — vertebrate fossils and scientific collection" ], "sources": [ "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-A/part-49/subpart-I/section-49.810", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-A/part-49/subpart-E/section-49.400", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/3622.4", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/MTDAKs%20Can%20I%20Keep%20This-Collecting%202011.pdf", "https://www.blm.gov/office/miles-city-field-office", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-A/part-49", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/paleontology/collecting-fossils", "https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/public-law/011", "https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0220/chapter_0030/part_0040/sections_index.html", "https://dnrc.mt.gov/_docs/Trust-Land/Recreation/Recreational-Use-Rules-2025.02.07.pdf", "https://rules.mt.gov/gateway/ruleno.asp?RN=12.8.802", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/50/27.61", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/16/668dd" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-13", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 47.33, "lng": -106.92, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#san-rafael-swell-wilderness-fossil-point", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#montana-state-trust-land-fossils", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/montana/judith-river-blm", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "montana", "state_name": "Montana", "place": "Judith River Formation (Judith Landing)", "county": "Fergus", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Fossil collecting is prohibited at the Judith River Formation exposures near Judith Landing — corrects the standard BLM assumption. The Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument's approved management plan bans personal collection of invertebrate fossils and plant material here, not just vertebrates.", "conditions": [ "Unlike standard BLM land, where PRPA 2009 allows casual collection of invertebrate and plant fossils, the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument's approved Resource Management Plan specifically prohibits personal collection of invertebrate fossils, petrified wood, and plant material anywhere within the monument's roughly 377,346 acres", "This ban applies to the classic Judith River Formation exposures at and around Judith Landing, where the river's lower reach — inside the monument boundary — is the formation's namesake location", "Vertebrate fossils (the hadrosaurs, ceratopsians, and other dinosaur material this formation is famous for) are separately prohibited from casual collection on all federal land nationwide under PRPA 2009, monument or not", "The BLM Director added the invertebrate/plant prohibition in the 2008 Record of Decision specifically in response to public protest comments during the RMP process, preserving an exception only for Native American religious and traditional-use access" ], "governing_rules": [ "Bureau of Land Management — Lewistown Field Office", "Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, Approved RMP (2008 Record of Decision)", "Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA 2009, 16 U.S.C. § 470aaa)", "Presidential Proclamation 7398 (2001)" ], "required_permits": [ "Accredited-institution research permit" ], "sources": [ "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/16/470ee", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/16/470aaa-6", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/16/470aaa-5", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-A/part-49/subpart-I", "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2009/01/09/E9-228/notice-of-availability-of-the-record-of-decision-for-the-upper-missouri-river-breaks-national", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/montana-dakotas/upper-missouri-river-breaks", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/MT%20BLM%20UMRBNM%20Proclamation.pdf", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/Paleontological%20Resources%20Preservation%20Act.pdf", "https://www.blm.gov/office/lewistown-field-office" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-24", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 47.7389, "lng": -109.6233, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#prpa-penalty-figures" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/montana/two-medicine-blm", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "montana", "state_name": "Montana", "place": "Two Medicine Formation (Bynum/Choteau)", "county": "Teton", "land_type": "mixed-private-public", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": true, "summary": "Casual fossil collecting here runs through a private guided-dig program in Bynum, not free BLM land — Egg Mountain itself is closed to the public.", "conditions": [ "The realistic way most visitors dig Two Medicine Formation fossils is through the Montana Dinosaur Center's paid guided Fossil Expeditions in Bynum ($110 for a half-day site tour, $225 for an 8-hour day-dig, June–September), on the Center's own private/leased active sites — not free casual collecting on public land", "Egg Mountain, the formation's most famous locality and the site of the original 1978–79 Maiasaura nesting discoveries, is private property owned by the Museum of the Rockies (Bozeman) and closed to public access entirely — it is not open for a visit at any price, guided or otherwise", "No specific, mapped BLM Havre Field Office parcel with confirmed public casual-collecting access to Two Medicine Formation exposures was found for this page; the standard federal PRPA framework (invertebrate/plant collecting allowed, vertebrate material prohibited without a research permit) would apply on any genuinely open BLM land bearing this formation, but that's a general rule, not a specific named site", "Because the Montana Dinosaur Center's dig sites are on private or privately-leased ground, the federal PRPA vertebrate/invertebrate distinction that governs most fossil-hunting pages on this site doesn't directly apply there — the program's own rules, not federal land-management law, set the terms", "Bynum, Choteau, and Egg Mountain all sit in Teton County, not Glacier County — a mix-up that likely comes from the formation's general proximity to Glacier National Park, which itself is roughly 60 miles further northwest in Glacier and Flathead counties" ], "governing_rules": [ "Museum of the Rockies (Bozeman) — Egg Mountain", "Montana Dinosaur Center (formerly Two Medicine Dinosaur Center), Bynum", "BLM Havre Field Office", "Paleontological Resources Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 470aaa et seq." ], "required_permits": [ "Montana Dinosaur Center Fossil Expedition ($110 (half-day site tour) / $225 (8-hour day-dig); Montana residents historically offered a 50% discount)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.nps.gov/articles/mesozoic-egg-mountain-dawson-2014.htm", "https://tmdinosaurcenter.org/montana-dinosaur-dig-programs/program-faq/", "https://www.blm.gov/policy/im-2012-140", "https://helenair.com/news/state-regional/nature-conservancy-sells-dino-dig-site-to-museum-of-the-rockies/article_c19fe8af-3d48-5280-a44e-ec242ebf16b0.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-28", "last_updated": "2026-08-28", "lat": 47.9884, "lng": -112.3438, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/new-jersey/big-brook-preserve", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "new-jersey", "state_name": "New Jersey", "place": "Big Brook Preserve", "county": "Monmouth", "land_type": "county-park", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Fossil hunting at Big Brook needs no permit for small groups, but Monmouth County and Colts Neck each set their own limits on the same creek.", "conditions": [ "No permit or fee for individuals. Monmouth County caps groups at 10 without a Naturalist-led program, and Colts Neck requires a $25 permit for groups of 15–29 and $50 for 30 or more.", "Collect only in the stream itself. Both codes ban digging into or extracting fossils from the banks above the waterline.", "Limits differ by jurisdiction: Monmouth County allows what fits in a 12-oz can or sandwich bag per person per day, while Colts Neck caps harvest at five fossils per person per day, with a 6-inch trowel and an 18-inch screen", "Colts Neck's Hillsdale Road entrance has been closed by police order 'until further notice' since August 2025; use the county's Boundary Road lot in Marlboro", "Archaeological items and modern valuables found in the county park must be turned over to Park System staff within 48 hours" ], "governing_rules": [ "Monmouth County Park System — Supplemental Rules Governing the Hunting and Collecting of Fossils at Big Brook Park", "Township of Colts Neck Code, Chapter 177, Article VII (§§ 177-43 to 177-48), Big Brook Preserve; 2019 Rules and Policies" ], "required_permits": [ "Colts Neck group fossil-collecting permit ($25 for groups of 15–29; $50 for groups of 30 or more)", "Monmouth County groups larger than 10" ], "sources": [ "https://www.co.monmouth.nj.us/documents/132/Supplemental_Rules_Fossils_at_Big_Brook.pdf", "https://www.monmouthcountyparks.com/page.aspx?Id=2549", "https://coltsneck.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Chapter-177-Big-Brook-Preserve.pdf", "https://coltsneck.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2019-Big-Brook-Rules-and-Policies.pdf", "https://coltsneck.org/big-brook-preserve-entrance-closed/", "https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-40/section-40-49-5/", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8365.1-5", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/michigan/Mich-Admin-Code-R-299-922", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/49.810" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-17", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 40.3329, "lng": -74.2211, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/north-carolina/aurora-fossil-museum", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "north-carolina", "state_name": "North Carolina", "place": "Aurora Fossil Museum Fossil Park", "county": "Beaufort", "land_type": "private-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Fossil collecting is free at the Aurora Fossil Museum's two public pits, and everything you find is yours to keep — shark teeth and whale bone included.", "conditions": [ "Collecting is confined to the two public pits in the Fossil Park across Main Street from the museum. The Nutrien phosphate mine that supplies the material is an active industrial site and has not admitted public fossil collectors since 2009.", "Digging tool handles must be under 36 inches — a garden trowel or small hand rake, not a shovel. Screens are capped at 12 in × 12 in with 1/4-inch maximum mesh.", "Everything you find is yours. This is donated private spoil, not federal land, so the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act's vertebrate-fossil permit requirement does not reach it.", "Admission to both the museum and the Fossil Park is free, and the pits are open during daylight hours daily — but the whole site closes for roughly a week each May while the NC Fossil Festival is set up." ], "governing_rules": [ "Aurora Fossil Museum Foundation, Inc.", "Nutrien Phosphate Aurora (the Lee Creek mine)", "North Carolina — no state fossil-collecting permit", "Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. §§ 470aaa et seq.)" ], "required_permits": [ "Access to the Nutrien (Lee Creek) mine" ], "sources": [ "https://aurorafossilmuseum.org/", "https://aurorafossilmuseum.org/post/22/aurora-phosphate-mine.html", "https://www.naturalsciences.org/learn/faqs/paleo-faq", "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_14/GS_14-159.13.pdf", "https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_145/gs_145-41.html", "https://www.ncparks.gov/about-us/guidelines-park-rules-and-regulations", "https://repository.si.edu/handle/10088/1975", "https://mediahub.unc.edu/small-but-mighty-aurora-north-carolina-is-the-fossil-capital-of-the-world/" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-21", "last_updated": "2026-09-21", "lat": 35.3056, "lng": -76.7886, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/south-carolina/folly-beach-fossil-hunting", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "south-carolina", "state_name": "South Carolina", "place": "Folly Beach", "county": "Charleston", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Shark teeth can be collected on the City of Folly Beach strand with no permit, but county rules bar removing materials at both county-run ends of the island.", "conditions": [ "No permit to pick up fossil shark teeth on the city beach, from the dry sand down through the wet sand exposed on a falling tide", "State jurisdiction starts at the mean low-water mark. Collecting fossils from the bottom below that line requires a SCIAA Hobby License, which allows hand pickup only and no tools, digging or sifting.", "Folly Beach County Park (west end) and Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve (east end) are run by Charleston County Parks, whose 2026 agency rules bar removing 'any rock, stone, plant, wood, or other materials'", "City beach rules: no hole deeper than 1 foot, fill every hole, no metal shovels, stay off the dunes. City ordinance fines run up to $1,092." ], "governing_rules": [ "South Carolina Underwater Antiquities Act, S.C. Code § 54-7-610 et seq. (Hobby License, § 54-7-670)", "Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission 2026 Rules & Regulations; Folly Beach County Park and Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve facility rules", "City of Folly Beach beach rules and ordinances" ], "required_permits": [ "SCIAA Hobby License (collecting below mean low water)", "Paid parking ($3/hour on East Arctic Avenue through 5th Street East; lot rates vary by location (new schedule since September 1, 2025))" ], "sources": [ "https://cityoffollybeach.com/rules_regulations/index.php", "https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/sc-institute-archaeology-and-anthropology/divisions/maritime_research/hobbylicenses/hobbylicensefaq/", "https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t54c007.php", "https://www.ccprc.com/parks/park-facility-rules/lighthouse-inlet-heritage-preserve-rules/", "https://www.ccprc.com/parks/park-facility-rules/folly-beach-county-park-rules/", "https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/sv-charleston/image/upload/v1/clients/charlestoncountysc/Final_Agency_Rules_and_Regulations_2026_2__179abcd8-1cc2-47d3-a23a-28e98a4dc2ee.pdf", "https://cityoffollybeach.com/rules_regulations/hot_topic_beach_preservation.php", "https://www.parkfollybeach.org/" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-17", "last_updated": "2026-09-17", "lat": 32.655, "lng": -79.9396, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/south-carolina/huntington-beach-state-park-fossils", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "south-carolina", "state_name": "South Carolina", "place": "Huntington Beach State Park", "county": "Georgetown", "land_type": "state-park", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Fossil and shark-tooth collecting is prohibited at Huntington Beach State Park under S.C. Code § 51-3-145, even though South Carolina's own tourism materials list it as a top shark-tooth beach.", "conditions": [ "S.C. Code § 51-3-145 bars removing any rock, mineral, or geological feature from a South Carolina state park without a Department-issued permit, and SC State Parks' own FAQ applies that rule to fossils and minerals", "No public application process for a casual fossil-collecting permit is published — the statute's permit clause exists for research or institutional use, not day visitors", "South Carolina's separate Hobby License (S.C. Code § 54-7-670) only governs collecting below the mean low-water mark; it has no bearing on this park's dry-beach rule", "Folly Beach and other non-state-park South Carolina beaches are not covered by § 51-3-145 and allow free surface collecting above the low-water mark under the state's general norm" ], "governing_rules": [], "required_permits": [ "SC State Parks natural-resource removal permit" ], "sources": [ "https://southcarolinaparks.com/faqs", "https://law.justia.com/codes/south-carolina/title-51/chapter-3/section-51-3-145/", "https://law.justia.com/codes/south-carolina/2012/title-51/chapter-3/section-51-3-146/", "https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/sc-institute-archaeology-and-anthropology/divisions/maritime_research/hobbylicenses/hobbylicensefaq/", "https://southcarolinaparks.com/huntington-beach" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-08", "last_updated": "2026-09-08", "lat": 33.5139, "lng": -79.0611, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/south-dakota/badlands-national-park", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "south-dakota", "state_name": "South Dakota", "place": "Badlands National Park", "county": "Pennington Jackson", "land_type": "national-park", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Fossil collecting is prohibited at Badlands National Park under NPS regulations and PRPA 2009. The White River Badlands contain the richest Oligocene mammal fossil record on Earth — none of it can be collected, but significant finds are exposed by erosion and must be reported to a ranger.", "conditions": [ "All fossil collection is prohibited under NPS regulations (36 CFR 2.1) and PRPA 2009 — this applies to all material including surface fragments and isolated bone chips", "Do not pick up, move, or pocket any fossil material — even temporarily, before 'replacing' it, is a violation", "If you find an exposed fossil on a trail or overlook, note the GPS location and report it to a ranger at the nearest visitor contact station immediately", "Removal penalties are severe: a knowing violation of PRPA can bring Title 18 fines and up to 5 years in prison (2 years if the value is $500 or less)", "Adjacent Buffalo Gap National Grassland (USDA-FS, outside park boundary) has different rules — some invertebrate fossil casual collection may be permitted there under PRPA framework" ], "governing_rules": [ "National Park Service — Badlands National Park", "Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA 2009, 16 U.S.C. § 470aaa)" ], "required_permits": [ "Paleontological research permit" ], "sources": [ "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/16/470aaa-6", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/16/470aaa-5", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/291.5", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-A/part-49/subpart-I/section-49.810", "https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/paleontology-badl.htm", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/2.1", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/paleontology/paleontology-management" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-01", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 43.7466, "lng": -101.9394, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#badlands-prpa-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#prpa-penalty-figures" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/utah/cleveland-lloyd", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "utah", "state_name": "Utah", "place": "Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry — BLM", "county": "Emery", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry is a BLM-managed National Natural Landmark containing the densest concentration of Jurassic dinosaur fossils ever discovered — over 12,000 bones from 74 individuals representing 16+ species have been excavated here. Fossil collection is completely prohibited: the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA) prohibits casual collection of vertebrate fossils on all federal land. The quarry is open for observation and education; a small visitor center interprets the site's paleontological significance.", "conditions": [ "All public fossil collection is prohibited under the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA, 16 U.S.C. §§ 470aaa et seq.) — applies to all vertebrate fossils on all federal land including BLM", "Unlike some BLM casual-use sites, Cleveland-Lloyd's status as a National Natural Landmark and active research quarry means even surface invertebrate fossil collection is not permitted", "Scientific research excavation is conducted under PRPA permits by qualified research institutions — University of Utah and others have active agreements with the BLM Price Field Office", "Visiting the site, viewing fossil material in the visitor center, and observing active excavation (when in progress) is permitted and free of charge", "No permit category exists for public collection at this specific site" ], "governing_rules": [ "Paleontological Resources Preservation Act — PRPA (16 U.S.C. §§ 470aaa et seq.)", "BLM Price Field Office — National Natural Landmark Management" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.blm.gov/visit/cleveland-lloyd-dinosaur-quarry", "https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/fossil-protection.htm", "https://www.blm.gov/office/price-field-office", "https://ugspub.nr.utah.gov/publications/bulletins/B-109.pdf", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/49.810" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-28", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 39.3253, "lng": -110.6962, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#grand-staircase-escalante-verdict", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/utah/coyote-buttes-blm", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "utah", "state_name": "Utah", "place": "Coyote Buttes / Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness", "county": "Kane", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "unclear", "permit_required": true, "summary": "The Coyote Buttes permit lottery controls who can enter — it does not settle whether fossils can be collected. Trace fossils in the Navajo Sandstone here, including documented dinosaur tracks, fall under a Wilderness and National Monument overlay with no published casual-collection policy.", "conditions": [ "A day-use hiking permit from the Recreation.gov lottery is mandatory just to enter Coyote Buttes North or South — but that permit authorizes access to the area, not fossil collecting; the two are separate legal questions", "No published BLM decision specific to casual invertebrate or plant fossil collecting within the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument / Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness overlay could be located as of July 2026 — contact the Arizona Strip Field Office at (435) 688-3200 before removing any fossil material", "Vertebrate fossil material — including the documented dinosaur trackways and fossilized arthropod burrows in the Navajo Sandstone — may not be collected under any circumstances under the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act; in-place trace fossils cannot legally be removed regardless of type", "Wilderness Act restrictions apply on top of any fossil rule: mechanized and motorized tools are prohibited throughout the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, and any ground disturbance must be negligible", "The 2000 presidential proclamation establishing the monument carries the standard Antiquities Act warning against appropriating, injuring, or removing any feature of the monument — a broad instruction a prudent visitor should treat as discouraging collection of any natural object pending direct confirmation from the field office" ], "governing_rules": [ "Presidential Proclamation 7374 (2000) — Vermilion Cliffs National Monument", "Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness (designated 1984)", "Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. §§ 470aaa et seq.)", "BLM Arizona Strip Field Office" ], "required_permits": [ "Coyote Buttes North / South day-use hiking permit ($9 non-refundable lottery application fee, plus $7 per person/dog if selected (Advanced Lottery); fee structure differs slightly for the Daily Geofence Lottery)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/2932.57", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-passes/lotteries-and-permit-systems/arizona/coyote-buttes-north", "https://www.blm.gov/visit/paria-canyon-vermilion-cliffs-wilderness", "https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/proclamation-7374-vermilion-cliffs-national-monument", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/paleontology/collecting-fossils", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/49.810", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/documents/files/Grand%20Staircase-Escalante%20National%20Monument%20Presidential%20Proclamation%206920.pdf" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-13", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 37.0191, "lng": -112.0248, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#grand-staircase-escalante-verdict", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/utah/dinosaur-national-monument", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "utah", "state_name": "Utah", "place": "Dinosaur National Monument", "county": "Uintah", "land_type": "national-monument", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Fossil collection is strictly prohibited at Dinosaur National Monument under NPS regulations and the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act. The monument was established specifically to protect Late Jurassic fossils — including Allosaurus, Stegosaurus, Diplodocus, and Camarasaurus — and contains one of the most significant vertebrate fossil deposits in the world. The Carnegie Quarry Exhibit Hall allows visitors to observe over 1,500 fossil bones still embedded in the cliff face.", "conditions": [ "All fossil collection by the public is strictly prohibited at Dinosaur National Monument under 36 CFR § 2.1(a)(1) and the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. §§ 470aaa et seq.)", "The prohibition covers all fossils including invertebrates, plants, trace fossils, and vertebrate material — regardless of size, perceived scientific significance, or location within the monument", "Scientific research excavation may be conducted under a PRPA scientific permit issued to qualified researchers — not available to the public", "Observing fossils in situ (Carnegie Quarry Exhibit Hall, roadside exposures) is permitted and encouraged", "Photography of all visible fossils is permitted" ], "governing_rules": [ "36 CFR § 2.1(a)(1) — National Park Service Regulations", "Paleontological Resources Preservation Act — PRPA (16 U.S.C. §§ 470aaa et seq.)", "Antiquities Act of 1906 (16 U.S.C. §§ 431–433)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.nps.gov/dino/index.htm", "https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/fossil-protection.htm", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-I/part-2/section-2.1", "https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/1291/report.pdf" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-24", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 40.4375, "lng": -108.9983, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#grand-staircase-escalante-verdict" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/utah/flaming-gorge-blm", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "utah", "state_name": "Utah", "place": "Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area", "county": "Daggett", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Casual collection of invertebrate and plant fossils from the Green River Formation is allowed at Flaming Gorge NRA. The fish fossils this formation is famous for are vertebrate material — collecting them here requires a research permit.", "conditions": [ "Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is managed by the U.S. Forest Service (Ashley National Forest), not BLM, despite the area frequently being mislabeled as BLM land in rockhounding and fossil-hunting references — Forest Service casual-collecting rules under PRPA 2009 apply here", "Common invertebrate and plant fossils from the Green River Formation — freshwater mollusk shells, ostracods, algal/stromatolite structures, and plant impressions — may be casually collected for personal, non-commercial use without a permit", "CRITICAL: vertebrate fossils, including the fish fossils this formation is famous for elsewhere, may NOT be casually collected anywhere in the recreation area; a federal research permit issued to a qualified paleontologist is required", "The exceptional fossil-fish slabs sold commercially and displayed in museums come from a different structural basin — the Fossil Basin near Kemmerer, Wyoming, roughly 100 miles away — where licensed private fee-dig quarries, not this recreation area, are the legal way to collect and keep fish fossils", "A Recreation Use Pass ($5/day, $15/16 days, $35/year) is required at boat launches and the Little Hole National Recreation Trail — unrelated to fossil-collecting rules but required for many access points" ], "governing_rules": [ "U.S. Forest Service — Ashley National Forest, Flaming Gorge Ranger District", "Paleontological Resources Preservation Act 2009 — 16 U.S.C. § 470aaa; 36 CFR Part 291", "36 CFR § 261.9(i)" ], "required_permits": [ "Research permit — vertebrate fossils", "Recreation Use Pass ($5/day, $15/16 days, $35/year)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/science-technology/geology/paleontology/casual-collecting", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-291", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-261", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/ashley/recreation/flaming-gorge-national-recreation-area-0", "https://daggettcounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4891/FGNRA_Use_Pass_Info", "https://www.fossilsafari.com/green-river-formation-fossils/" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-30", "last_updated": "2026-07-30", "lat": 40.8919, "lng": -109.5614, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/utah/grand-staircase-escalante-blm", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "utah", "state_name": "Utah", "place": "Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument — BLM", "county": "Kane", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "unclear", "permit_required": false, "summary": "The rules here changed in 2026. Proclamation 11044 shrank Grand Staircase-Escalante to about 181,541 acres in two units, effective September 11, 2026. Inside those units, fossil collecting stays closed. On the roughly 1.69 million acres now outside the monument, BLM hasn't yet said whether the ordinary 25 lb/day casual-collecting rule applies, so confirm with BLM Kanab at (435) 644-1200 before you collect. Vertebrate fossils need a research permit everywhere on federal land.", "conditions": [ "Proclamation 11044 (July 13, 2026, effective September 11, 2026) reduced the monument from about 1.87 million acres to about 181,541 acres, in two units: the Canyons of the Escalante Unit and the Kaiparowits Horizon Unit", "Inside the two remaining units: no casual fossil collecting, including common invertebrate and plant fossils. The monument has been closed to hobby collecting since Proclamation 6920 (1996), and the Kaiparowits Horizon Unit was kept specifically to protect its dinosaur bonebeds", "On the roughly 1.69 million acres removed from the monument: BLM has not yet published how casual fossil collecting will be managed. The 25 lb/day allowance in 43 CFR 49.810 covers BLM land unless a proclamation or land use plan closes it (43 CFR 49.805(a)), and the January 2025 monument plan was written for the old boundaries. Until BLM clarifies, confirm with BLM Kanab at (435) 644-1200 before collecting anything", "Vertebrate fossils (bones, teeth, tracks of any backboned animal) may NOT be collected on any federal land without a PRPA research permit, inside or outside the monument", "Found something? Leave it in place, note the GPS location and report it to BLM" ], "governing_rules": [ "Presidential Proclamation 11044 (2026) — Modifying the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument", "Presidential Proclamations 6920 (1996) and 10286 (2021) — Antiquities Act", "BLM Paria River District (Kanab) — GSENM Approved Resource Management Plan (January 2025)", "Paleontological Resources Preservation Act — PRPA (16 U.S.C. §§ 470aaa et seq.); 43 CFR Part 49" ], "required_permits": [ "Paleontological research permit" ], "sources": [ "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/17/2026-14549/modifying-the-grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument", "https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/07/modifying-the-grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument/", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/utah/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument", "https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/fossil-protection.htm", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/rockhounding", "https://www.blm.gov/blog/2022-02-11/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument-nets-important-dinosaur-discovery", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/documents/files/Grand%20Staircase-Escalante%20National%20Monument%20Presidential%20Proclamation%206920.pdf", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/plans-in-development/utah/gsenm-rmp", "https://npshistory.com/publications/blm/grand-staircase-escalante/handout-2020.pdf", "https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4p99h1nq", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/49.805", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/49.810", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/16/470aaa-5" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-25", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 37.4043, "lng": -111.5977, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#grand-staircase-escalante-verdict", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/utah/san-rafael-swell", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "utah", "state_name": "Utah", "place": "San Rafael Swell (BLM)", "county": "Emery", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Casual collection of common invertebrate and plant fossils is allowed on open BLM land in the San Rafael Swell — up to 25 lb a day, personal use, no permit (43 CFR 49.810). Vertebrate fossils need a federal research permit. Jurassic National Monument is a paleontological conservation unit, and collecting rules in the Swell's 2019 wilderness areas depend on a BLM plan that isn't final yet, so check with the Price Field Office before collecting there.", "conditions": [ "Common invertebrate and plant fossils may be casually collected for personal, non-commercial use — up to 25 lb per person per day (43 CFR 49.810(a)(2)). There is no annual cap for fossils", "CRITICAL: Vertebrate fossils (bones, teeth, tracks of any animal with a backbone) may NOT be casually collected — a federal research permit is required; removing one without a permit carries fines under title 18 and up to 5 years in prison (up to 2 years if the fossils' value plus restoration cost is $500 or less; doubled for a repeat offense), under 16 U.S.C. 470aaa-5", "Jurassic National Monument (including the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry) at the Swell's northern edge is a paleontological conservation unit under the 2019 Dingell Act; treat it as closed to collecting", "Areas within Jurassic National Monument (established 2019) and the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry vicinity: all collecting prohibited regardless of fossil type", "The 2019 Dingell Act created wilderness areas in and around the Swell (including San Rafael Reef, Sid's Mountain, Mexican Mountain, Muddy Creek, Little Wild Horse Canyon and Horse Valley). BLM policy lets wilderness plans ban casual fossil collecting, and the plan for these areas isn't final, so confirm with the Price Field Office before collecting inside them", "Commercial sale of casually-collected fossils is prohibited — personal use only under PRPA casual-use exemption" ], "governing_rules": [ "Paleontological Resources Preservation Act 2009 (PRPA) — 16 U.S.C. § 470aaa; 43 CFR Part 49", "Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) — 16 U.S.C. § 470aa", "BLM Price Field Office — San Rafael Swell Recreation Area (John D. Dingell Jr. Act, 2019)" ], "required_permits": [ "Research permit (vertebrate fossils and scientific collection)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-111publ11/html/PLAW-111publ11.htm", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-B/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-49", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/49.810", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/paleontology/collecting-fossils", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/16/470aaa-5", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/3622.4", "https://www.blm.gov/office/price-field-office", "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-116publ9/html/PLAW-116publ9.htm", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/49.805", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/uploads/mediacenter_blmpolicymanual6340.pdf", "https://www.blm.gov/documents/utah/public-room/permits/paleontology-permit-application-instructions", "https://www.blm.gov/visit/fossil-point-trailhead", "https://www.blm.gov/announcement/blm-issues-final-analysis-proposed-san-rafael-swell-management-updates", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8340.0-7" ], "last_verified": "2026-10-12", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 38.8427, "lng": -110.8113, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#san-rafael-swell-wilderness-fossil-point", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/wyoming/como-bluff-blm", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "wyoming", "state_name": "Wyoming", "place": "Como Bluff", "county": "Carbon", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Como Bluff is open for casual collection of invertebrate and plant fossils from the Sundance and Morrison Formations. The dinosaur fossils that made this site famous — Diplodocus, Camarasaurus, Stegosaurus — are vertebrate material and prohibited from casual collection under PRPA 2009.", "conditions": [ "Invertebrate and plant fossils: casual collection allowed up to 25 lb per person per day on BLM land under PRPA 2009 and 43 CFR 49.810", "Vertebrate fossils (dinosaur bones, teeth, tracks, and any fish or reptile material): prohibited from casual collection — all vertebrate material must be left in place", "No motorized excavation tools; hand tools only for surface and near-surface collection", "Wyoming law also requires a State Board of Land Commissioners permit before any excavation of paleontological deposits on state or federal land (W.S. 36-1-114); removing more than $500 worth in violation is a felony (W.S. 36-1-116(d)). Keep to surface collecting with negligible disturbance, as federal casual collecting requires", "Leave any vertebrate fossil in place; BLM asks that you report it to the Rawlins Field Office at (307) 328-4200", "No permit required for invertebrate/plant casual collection; research permit required for any vertebrate collection (not available to public recreationists)" ], "governing_rules": [ "Bureau of Land Management — Rawlins Field Office", "Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA 2009, 16 U.S.C. § 470aaa)" ], "required_permits": [ "Vertebrate fossil collection" ], "sources": [ "https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title36.pdf", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/16/470aaa-3", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/paleontology/paleontology-management", "https://www.blm.gov/office/rawlins-field-office", "https://www.congress.gov/111/plaws/publ11/PLAW-111publ11.pdf", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-A/part-49/subpart-I/section-49.810", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/3622.4", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/paleontology/collecting-fossils" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-01", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 41.683, "lng": -105.93, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#wyoming-fossil-penalties-quarries-state-permit", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#grand-staircase-escalante-verdict", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/wyoming/fossil-butte-nm", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "wyoming", "state_name": "Wyoming", "place": "Fossil Butte National Monument", "county": "Lincoln", "land_type": "national-park", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "All fossil collecting is prohibited at Fossil Butte National Monument under 36 CFR 2.1 — the federal casual-collection allowance that applies to nearby BLM land does not extend to National Park Service units. Private fee-dig quarries three minutes from the visitor center offer the legal alternative.", "conditions": [ "Collecting any fossil, rock, or natural object is prohibited under 36 CFR 2.1(a)(1) — this covers surface fragments and loose shale pieces, not just intact specimens", "PRPA 2009's casual-collection allowance for invertebrate and plant fossils applies only to BLM and Bureau of Reclamation land under 43 CFR Part 49 — it does not extend to National Park Service units, so 'it's just a fish fossil' is not an exception here", "Entry to the monument, visitor center, and trails is free — no fee or permit needed simply to visit and observe", "Private fee-dig quarries (Warfield Fossil Quarries, American Fossil, Ulrich's Fossil Gallery) operate on state and private land minutes from the monument boundary near Kemmerer, where visitors can pay to dig and keep common fish fossils — this is the legal alternative most visitors are actually looking for" ], "governing_rules": [ "National Park Service — 36 CFR 2.1", "Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA 2009), 16 U.S.C. §§ 470aaa et seq." ], "required_permits": [ "Scientific collection permit (36 CFR 2.5)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.nps.gov/fobu/faqs.htm", "https://www.nps.gov/fobu/learn/news/shed-hunters-reminded-that-collecting-is-not-permitted-in-the-monument.htm", "https://www.nps.gov/fobu/planyourvisit/fees.htm", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-A/part-49/subpart-I", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-A/part-49/subpart-I/section-49.800", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/16/chapter-1C" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-07", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 41.8564, "lng": -110.7625, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#wyoming-fossil-penalties-quarries-state-permit" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/wyoming/green-river-formation-blm", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "wyoming", "state_name": "Wyoming", "place": "Green River Formation (BLM)", "county": "Lincoln", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "The Green River Formation's famous Knightia fish are vertebrate material — casual collecting on open BLM land near Kemmerer does not include them, despite widespread mislabeling as an invertebrate fossil. Plant and insect fossils are casually collectable under PRPA 2009; the fish come only from fee-dig quarries on leased or private ground.", "conditions": [ "Common invertebrate and plant fossils (insects, plant impressions, ostracods) may be casually collected on open BLM land. The limit is 25 lb per person per day, no permit, under PRPA 2009 and 43 CFR 49.810", "CRITICAL: Knightia and all other Green River fish are vertebrate material, not invertebrate, despite frequent mislabeling — casual collecting does not cover them on BLM land under any circumstance", "The famous fee-dig quarries near Kemmerer (American Fossil, Fossil Lake Safari, and others) operate on private land or Wyoming state trust land, where the state issues commercial fossil permits — not on BLM land, where fossils can't be sold", "Wyoming law also requires a State Board of Land Commissioners permit before any excavation of paleontological deposits on state or federal land (W.S. 36-1-114); removing more than $500 worth in violation is a felony (W.S. 36-1-116(d)). Keep to surface collecting with negligible disturbance, as federal casual collecting requires", "This area is checkerboarded — alternating public BLM and private sections from 19th-century railroad land grants — so confirm you're on public land before collecting anything", "Fossil Butte National Monument, a short drive west, prohibits all collecting of any kind under 36 CFR 2.1" ], "governing_rules": [ "Paleontological Resources Preservation Act 2009 (PRPA) — 16 U.S.C. § 470aaa; 43 CFR Part 49", "BLM Kemmerer Field Office", "Commercial fee-dig quarries (American Fossil, Fossil Lake Safari, Ulrich's Fossil Gallery, and others)" ], "required_permits": [ "Vertebrate fossil collecting (fish, reptiles, birds, mammals)", "Fee-dig quarry day pass (Typically $65–$89 for several hours of supervised digging, varying by operator)" ], "sources": [ "https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title36.pdf", "https://www.blm.gov/policy/im-2009-113", "https://www.blm.gov/office/kemmerer-field-office", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-A/part-49", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-A/part-49/subpart-I/section-49.810", "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/08/02/2022-16405/paleontological-resources-preservation", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/paleontology/collecting-fossils", "https://fossilbasin.org/fossil-digging/", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_River_Formation" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-03", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 41.797, "lng": -110.652, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#wyoming-fossil-penalties-quarries-state-permit", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/fossil-hunting/wyoming/lance-formation-blm", "hobby": "fossil-hunting", "hobby_name": "Fossil Hunting", "state": "wyoming", "state_name": "Wyoming", "place": "Lance Creek Fossil Site (BLM)", "county": "Niobrara", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Casual collecting of invertebrate and plant fossils is allowed without a permit at the BLM's Lance Creek Fossil Site — but this exact drainage is the type locality for Triceratops and Torosaurus, and that history makes the standard PRPA ban on unpermitted vertebrate collecting matter more here than almost anywhere else.", "conditions": [ "Casual collecting of common invertebrate fossils (mollusks, ostracods) and plant fossils is allowed without a permit under PRPA 2009 and 43 CFR 49.810, up to 25 lb per person per day", "Wyoming law also requires a State Board of Land Commissioners permit before any excavation of paleontological deposits on state or federal land (W.S. 36-1-114); removing more than $500 worth in violation is a felony (W.S. 36-1-116(d)). Keep to surface collecting with negligible disturbance, as federal casual collecting requires", "Vertebrate fossils — dinosaur bone, teeth, and any other vertebrate material — cannot be collected without a research permit, and this rule carries unusual weight here: the Lance Formation is named for this exact creek, where John Bell Hatcher collected more than 50 ceratopsian skeletons for O.C. Marsh between 1889 and 1892, including the first known Triceratops and Torosaurus specimens", "The BLM recreation site sits in sagebrush steppe with no developed facilities — dispersed camping is allowed, but there's no visitor center, water, or marked collecting trail", "Motorized vehicle use is limited to designated roads; off-road travel across the fragile badlands exposures is not permitted", "If you find what looks like a significant vertebrate specimen, the correct move is to leave it in place, photograph it, record the GPS location, and report it to the BLM Newcastle Field Office — not to extract it yourself" ], "governing_rules": [ "BLM Newcastle Field Office", "Paleontological Resources Preservation Act of 2009 (PRPA)", "43 CFR Part 49" ], "required_permits": [ "Vertebrate fossil collection permit" ], "sources": [ "https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title36.pdf", "https://www.blm.gov/visit/lance-creek-fossil-site", "https://www.blm.gov/office/newcastle-field-office", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/paleontology/collecting-fossils", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-A/part-49/subpart-I/section-49.810", "https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/niobrara-county-wyoming", "https://statesymbolsusa.org/wyoming/dinosaur-or-fossil/triceratops" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-19", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 43.0346, "lng": -104.64734, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#wyoming-fossil-penalties-quarries-state-permit", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/gold-panning/alaska/crow-creek-mine", "hobby": "gold-panning", "hobby_name": "Gold Panning", "state": "alaska", "state_name": "Alaska", "place": "Crow Creek Mine", "county": "Municipality of Anchorage", "land_type": "fee-dig-site", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Gold panning is allowed at Crow Creek Mine for a $39 adult fee, with no government permit, and you keep your gold. Open May 15 to September 15.", "conditions": [ "This is private, family-owned mining property. The panning fee ($39 adult, $35 senior or Alaska resident/military, $30 child in 2026) is your permission. No government permit is needed to hand-pan", "Open 10 a.m.–6 p.m. daily, May 15–September 15 only. Outside that window there's no legal panning on the property", "Gold you pan from the creek is yours. Rusty relics go to staff or stay where you found them", "Bringing your own suction dredge or high-banker costs $40 per inch of intake plus the panning fee, and you need Alaska DEC's AKG375000 registration before you discharge any water", "The creek above and below the property isn't a free-for-all. Chugach National Forest land in the valley can carry unpatented mining claims, and you need the claimant's permission to pan on one" ], "governing_rules": [ "Crow Creek Mine (Toohey family)", "Alaska DEC — Small Suction Dredge Placer Miners General Permit (AKG375000)", "Alaska Department of Fish & Game — Fish Habitat permits (AS 16.05.841 / 16.05.871)", "Chugach National Forest — Glacier Ranger District", "National Register of Historic Places — Crow Creek Consolidated Gold Mining Company (#78000517)" ], "required_permits": [ "Gold panning admission ($39 adult (13–64); $35 senior (65+); $35 Alaska resident / military with ID; $30 child (12 and under))" ], "sources": [ "https://historiccrowcreekmine.com/gold-panning", "https://historiccrowcreekmine.com/general-admission", "https://historiccrowcreekmine.com/gold-mine-story-history", "https://historiccrowcreekmine.com/camping", "https://dec.alaska.gov/media/f4lfomux/akg375000-registration-faq-230509.pdf", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/nfs/files/legacy-media/r10/goldpanning-2010.pdf", "https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/06/26/historic-crow-creek-mine-up-sale/", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/261.9" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-25", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 61.0003, "lng": -149.0825, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/gold-panning/alaska/nome-public-beaches", "hobby": "gold-panning", "hobby_name": "Gold Panning", "state": "alaska", "state_name": "Alaska", "place": "Nome Public Beaches (East & West Beach Public Mining Areas)", "county": "Nome Census Area", "land_type": "state-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Gold panning at Nome is allowed with no permit, but only in the surf below mean high tide inside the public mining areas. The dry beach above it is private, and any suction dredge needs a DNR permit.", "conditions": [ "Pans, sluice boxes, rocker boxes and high bankers need no permit, but only in the surf below mean high tide within the East and West Beach public mining areas", "State land starts at mean high tide; the beach and tundra above it are private, so mining or camping there without the owner's permission is trespass", "Any suction dredge, of any size, needs a DNR Application for Permits to Mine in Alaska (APMA), filed by May 31, plus an Alaska DEC general permit", "Sitnasuak and Bering Straits Native Corporation beach land is closed to mining, and no permits are offered" ], "governing_rules": [ "Alaska DNR, Division of Mining, Land & Water — Nome public mining areas (East Beach ADL 21872, West Beach ADL 233171)", "11 AAC 96 — Miscellaneous land use on state land", "Alaska DEC — suction dredge general permits (AKG375000 small, AKG371000 medium, AKG374000 large)", "Nome Gold Alaska Corporation, Sitnasuak Native Corporation, Bering Straits Native Corporation, City of Nome and other owners" ], "required_permits": [ "APMA + Miscellaneous Land Use Permit (suction dredge)", "Alaska DEC suction dredge general permit", "Landowner permission (beach above mean high tide)" ], "sources": [ "https://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/mining/nome/pdf/Nome_stipulations.pdf", "https://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/cdn/pdf/factsheets/nome-offshore-suction-dredging-faq.pdf", "https://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/mining/nome/", "https://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/mining/nome/pdf/2012NomeRecreationMining.pdf", "https://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/mining/pdf/Mining_Statute_and_Regulation_Book.pdf", "https://www.snc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/SNC-Mining-Brochure-FOR-PRINT.pdf", "https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/stationhome.html?id=9468756", "https://www.nps.gov/places/cape-nome-mining-district-discovery-sites.htm", "https://dggs.alaska.gov/pubs/id/27772", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/recreation-activities/alaska" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-28", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 64.4995, "lng": -165.395, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/gold-panning/california/auburn-state-recreation-area", "hobby": "gold-panning", "hobby_name": "Gold Panning", "state": "california", "state_name": "California", "place": "Auburn State Recreation Area", "county": "Placer / El Dorado", "land_type": "state-recreation-area", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Panning is legal along 40 miles of the American River here, with no claims to trespass on — but the gold pan is the only tool you may legally put in the gravel.", "conditions": [ "A gold pan is the only legal tool. Under 14 CCR § 4611(e) the pan is the sole exception to the no-tools rule for rockhounding in a state park unit — no shovel, no trowel, no crevice pick, no sluice, no highbanker.", "15 pounds of mineral material per person per day in one unit (§ 4611(d)), and nothing gathered may be sold or used commercially (§ 4611(c)).", "Work only beaches and gravel bars subject to annual flooding (§ 4611(g)). Designated swimming and boat-launching areas are closed to rockhounding outright (§ 4611(f)).", "Muddy water from your pan must not be visible more than 20 feet from where you are working (§ 4611(i)).", "$10 per vehicle day use; the park is open sunrise to sunset and there is no separate panning permit or registration." ], "governing_rules": [ "U.S. Bureau of Reclamation — Auburn Dam project lands", "California Department of Parks and Recreation", "14 CCR §§ 4307, 4308, 4611 (California Code of Regulations, Title 14)", "Cal. Fish & Game Code §§ 5653, 5653.1" ], "required_permits": [ "Suction dredge permit (CDFW) (Not available)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=502", "https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/21299/files/Recreational%20Mineral%20Collection%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf", "https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30708", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/14-CCR-4611", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/14-CCR-4308", "https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Suction-Dredge-Permits", "https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24325" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-21", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 38.9158, "lng": -121.0403, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/gold-panning/california/marshall-gold-discovery-shp", "hobby": "gold-panning", "hobby_name": "Gold Panning", "state": "california", "state_name": "California", "place": "Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park", "county": "El Dorado", "land_type": "state-historic-park", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Recreational gold panning is allowed at the site where the California Gold Rush started — but only on the east side of the American River across the Mount Murphy Road bridge, and with hands and a pan as the only legal tools.", "conditions": [ "Panning is confined to the east side of the American River, across the Mount Murphy Road bridge — not the historic west-bank townsite where the museum and mill replica stand.", "Hands and a gold pan only. Under 14 CCR § 4611(e) the gold pan is the sole tool exception to the no-tools rule for rockhounding in a state park unit — no shovels, trowels, sluices, highbankers or dredges.", "Maximum 15 pounds of mineral material per person per day in one unit (14 CCR § 4611(d)), and nothing collected may be sold or used commercially.", "Muddy water from your pan must not be visible more than 20 feet from where you're working (14 CCR § 4611(i)).", "$10 per vehicle day-use parking ($9 for seniors 62+); no separate panning permit or fee for the river, and panning is limited to park hours." ], "governing_rules": [ "California Department of Parks and Recreation (CDPR)", "14 CCR §§ 4307, 4611 (California Code of Regulations, Title 14)", "Cal. Fish & Game Code § 5653, as amended by SB 670 (2009) and SB 637 (2015)", "Cal. Public Resources Code § 5001.65" ], "required_permits": [ "Day-use parking ($10 per vehicle; $9 for seniors 62 and older)", "Suction dredge permit" ], "sources": [ "https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=26840", "https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=484", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/14-CCR-4611", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/14-CCR-4307", "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB637", "https://scocal.stanford.edu/opinion/people-v-rinehart-34511" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-07", "last_updated": "2026-09-07", "lat": 38.8, "lng": -120.894, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/gold-panning/colorado/arkansas-river-gold-blm", "hobby": "gold-panning", "hobby_name": "Gold Panning", "state": "colorado", "state_name": "Colorado", "place": "Arkansas River (BLM Royal Gorge Field Office)", "county": "Chaffee", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Hand-panning is free along the Arkansas River, but Cache Creek near Granite — the corridor's best-known site — has required a BLM permit since 2016.", "conditions": [ "Hand-panning with a pan — no motorized equipment — requires no BLM or state permit anywhere along the general Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area river frontage, jointly managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, BLM, and the U.S. Forest Service", "The exception is the corridor's single most-cited destination: the historic Cache Creek Placer Area near Granite requires a BLM mineral-collection permit under a supplemental rule the Royal Gorge Field Office adopted in 2016 — a detail most gold-panning guides that repeat 'Arkansas River, no permit needed' miss entirely", "Motorized vehicle access to Cache Creek is seasonal, Memorial Day weekend through November 30, to protect wintering elk; outside that window it's foot access only", "Suction dredging anywhere in Colorado requires separate state review once the nozzle exceeds 4 inches, plus likely water-quality and water-rights authorization — this is a heavier regulatory layer than panning, not an extension of it", "The watershed carries documented historic mining contamination upstream near Leadville; an EPA-run treatment plant has continuously treated metals out of the water since 1992, and Cache Creek sits well downstream of the actively remediated reach" ], "governing_rules": [ "BLM Royal Gorge Field Office", "Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (Colorado Parks and Wildlife, BLM, U.S. Forest Service cooperative management)", "Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS)", "Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division", "EPA Region 8 — California Gulch Superfund Site" ], "required_permits": [ "Cache Creek Placer Area mineral-collection permit", "Suction dredge / mechanized disturbance authorization" ], "sources": [ "https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-proposes-supplemental-rules-cache-creek-placer-area", "https://www.blm.gov/royal-gorge-fo/public-room/map/blm-co-rgfo-cache-creek-placer-area-map", "https://cpw.state.co.us/state-parks/arkansas-headwaters-recreation-area", "https://drms.colorado.gov/programs/minerals-regulatory-program/minerals-program-faqs", "https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.cleanup&id=0801478" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-28", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 39.0458, "lng": -106.2778, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/gold-panning/colorado/south-platte-gold-blm", "hobby": "gold-panning", "hobby_name": "Gold Panning", "state": "colorado", "state_name": "Colorado", "place": "South Platte River (Eleven Mile Canyon)", "county": "Park", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Hand-panning is free and unpermitted in Eleven Mile Canyon on the South Platte — this is Pike National Forest, not BLM land, and a day-use fee applies.", "conditions": [ "Eleven Mile Canyon on the South Platte is Pike-San Isabel National Forest land, not BLM as some regional guides assume — hand-panning and non-motorized sluicing need no Forest Service permit under 36 CFR 228.4a(1)(iv), as long as the activity causes no significant surface disturbance", "An $11 day-use fee (2026; $80 annual) applies to enter the Eleven Mile Canyon Recreation Area itself — this is a general access fee for the whole canyon, not a gold-panning-specific charge", "Digging in the streambed must stay below the high-water mark, and stream banks may never be caved or undermined; sand and gravel worked through a pan or sluice must be returned to the hole it came from", "Any mechanized equipment, or a larger-scale operation than simple hand tools, requires Forest Service approval of an activity and reclamation plan before you start", "Don't confuse this with the Town of Fairplay's separate fee-based Prospecting Park upstream on the Middle Fork — that's a different location, a different governing body, and a different fee structure entirely" ], "governing_rules": [ "Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC), South Park Ranger District", "36 CFR § 228.4a(1)(iv)", "Town of Fairplay Municipal Code, Chapter 11, Article 3" ], "required_permits": [ "Eleven Mile Canyon Recreation Area day-use pass ($11/day or $80/year (2026))", "Mechanized equipment / larger-scale prospecting" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/psicc/recreation/eleven-mile-canyon-recreation-area", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/nfs/files/legacy-media/psicc/Guidelines%20for%20Prospecting%20on%20NFS.pdf", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-228/subpart-A/section-228.4", "https://cpw.state.co.us/body-of-water/south-platte-river" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-28", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 38.9439, "lng": -105.4411, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/gold-panning/georgia/dahlonega-gold-panning", "hobby": "gold-panning", "hobby_name": "Gold Panning", "state": "georgia", "state_name": "Georgia", "place": "Dahlonega (Chattahoochee National Forest streams)", "county": "Lumpkin", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Gold panning is free and needs no permit in most national forest streams around Dahlonega, using only a pan and a hand trowel. Sluices and dredges are banned.", "conditions": [ "No permit or fee is needed to pan most streambeds on the Chattahoochee National Forest, as long as you use only a pan and a small hand shovel or trowel", "In-stream sluices and suction dredges are not allowed on the forest", "Avoid significant stream disturbance, don't use mechanical equipment, and keep everything non-commercial. Collecting minerals for sale or causing ground disturbance without a permit can bring fines and restoration costs.", "Much of the creek frontage around Dahlonega is private land. Confirm a stream is national forest before you pan it, or pay to pan at one of the town's commercial mines." ], "governing_rules": [ "Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests recreational gold panning and rockhounding guidance; 36 CFR 261.9", "O.C.G.A. § 16-7-21 (criminal trespass)", "Consolidated Gold Mine and Crisson Gold Mine visitor rules" ], "required_permits": [ "Consolidated Gold Mine admission (Underground tour: adults $24.95, children 3–12 $15.95, 2 and under free (includes one free sample pan). Panning without the tour starts at $60; gem-mining buckets start at $30.)", "Crisson Gold Mine admission" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/conf/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5120146", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/chattahoochee-oconee/recreation/opportunities/other", "https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/gold-rush/", "https://consolidatedgoldmine.com/gold-panning/", "https://crissongoldmine.com/plan-your-visit/" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-17", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 34.5328, "lng": -83.9846, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/gold-panning/idaho/boise-river-blm", "hobby": "gold-panning", "hobby_name": "Gold Panning", "state": "idaho", "state_name": "Idaho", "place": "Boise River", "county": "Ada", "land_type": "public-waterway", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Hand panning is allowed, free, and unpermitted along the Boise River — and the stretch from Lucky Peak Dam to Star Road is specifically withdrawn from mineral entry by the Idaho Department of Lands, so there's no claim conflict to worry about at all. Fall's dropping water levels are the best window of the year.", "conditions": [ "Hand panning with a pan, classifier, or hand sluice requires no permit anywhere on the public river — Idaho's casual-use policy for non-mechanized gold recovery applies statewide", "The riverbed from Lucky Peak Dam downstream to Star Road is specifically designated for recreational mining by the Idaho Department of Lands and withdrawn from new mineral claims — unlike most Idaho gold-bearing streams, there's no risk of setting up on someone's active claim within this reach", "Motorized equipment (a suction dredge or power sluice) still requires both an IDWR Small-Scale Mining Permit and a separate IDEQ discharge permit, the same two-permit system that applies statewide", "Unlike the South Fork Clearwater in northern Idaho, no additional ESA-driven special supplement has been documented for this stretch — Lucky Peak Dam blocks anadromous fish passage into this reach, which is a plausible reason the extra permitting layer doesn't appear here, though that specific rationale isn't spelled out in agency guidance" ], "governing_rules": [ "Idaho Department of Lands", "BLM Four Rivers Field Office / Boise District", "Idaho Department of Water Resources — Small-Scale Mining Permits", "Idaho Department of Environmental Quality" ], "required_permits": [ "IDWR Small-Scale Mining Permit (Stream Channel Alteration Letter Permit) ($10 for Idaho residents; $30 for non-residents)", "IDEQ General Permit (discharge)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.idl.idaho.gov/mining-minerals/dredge-placer-mining/dredge-and-placer-mining-frequently-asked-questions/", "https://www.idl.idaho.gov/mining-minerals/dredge-placer-mining/recreational-mining/", "https://idwr.idaho.gov/water-resource-protection-safety/streams/small-scale-mining-permits/", "https://www.blm.gov/office/four-rivers-field-office", "https://adacounty.id.gov/parksandwaterways/open-space-and-trails/barber-park/", "https://idfg.idaho.gov/press/southern-idaho-waters-closed-fishing-regulation-april-1-protect-spawning-rainbow-trout" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-24", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 43.578, "lng": -116.155, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/gold-panning/idaho/clearwater-river-blm", "hobby": "gold-panning", "hobby_name": "Gold Panning", "state": "idaho", "state_name": "Idaho", "place": "Clearwater River (BLM, Orofino Area)", "county": "Clearwater", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Hand panning is allowed along the BLM-managed Clearwater River near Orofino with no permit. The moment you bring a suction dredge or power sluice, Idaho requires two separate state permits — and roughly 50 miles south on the South Fork Clearwater, a third layer of permitting applies because of critical salmon and steelhead habitat.", "conditions": [ "Hand panning with a pan, classifier, or hand sluice requires no permit anywhere on open BLM river frontage near Orofino under Idaho's casual-use policy", "Any motorized equipment — a suction dredge or power sluice — triggers two separate state permits: an IDWR Small-Scale Mining (Stream Channel Alteration) Letter Permit and a general IDEQ discharge permit", "Suction dredges are capped statewide at a 5-inch nozzle, 15 horsepower, and 2 cubic yards of material processed per hour", "About 50 miles south on the South Fork Clearwater, an additional IDWR Special Supplement application applies on top of the standard permit because the river is critical habitat for steelhead, bull trout, and Chinook salmon — a stricter layer most miners don't expect from the same drainage", "Confirm you're on open ground and not an active placer claim before setting up — this is a historic mining district with claims still on the books" ], "governing_rules": [ "BLM Cottonwood Field Office", "Idaho Department of Water Resources — Small-Scale Mining Permits", "Idaho Department of Environmental Quality", "Idaho Department of Fish and Game" ], "required_permits": [ "IDWR Small-Scale Mining Permit (Stream Channel Alteration Letter Permit) ($10 for Idaho residents; $30 for non-residents)", "IDEQ General Permit (discharge)", "IDWR South Fork Clearwater Special Supplement" ], "sources": [ "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/Recreational-Rockhounding.pdf", "https://www.blm.gov/visit/pink-house-recreation-site", "https://www.blm.gov/office/cottonwood-field-office", "https://www.idl.idaho.gov/mining-minerals/dredge-placer-mining/recreational-mining/", "https://idwr.idaho.gov/water-resource-protection-safety/streams/small-scale-mining-permits/", "https://idahoconservation.org/blog/south-fork-clearwater-mining/", "https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/idaho/pierce/" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-19", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 46.502222, "lng": -116.348055, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/gold-panning/oregon/applegate-river-blm", "hobby": "gold-panning", "hobby_name": "Gold Panning", "state": "oregon", "state_name": "Oregon", "place": "Applegate River (Applegate Lake Area)", "county": "Jackson", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Hand-panning the upper Applegate River near Applegate Lake is free and unpermitted National Forest land, not BLM ground like the Little Applegate and Tunnel Ridge sites 18 miles downstream. One tributary, Joe Creek, carries acid mine drainage from a Superfund cleanup site and should be avoided entirely.", "conditions": [ "The Applegate River corridor around Applegate Lake sits on Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest land managed by the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District (Star Ranger Station, Ruch) — this is Forest Service ground, not the BLM Medford District parcels that cover the Little Applegate and Tunnel Ridge sites about 18 miles downstream", "Hand-panning and simple non-motorized sluicing need no Forest Service permit under 36 CFR § 228.4a(1)(iv), as long as the activity causes no significant surface disturbance", "Stay out of Joe Creek, a tributary entering the Applegate near the California border — it's the site of the Blue Ledge Mine Superfund cleanup, and acid mine drainage from the abandoned copper mine has killed fish for miles downstream", "The historic Applegate Mining District, worked continuously from 1852 into the 20th century, still has scattered active unpatented mining claims on some tributaries — check BLM's MLRS Research Map (mlrs.blm.gov/s/research-map) before working ground that looks previously mined", "Applegate Lake's Corps of Engineers day-use recreation sites (boat ramps, picnic areas) charge a separate access fee that has nothing to do with panning rights on the river itself" ], "governing_rules": [ "Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District", "36 CFR § 228.4a(1)(iv)", "U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District", "EPA Superfund — Blue Ledge Mine Site (ID 0906063)" ], "required_permits": [ "Notice of Intent / Plan of Operations", "Applegate Lake day-use recreation fee (Varies by site; Corps of Engineers standard day-use rates apply at developed boat ramps and picnic areas)" ], "sources": [ "https://mlrs.blm.gov/s/research-map", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/recarea?recid=74287", "https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Locations/Rogue-River/Applegate/", "https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.cleanup&id=0906063", "https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/applegate_river/", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-228/subpart-A" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-31", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 42.0547, "lng": -123.1144, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/gold-panning/oregon/rogue-river-gold-blm", "hobby": "gold-panning", "hobby_name": "Gold Panning", "state": "oregon", "state_name": "Oregon", "place": "Rogue River (BLM Medford District)", "county": "Josephine", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "BLM Medford District designates four recreational gold panning areas on the Rogue River system — Hellgate, Gold Nugget, Little Applegate, and Tunnel Ridge. No permit for panning, but shovels and sluices are banned everywhere, and suction dredging is prohibited outright on the Hellgate mainstem while allowed seasonally at the other three under two separate state permits.", "conditions": [ "No BLM permit required for hand-panning at any of the four designated Medford District sites: Hellgate Recreation Area, Gold Nugget, Little Applegate, and Tunnel Ridge", "Shovels, high bankers, rockers, and sluices are banned at all four sites — pans and hands only for the digging itself", "Suction dredging is completely prohibited on the Hellgate Recreation Area's 27-mile mainstem stretch and its tributaries — dredging is allowed only at Gold Nugget, Little Applegate, and Tunnel Ridge, seasonally, with two separate state permits", "No mining activity of any kind when salmon are spawning or eggs are present in the gravel", "You keep all the gold you find — there's no weight limit like BLM's rockhounding rule" ], "governing_rules": [ "BLM Medford District", "Oregon Senate Bill 3 (2017) — Essential Salmonid Habitat motorized mining ban", "Oregon DEQ (700-PM permit) and Dept. of State Lands (Removal-Fill Authorization)" ], "required_permits": [ "DEQ 700-PM Suction Dredge Permit (Varies; contact DEQ)", "Oregon Removal-Fill Authorization (DSL)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/oregon-washington/rogue-wsr", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-07/orwa-rock-collect-guide.pdf", "https://docslib.org/doc/8571256/recreational-gold-panning-and-dredging-in-the-medford-district", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/oregon-washington/rogue-wsr/overview", "https://nativefishsociety.org/campaigns/suction-dredge-mining-reform", "https://www.oregonhistoryproject.org/narratives/as-long-as-the-world-goes-on-the-land-and-people-of-southwest-oregon/new-names-on-the-land/gold/" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-03", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 42.573, "lng": -123.677, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/magnet-fishing/south-carolina/congaree-river-sc", "hobby": "magnet-fishing", "hobby_name": "Magnet Fishing", "state": "south-carolina", "state_name": "South Carolina", "place": "Congaree River (Columbia)", "county": "Richland", "land_type": "public-waterway", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Magnet fishing is prohibited on the Congaree River in Columbia — South Carolina is the only state we've found with a statewide ban, and this exact stretch is why: Union troops dumped Confederate ordnance into the river here in 1865, and a recent sediment cleanup near the Gervais Street Bridge recovered live ammunition along with thousands of Civil War artifacts.", "conditions": [ "South Carolina is the only U.S. state we've found with a statewide ban on magnet fishing, and the Congaree in Columbia is exactly the kind of water the law targets", "S.C. Code § 54-7-670's hobby-license framework limits recreational recovery of submerged archaeological material to hand collection only — magnets, tethered rakes, scoops, and screens fall outside what any license authorizes", "Union forces dumped Confederate ordnance into this exact stretch of river in February 1865, and a 2011–2023 sediment cleanup near the Gervais Street Bridge recovered thousands of Civil War-era artifacts along with live ammunition — the unexploded-ordnance risk here is documented, not theoretical", "A 2025 bill (H.4398) to legalize hand-or-magnet recovery under a hobby license remains stuck in House committee as of mid-2026 and has not been enacted", "SCIAA does not issue any hobby license that covers magnet fishing, so there is no legal pathway to the activity here even for a licensed hobby diver" ], "governing_rules": [ "South Carolina Underwater Antiquities Act — S.C. Code Title 54, Chapter 7, Article 5", "S.C. Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (SCIAA)", "South Carolina Department of Natural Resources" ], "required_permits": [ "SCIAA Hobby Diver License" ], "sources": [ "https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t54c007.php", "https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/4398.htm", "https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/sc-institute-archaeology-and-anthropology/divisions/maritime_research/hobbylicenses/hobbylicensefaq/", "https://www.postandcourier.com/environment/environment-congaree-columbia-civil-war-artifacts-archeology-history/article_0dc9a482-8235-11ee-9389-ef484abcd07b.html", "https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/civil-war-weapons-recovered-from-south-carolinas-congaree-river-180983307/" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-19", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 33.995176, "lng": -81.052366, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/magnet-fishing/texas/lady-bird-lake-austin", "hobby": "magnet-fishing", "hobby_name": "Magnet Fishing", "state": "texas", "state_name": "Texas", "place": "Lady Bird Lake", "county": "Travis", "land_type": "public-waterway", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Magnet fishing is allowed at Lady Bird Lake — Texas has no statute against it and Austin has no ordinance banning it. The rule that actually matters here isn't about magnets at all: wading or swimming into the lake is illegal citywide, so a snagged magnet has to be worked loose from the bank, not waded in after.", "conditions": [ "No Texas state statute prohibits magnet fishing, and no City of Austin ordinance specifically bans it at Lady Bird Lake", "Swimming, wading, or bathing in Lady Bird Lake is illegal citywide except for rescue — this matters directly for magnet fishing, since you cannot legally wade in to free a snagged magnet", "Fishing from the deck of any bridge crossing the Colorado River within city limits is prohibited — work from the hike-and-bike trail on the banks, not from the Congress Avenue Bridge deck itself", "Only electric trolling motors are allowed on the lake — irrelevant to bank-based magnet fishing but relevant if you're approaching by kayak", "Any historically significant recovered item may fall under the Texas Antiquities Code, since the lakebed is state-owned submerged land" ], "governing_rules": [ "Texas Parks and Wildlife Department", "Texas Antiquities Code — Natural Resources Code Chapter 191", "City of Austin — Lady Bird Lake ordinances (Austin City Code Chapter 8)", "City of Austin / LCRA joint emergency management" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.austintexas.gov/parks/locations/lady-bird-lake", "https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/parks-and-wildlife-code/parks-wild-sect-66-006/", "https://law.justia.com/codes/texas/2005/nr/009.00.000191.00.html", "https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2026/07/18/austin-bans-activity-on-lake-austin--lady-bird-lake" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-03", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 30.2618, "lng": -97.7444, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/magnet-fishing/texas/lake-texoma-tx", "hobby": "magnet-fishing", "hobby_name": "Magnet Fishing", "state": "texas", "state_name": "Texas", "place": "Lake Texoma", "county": "Grayson", "land_type": "public-waterway", "verdict": "unclear", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Magnet fishing's legal status at Lake Texoma is unclear — no Corps policy addresses it, and 36 CFR 327.14 never names the activity.", "conditions": [ "No published Lake Texoma Project Office policy specifically addressing magnet fishing was found as of this research date — the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa District manages the entire lake and shoreline", "36 CFR 327.14 explicitly permits metal-detector use on designated beaches or previously disturbed areas, and separately bans removing 'public property' — including historical, archaeological, and paleontological features — without the District Commander's written permission; magnet fishing is named in neither clause, which is the actual source of the ambiguity", "Because the lakebed is federal, Corps-managed land rather than state-owned submerged land, the Texas Antiquities Code does not govern finds here the way it does at a city-owned water body like Austin's Lady Bird Lake; the applicable framework is federal — 36 CFR 327 and, for genuinely significant material, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act", "Eisenhower State Park, on the lake's south shore, is an entirely separate jurisdiction: Texas Parks and Wildlife's own rule (31 TAC § 59.134) bars detector or recovery-tool use in state parks except by permit for a specific lost personal item — a stricter default than the Corps' rule for the rest of the shoreline", "Call the Lake Texoma Project Office (903-465-4990) before a session to confirm current guidance for the specific park or access point you plan to use" ], "governing_rules": [ "U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District — Lake Texoma Project Office", "36 CFR 327.14 — Public Property", "Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA)", "Texas Parks and Wildlife Department — Eisenhower State Park" ], "required_permits": [ "Eisenhower State Park detector/recovery permit" ], "sources": [ "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/327.14", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/327.25", "https://corpslakes.erdc.dren.mil/visitors/projects.cfm?Id=M574945", "https://www.thc.texas.gov/public/upload/archeology-artifact-collecting-tx.pdf", "https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/eisenhower", "https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/lake-texoma" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-28", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 33.8595, "lng": -96.6711, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/california/dockweiler-state-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "california", "state_name": "California", "place": "Dockweiler State Beach", "county": "Los Angeles", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on the sand at Dockweiler State Beach — no permit, and no ban from either agency that governs it. The beach is state-owned but county-operated, which is exactly why online guides can't agree on who to call.", "conditions": [ "No rule from either governing agency — California State Parks, which owns the land, or the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors, which operates it day-to-day — bans metal detecting on the sand, and no permit is required", "California State Parks publishes no statewide metal-detecting rule; districts post unit-specific orders, and 14 CCR § 4307(a) bars disturbing or removing sand in any state park unit — no posted order for Dockweiler was found, but ask the park how that applies to digging targets", "California's statewide smoking and vaping ban (SB 8, effective 2020) applies to the entire beach because it is state parkland, not just a city ordinance a visitor might assume applies only in some jurisdictions", "A fenced western snowy plover enclosure near Lifeguard Tower 47 is closed to all entry year-round under federal Endangered Species Act protection", "Removing a Native American artifact or human remains from a grave or cairn is a felony under California Public Resources Code § 5097.99, regardless of where on the beach it surfaces" ], "governing_rules": [ "California Department of Parks and Recreation (owner)", "Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors (operator)", "U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — Endangered Species Act", "California Public Resources Code § 5097.99" ], "required_permits": [ "Dockweiler RV Park camping" ], "sources": [ "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/14-CCR-4307", "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=5097.5.&lawCode=PRC", "https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/500/files/690-006-2022%20Metal%20Detectors.pdf", "https://beaches.lacounty.gov/dockweiler-beach/", "https://beaches.lacounty.gov/la-county-beach-rules/", "https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=617", "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB8", "https://law.justia.com/codes/california/code-prc/division-5/chapter-1-75/section-5097-99/" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-24", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 33.9229, "lng": -118.4329, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#california-archaeology-statutes-crystal-cove" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/california/huntington-state-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "california", "state_name": "California", "place": "Huntington State Beach", "county": "Orange", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on Huntington State Beach's sandy shore under CDPR rules. The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve immediately north of the state beach is a CDFW preserve where detecting is prohibited. California's antiquities law (PRC § 5097.5) makes removing archaeological or historic material from public land a misdemeanor.", "conditions": [ "No permit required on the sandy state beach under CDPR rules", "Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve (immediately north of the state beach boundary) prohibits all metal detecting — it is a CDFW preserve, not public beach", "Huntington City Beach (north of the state beach, including the pier area) is a separate municipal jurisdiction with its own rules — this page covers the state beach only", "California State Parks publishes no statewide metal-detecting rule; districts post unit-specific orders, and 14 CCR § 4307(a) bars disturbing or removing sand, earth or rocks in any state park unit, so ask the unit before digging targets", "Excavating or removing an archaeological or historic feature on public land without permission is a misdemeanor under PRC § 5097.5; taking Native American artifacts or remains from a grave or cairn is a felony under PRC § 5097.99", "No digging in dunes or dune vegetation — prohibited under California coastal protection regulations" ], "governing_rules": [ "California Dept. of Parks and Recreation (CDPR) — CCR Title 14", "California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)", "California Public Resources Code § 5097.5 / § 5097.99", "City of Huntington Beach" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/14-CCR-4307", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/14-CCR-550", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/14-CCR-630", "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=12000.&lawCode=FGC", "https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=642", "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=5097.5.&lawCode=PRC", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/title-14/division-3", "https://wildlife.ca.gov/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Bolsa-Chica-ER", "https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/stationhome.html?id=9410660" ], "last_verified": "2026-06-16", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 33.654, "lng": -118.0099, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#california-archaeology-statutes-crystal-cove" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/california/newport-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "california", "state_name": "California", "place": "Newport Beach", "county": "Orange", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on Newport Beach's city-managed Balboa Peninsula strand without a permit. Crystal Cove State Park immediately south is prohibited — it is a state park, not a state beach, and CA law prohibits removing any natural resource.", "conditions": [ "No permit required on Newport Beach city-managed beach sections (Balboa Peninsula strand, Newport Pier to Balboa Pier and beyond)", "No prohibition on metal detecting found in Newport Beach Municipal Code as of July 2026", "Crystal Cove State Park (immediately south) is a separate state park unit, not city beach: 14 CCR §§ 4307–4308 bar disturbing sand and removing archaeological or historic objects there, so ask the park before bringing a detector", "Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve (inland estuary) is prohibited under CA Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations", "Excavating or removing archaeological or historic material on public land is a misdemeanor under CA PRC § 5097.5; taking Native American artifacts or remains from a grave or cairn is a felony under § 5097.99" ], "governing_rules": [ "California Public Resources Code §§ 5097.5 and 5097.99", "California Dept. of Parks and Recreation — Crystal Cove State Park (14 CCR §§ 4307, 4308)", "CA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife — Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve", "City of Newport Beach Municipal Code" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/14-CCR-4307", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/14-CCR-4308", "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=5008.&lawCode=PRC", "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=5097.5.&lawCode=PRC", "https://library.municode.com/ca/newport_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances", "https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=644", "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=5097.99.&lawCode=PRC", "https://wildlife.ca.gov/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Upper-Newport-Bay-ER" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-01", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 33.6044, "lng": -117.928, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#california-archaeology-statutes-crystal-cove" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/california/ocean-beach-san-diego", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "california", "state_name": "California", "place": "Ocean Beach (San Diego)", "county": "San Diego", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on the sandy public beach at Ocean Beach — no city ordinance bans it and no permit is required. The OB Pier, a traditional detecting anchor point, has been closed to the public since storm damage in October 2023 and won't reopen; plan around the beach itself, not the pier.", "conditions": [ "No San Diego Municipal Code section specifically bans metal detecting on the sandy public beach at Ocean Beach, and no permit is required", "The Ocean Beach Municipal Pier — a longtime detecting anchor point for the loose change and jewelry that falls through the rail — has been closed to the public since storm damage in October and December 2023 and will stay closed through demolition and rebuild, with construction not expected to start before 2027", "SDMC Chapter 6, Article 3 prohibits digging caves or other depressions in cliff areas adjacent to the ocean shoreline without written City Manager permission — irrelevant to the sand itself, but it rules out treating Sunset Cliffs Natural Park immediately south as an extension of this beach", "A seasonal buffer-zone closure protects California least tern and western snowy plover nesting habitat at the San Diego River mouth near Dog Beach, in effect April 15 through September 15", "Excavating or removing archaeological or historic material on public land, this beach included, is a misdemeanor under California Public Resources Code § 5097.5; taking Native American artifacts or remains from a grave or cairn is a felony under § 5097.99" ], "governing_rules": [ "City of San Diego — Park & Recreation Department", "California Public Resources Code §§ 5097.5 and 5097.99", "California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife — nesting shorebird protections", "Sunset Cliffs Natural Park (separate jurisdiction, immediately south)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=5097.5.&lawCode=PRC", "https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode_supp/769/Ch06Art03Division01.pdf", "https://www.sandiego.gov/cip/project-info/project-profiles/ocean-beach-pier-renewal", "https://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/dogs/bchdog", "https://law.justia.com/codes/california/code-prc/division-5/chapter-1-75/section-5097-99/" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-19", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 32.7497, "lng": -117.2513, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#california-archaeology-statutes-crystal-cove" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/california/pismo-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "california", "state_name": "California", "place": "Pismo Beach", "county": "San Luis Obispo", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on both the City of Pismo Beach frontage and the adjacent Pismo State Beach — no permit on either section. The city caps beach excavation at one foot deep under Municipal Code § 12.20.090, a rule most visitors never read until a ranger cites it.", "conditions": [ "No permit required on the City of Pismo Beach frontage or on Pismo State Beach south of it", "City ordinance caps any beach excavation at 1 foot deep and requires holes be filled before you leave (Pismo Beach Municipal Code § 12.20.090)", "The fenced Monarch Butterfly Grove within Pismo State Beach is closed to all digging and collecting, year-round", "Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, the drivable dune field south of the state beach, is a separate jurisdiction with its own vehicle-access rules — not covered by this page", "A California fishing license and separate clamming rules apply only if you're also digging for Pismo clams — they are not a detecting permit" ], "governing_rules": [ "City of Pismo Beach — Municipal Code Chapter 12.20 (Public Beach and Pier Use Regulations)", "California Dept. of Parks and Recreation (CDPR) — Pismo State Beach", "California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) — Pismo Clam sport fishery" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/500/files/690-006-2022%20Metal%20Detectors.pdf", "https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/pismobeach/latest/pismo_ca/0-0-0-4194", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/14-CCR-4307", "https://www.parks.ca.gov/Pismo", "https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30470", "https://marinespecies.wildlife.ca.gov/pismo-clam/management/" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-03", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 35.1428, "lng": -120.6413, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#california-archaeology-statutes-crystal-cove" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/amelia-island", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Amelia Island", "county": "Nassau", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed at Amelia Island's county and city beaches without a permit. The island's beaches include Nassau County unincorporated sections, City of Fernandina Beach managed areas, Fort Clinch State Park (beach section only), and Amelia Island State Park (beach section only). Each section has a different managing authority. No Nassau County or Fernandina Beach ordinance banning recreational metal detecting has been found; state park sections are governed by Florida State Parks policy.", "conditions": [ "No permit required on Nassau County and City of Fernandina Beach public beach sections — no specific ordinance found banning recreational metal detecting; confirm with Nassau County at (904) 491-7333", "Fort Clinch State Park: metal detecting allowed on the ocean beach section (between toe of dune and high-water line) under Florida State Parks policy; inland park areas are prohibited", "Amelia Island State Park (south end): same Florida State Parks policy applies — ocean beach only", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Dunes and dune vegetation off-limits year-round (Fla. Stat. § 161.053); sea turtle nesting season May 1 – October 31", "Beach vehicle driving is permitted in Nassau County with a vehicle permit; speed limit 10 mph" ], "governing_rules": [ "Nassau County Beach Ordinances", "City of Fernandina Beach Code of Ordinances", "Florida State Parks (FL DEP Division of Recreation and Parks)", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Historical Resources Act)", "Florida Statutes § 161.053 (Coastal Construction Control Line Act)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/472/Beach-Front-Parks", "https://www.exploreamelia.com/Amelia_Island_Beaches.shtml", "https://library.municode.com/fl/nassau_county", "https://library.municode.com/fl/fernandina_beach", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-01", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 30.6563, "lng": -81.4609, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/bathtub-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Bathtub Reef Beach", "county": "Martin", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on the sandy sections of Bathtub Reef Beach without a permit. This Martin County beach on Hutchinson Island features a natural nearshore reef that creates a sheltered wading area — detecting is restricted to the sand and must not disturb the reef structure itself.", "conditions": [ "No permit required for recreational metal detecting on the sandy beach sections", "The nearshore reef structure must not be probed, dug into, or disturbed — reef disturbance may violate Florida coastal resource protection rules", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Stay below the dune crest; dune vegetation protected under Fla. Stat. § 161.053", "Sea turtle nesting season March 1 – October 31: stay out of marked nests and keep well clear of them", "No Martin County ordinance specifically prohibiting metal detecting on public beaches was in effect as of May 2026" ], "governing_rules": [ "Martin County Parks and Recreation", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 — Division of Historical Resources" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.martin.fl.us/parks", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/sea-turtles/" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-22", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 27.21, "lng": -80.2144, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#treasure-coast-1715-fleet-salvage", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/bradenton-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Bradenton Beach", "county": "Manatee", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed at Bradenton Beach with no permit required. No city ban found as of May 2026. Bradenton Beach is one of three separately governed cities on Anna Maria Island — each has its own ordinances.", "conditions": [ "No specific metal detecting prohibition found in Bradenton Beach city ordinances as of May 2026 — verify current rules with the city before visiting", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Dune excavation prohibited year-round under Florida Statutes § 161.053", "Sea turtle nesting season (May 1 – October 31): avoid all flagged nests; no digging in or beside a marked nest" ], "governing_rules": [ "City of Bradenton Beach", "Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Division of Historical Resources)", "Florida Statutes § 161.053 (Coastal Zone Protection)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.cityofbradentonbeach.com", "https://library.municode.com/fl/bradenton_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://www.mymanatee.org/connect/locations/parks--preserves-and-beaches" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-21", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 27.471, "lng": -82.688, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/caladesi-island", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Caladesi Island State Park", "county": "Pinellas", "land_type": "state-park-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on the ocean beach at Caladesi Island State Park without a permit, but the island is accessible only by ferry or private boat — there is no road access. Florida State Parks policy restricts detecting to the beach only; the island interior, bay-side areas, and nature trails are off-limits.", "conditions": [ "No permit required for recreational metal detecting on the ocean beach — only within the beach areas the park manager designates (toe of the dune to the high-water line, never in the water); call the park to confirm which sections are open", "Detecting restricted to the Gulf-facing ocean beach only under Florida State Parks policy — island interior, bay shoreline, marina dock area, and nature trail areas are off-limits", "Access by ferry from Honeymoon Island State Park or by private boat only — no road or bridge access to Caladesi Island", "This is state park land, so historic objects found anywhere in the park belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); Florida State Parks treats anything over 50 years old as historic, and visitors can't keep it", "Sea turtle nesting season May 1 – October 31: stay out of marked nests and keep well clear of them (Gulf Coast nesting season)", "State park hours apply — island closes at sunset; detecting after park hours is not permitted" ], "governing_rules": [ "Florida Department of Environmental Protection — State Parks", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 — Division of Historical Resources" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/caladesi-island-state-park", "https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ChapterHome.asp?Chapter=62D-2", "https://www.floridastateparks.org/plan-your-visit/faqs", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/sea-turtles/" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-22", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 28.038, "lng": -82.819, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#treasure-coast-1715-fleet-salvage", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/cape-san-blas", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Cape San Blas / St. Joseph Peninsula", "county": "Gulf", "land_type": "state-park-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park in designated beach zones only. Call (850) 227-1327 before visiting — the park does not publish its designated sections online.", "conditions": [ "Detecting allowed only in beach zones designated by the park manager — between the dune toe and the high-water line", "Upland areas, dunes, and the 9-mile primitive wilderness preserve are prohibited under FL DEP Rule 62D-2.013(2)", "Call (850) 227-1327 before visiting — designated sections are not published on the park website", "Gulf Coast sea turtle nesting season begins May 1; stay well clear of marked nests", "This is state park land, so historic objects found anywhere in the park belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); Florida State Parks treats anything over 50 years old as historic, and visitors can't keep it" ], "governing_rules": [ "Florida State Parks (FL DEP Division of Recreation and Parks)", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 — Division of Historical Resources", "Gulf County Code of Ordinances" ], "required_permits": [ "Park entry fee (~$6/vehicle (standard FL coastal state park rate))" ], "sources": [ "https://www.floridastateparks.org/plan-your-visit/faqs", "https://flrules.org/gateway/readFile.asp?sid=0&tid=0&cno=62D-2&caid=375989&type=4&file=62D-2.doc", "https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/th-stone-memorial-st-joseph-peninsula-state-park", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-06-29", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 29.7748, "lng": -85.3822, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/caspersen-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Caspersen Beach", "county": "Sarasota", "land_type": "county-park-beach", "verdict": "unclear", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Caspersen Beach — Sarasota County's most productive shark tooth site — has been closed to public access since Hurricane Helene and Milton struck in September–October 2024. No firm reopening date was set as of May 2026. When the park reopens, metal detecting is allowed on county beaches under Sarasota County Code § 90-33.", "conditions": [ "Caspersen Beach Park is currently closed to public access due to Hurricane Helene and Milton damage (September–October 2024) — confirm current status with Sarasota County Parks at (941) 861-5000 before visiting", "When the park reopens, metal detecting is expected to be allowed under Sarasota County Code § 90-33 (no permit required on county beaches)", "When open, fossils, minerals, and cultural resources may not be removed under § 90-33; shark teeth and shells that wash up on the beach may be collected", "When open: historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Dunes off-limits year-round; sea turtle nesting season May 1 – October 31 applies when accessible" ], "governing_rules": [ "Sarasota County Code Chapter 90, Article II, § 90-33 (Parks, Recreation and Public Lands)", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Historical Resources Act)", "Florida Statutes § 161.053 (Coastal Construction Control Line Act)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.scgov.net/government/emergency-services/hurricane-helene-recovery", "https://library.municode.com/fl/sarasota_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH90PAREPULA_ARTIIUSPABEPULA", "https://www.sarasotacountyparks.com/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/603/6738", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-27", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 27.0835, "lng": -82.457, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/clearwater-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Clearwater Beach", "county": "Pinellas", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on Clearwater Beach without a permit under City of Clearwater rules. Stay below the high-tide line, avoid the dunes, and clear sea turtle nesting zones from May through October.", "conditions": [ "No permit required on the City of Clearwater public beach; no ordinance banning recreational metal detecting found in City Code Chapter 22", "Stay below the high-tide line; dunes and dune vegetation are off-limits under Fla. Stat. § 161.053", "Sea turtle nesting season May 1 – October 31: stay well clear of marked nests; nighttime detecting strongly discouraged", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Sand Key County Park at the southern end of the island is a Pinellas County park — different (stricter) rules apply there" ], "governing_rules": [ "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Historical Resources Act)", "Florida Statutes § 161.053 (Coastal Construction Control Line Act)", "Pinellas County Code Chapter 90 (Parks and Recreation)", "City of Clearwater Code of Ordinances, Chapter 22 (Parks, Beaches, Recreation)" ], "required_permits": [ "Sand Key County Park (Pinellas County park at south boundary)" ], "sources": [ "https://library.municode.com/fl/clearwater/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPAGEOR_CH22PABERE_ARTIIUSRE", "https://pinellas.gov/park-rules/", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-23", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 27.9778, "lng": -82.8277, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#fort-de-soto-verdict", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/cocoa-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Cocoa Beach", "county": "Brevard", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on the Cocoa Beach city beach without a permit. Stay off the dunes and out of turtle nest areas, and note that Lori Wilson Park, a county park in the middle of town, bans digging.", "conditions": [ "No permit on the city-managed public beach; no Cocoa Beach ordinance bans detecting", "Lori Wilson Park, a Brevard County park inside city limits, bans all digging (County Code § 78-120), so don't detect there", "Stay off the dunes and sea oats (Fla. Stat. § 161.242) and away from staked turtle nests, March 1 – October 31", "Historic objects abandoned on state-owned land, including the sovereignty land below mean high water, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061)" ], "governing_rules": [ "36 CFR 2.1(a)(7)", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (§§ 267.061, 267.13)", "Brevard County Code Chapter 78, Article III", "City of Cocoa Beach Code of Ordinances" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://cocoabeach.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?clip_id=3390&meta_id=182071", "http://www.cityofcocoabeach.com/192/Beach-Guidelines", "https://cocoabeach.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&clip_id=3633&meta_id=195065", "https://brevardfl.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12858297&GUID=96433136-EDC3-4B7E-BBF3-C6FC2271890D", "https://www.brevardfl.gov/ParksAndRecreation/ParkDirectory/LoriWilsonPark", "https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/267.061", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/Sections/0267.13.html", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0100-0199/0161/Sections/0161.242.html", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0379/Sections/0379.2431.html", "https://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/sea-turtles/nesting/", "https://www.nps.gov/cana/learn/management/lawsandpolicies.htm", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/2.1", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/16/1540" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-28", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 28.32, "lng": -80.6076, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/daytona-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Daytona Beach", "county": "Volusia", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "permit-required", "permit_required": true, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed at Daytona Beach with a free annual permit from the Volusia County Beach Safety Department. The county governs the beach under Chapter 20 of the Volusia County Code (Beach Code); detecting is permitted on the beach but prohibited in inland Volusia County parks. The famous hard-packed sand driving zones present an additional safety consideration for detectorists.", "conditions": [ "Free annual permit required from the Volusia County Beach Safety Department before detecting — provide name, address, and contact information; permit is valid for one year", "Contact Volusia County Beach Safety at (386) 239-6484 to obtain the permit or visit a Volusia County Beach Safety station", "Metal detecting is allowed on the beach (Volusia County Chapter 20 Beach Code) but is NOT permitted in any inland Volusia County park", "Vehicle access zones on the hard-packed sand create a safety hazard — do not detect in active vehicle traffic areas", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Dunes and dune vegetation off-limits year-round (Fla. Stat. § 161.053); sea turtle nesting season May 1 – October 31" ], "governing_rules": [ "Volusia County Code of Ordinances Chapter 20 (Beach Code)", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Historical Resources Act)", "Florida Statutes § 161.053 (Coastal Construction Control Line Act)" ], "required_permits": [ "Volusia County Beach Safety — Metal Detecting Permit (Free)" ], "sources": [ "https://library.municode.com/fl/volusia_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH20BECO", "https://www.volusia.org/services/public-protection/beach-safety/", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-28", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 29.2108, "lng": -81.0228, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/englewood-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Englewood Beach at Chadwick Park", "county": "Charlotte", "land_type": "county-park-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed at Englewood Beach at Chadwick Park without a permit. Charlotte County manages this 12.67-acre Gulf Coast beach on Manasota Key; no county ordinance banning recreational metal detecting has been found. The beach sits at the southern end of the Venice-area shark tooth fossil belt, making it productive for both modern finds and surface shark tooth collection.", "conditions": [ "No permit required; no Charlotte County ordinance found prohibiting recreational metal detecting on county beach — verify current rules with Charlotte County Parks at (941) 743-1900 before visiting", "Charlotte County Facility Rules (Ordinance 2016-027) govern conduct at county park facilities — review posted rules at the park", "Englewood Beach at Chadwick Park is managed by Charlotte County; Manasota Key beach sections north of the park boundary enter Sarasota County — rules may differ in those sections", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Dunes and dune vegetation are off-limits year-round under Fla. Stat. § 161.053; sea turtle nesting season May 1 – October 31" ], "governing_rules": [ "Charlotte County Code of Ordinances Chapter 1-11 (Parks and Recreation); Charlotte County Facility Rules (Ordinance 2016-027)", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Historical Resources Act)", "Florida Statutes § 161.053 (Coastal Construction Control Line Act)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.charlottecountyfl.gov/departments/community-services/parks/all-parks/englewood-beach-at-chadwick-park.stml", "https://library.municode.com/fl/charlotte_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=GEORSPAC_CH1-11PARE", "https://www.charlottecountyfl.gov/departments/community-services/parks/beaches.stml", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-28", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 26.958, "lng": -82.3677, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/fernandina-beach-parks", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Fernandina Beach City Parks", "county": "Nassau", "land_type": "city-park", "verdict": "unclear", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting in Fernandina Beach city parks is unconfirmed — no ordinance found either permitting or banning it. Historic finds are a real possibility in this eight-flag city. Contact Parks & Recreation before visiting.", "conditions": [ "No City of Fernandina Beach ordinance found as of June 2026 that specifically permits or bans metal detecting in inland city parks", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "The city's 1975 Historic Preservation Ordinance and National Register Historic District status create heightened archaeological sensitivity", "Contact the City of Fernandina Beach Parks & Recreation Department before visiting to confirm current park policy", "Fort Clinch State Park upland areas are separately prohibited under Florida State Parks policy — do not confuse with city park rules" ], "governing_rules": [ "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Archaeological and Property Act)", "City of Fernandina Beach — 1975 Historic Preservation Ordinance", "Nassau County Parks and Recreation" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://www.fbfl.us/466/Historic-Districts", "https://library.municode.com/fl/fernandina_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances", "https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernandina_Beach_Historic_District" ], "last_verified": "2026-06-05", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 30.6683, "lng": -81.4556, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/flagler-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Flagler Beach", "county": "Flagler", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed at Flagler Beach without a permit. The ocean beach section of Gamble Rogers State Recreation Area is open; the campground and upland areas are not.", "conditions": [ "No permit required on Flagler County public beaches or on the ocean beach section of Gamble Rogers State Recreation Area", "Gamble Rogers campground, picnic areas, and upland sections are prohibited under Florida State Parks policy", "Sea turtle nesting season (May 1 – October 31): stay well clear of marked nests; nighttime detecting discouraged", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)" ], "governing_rules": [ "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Antiquities Act)", "Florida State Parks (FL DEP Division of Recreation and Parks)", "Flagler County", "City of Flagler Beach" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/gamble-rogers-memorial-state-recreation-area", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://www.flrules.org/gateway/RuleNo.asp?id=62D-2.013", "https://www.floridastateparks.org/plan-your-visit/faqs", "https://www.flaglercounty.gov/Government/Departments/Parks-Recreation" ], "last_verified": "2026-06-01", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 29.4726, "lng": -81.1281, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/fort-de-soto", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Fort De Soto Park", "county": "Pinellas", "land_type": "county-park", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on Fort De Soto's beaches with no permit. Detectors are banned elsewhere in the park, including the fort, and every hole must be filled.", "conditions": [ "Beaches only: Pinellas County Code § 90-7(p) prohibits metal detectors in county parks \"except on beaches in parks\"", "No permit, registration or check-in; the county's park rules list no detecting permit", "All dug holes must be filled (Pinellas County park rules)", "The fort, trails, picnic areas and campground are off-limits to detectors, and posted bird- and turtle-nesting areas must be avoided", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)" ], "governing_rules": [ "Pinellas County Code Chapter 90, § 90-7(p) and Pinellas County park rules", "Florida Statutes §§ 267.061 and 267.13", "Fla. Stat. § 379.2431 (marine turtle protection)" ], "required_permits": [ "Parking ($6)" ], "sources": [ "https://pinellas.gov/park-rules/", "http://www.pinellascounty.elaws.us/code/coor_ch90_arti_sec90-7", "https://library.municode.com/fl/pinellas_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIPICOCO_CH90PACORE_ARTIINGE_S90-7ACWICONEMALA", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0100-0199/0125/Sections/0125.69.html", "https://pinellas.gov/fort-de-soto-park/", "https://pinellas.gov/fort-de-soto-history-quartermaster-museum", "https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/b06b9b86-3855-474c-93ed-966d84788cf0", "https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/267.061", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/Sections/0267.13.html", "https://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/sea-turtles/nesting/" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-28", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 27.62, "lng": -82.7289, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#fort-de-soto-verdict", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/fort-myers-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Fort Myers Beach", "county": "Lee", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on Fort Myers Beach public beaches without a permit. Hurricane Ian's 2022 storm surge dramatically reshaped the beach; Lovers Key State Park at the south end of Estero Island is allowed on the ocean beach only under Florida State Parks policy.", "conditions": [ "Town of Fort Myers Beach public gulf beach — allowed; no permit required; no specific ordinance banning recreational detecting found in TOFMB Code as of May 2026", "Bowditch Point Regional Park (north tip of Estero Island) (parking lot and park amenities closed for Hurricane Ian repairs from September 8, 2026; walk-in beach access remains): Lee County park rules apply; confirm with Lee County Parks & Recreation before detecting in the park interior", "Lovers Key State Park (south of Big Carlos Pass): allowed on ocean beach only under Florida State Parks policy; interior areas prohibited; $8 entry fee applies", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)" ], "governing_rules": [ "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Antiquities Act); Florida State Parks metal-detecting policy", "Lee County Parks & Recreation", "Town of Fort Myers Beach Code of Ordinances" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov", "https://www.leegov.com/parks/beaches/bowditchpoint", "https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/lovers-key-state-park", "https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-27", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 26.4534, "lng": -81.95, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/fort-pierce-inlet", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Fort Pierce Inlet State Park", "county": "St Lucie", "land_type": "state-park", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on the ocean beach at Fort Pierce Inlet State Park without a detecting permit. Upland park areas are prohibited under Florida State Parks policy. The park marks the southern end of the 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet wreck corridor.", "conditions": [ "Recreational detecting is permitted on the ocean-facing beach — only within the beach areas the park manager designates (toe of the dune to the high-water line, never in the water); call the park to confirm which sections are open; standard park entrance fee applies ($6/vehicle)", "Upland park areas, picnic grounds, and dune zones are prohibited under Florida State Parks policy", "This is state park land, so historic objects found anywhere in the park belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); Florida State Parks treats anything over 50 years old as historic, and visitors can't keep it", "Offshore wreck sites (including any 1715 Fleet material) lie on state sovereignty submerged land — the state holds title (§ 267.061), and recovery without a Division of Historical Resources permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Sea turtle nesting season March 1 – October 31: stay out of marked nests and keep well clear of them" ], "governing_rules": [ "Florida DEP Division of Recreation and Parks", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 — Division of Historical Resources", "Florida Statutes §§ 267.061 and 267.13 — state title to wreck material on sovereignty submerged land; permit required for recovery" ], "required_permits": [ "State park daily entrance fee ($6 per vehicle (up to 8 passengers); $2 per pedestrian or cyclist)", "Treasure salvage license (offshore wrecks)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/fort-pierce-inlet-state-park", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://www.flrules.org/gateway/RuleNo.asp?id=62D-2.013", "https://www.floridastateparks.org/plan-your-visit/faqs", "https://dos.fl.gov/historical/preservation/maritime/" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-17", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 27.4793, "lng": -80.2957, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#treasure-coast-1715-fleet-salvage", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/gulf-breeze", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Gulf Breeze Beaches", "county": "Santa Rosa", "land_type": "city-park", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Detecting is allowed at Gulf Breeze's sound-side public parks without a permit. The barrier island to the south is federally prohibited Gulf Islands National Seashore.", "conditions": [ "No permit required at City of Gulf Breeze public parks (Shoreline Park) or Santa Rosa County beach access points on the sound", "Gulf Islands National Seashore — Naval Live Oaks unit on US-98 east of the city: detecting prohibited under 36 CFR 2.1", "Fort Pickens Area (Santa Rosa Island, across Bob Sikes Bridge): prohibited under 36 CFR 2.1", "Sea turtle nesting protections apply May 1 – October 31 on sound-adjacent beaches", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)" ], "governing_rules": [ "NPS / GUIS — 36 CFR 2.1", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267", "Santa Rosa County Code", "City of Gulf Breeze Code of Ordinances" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.nps.gov/guis/learn/management/lawsandpolicies.htm", "https://www.cityofgulfbreeze.us/182/Parks-Recreation", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-I/part-2/section-2.1" ], "last_verified": "2026-06-10", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 30.3549, "lng": -87.1634, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/honeymoon-island", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Honeymoon Island State Park", "county": "Pinellas", "land_type": "state-park", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on Honeymoon Island's Gulf beach. Interior trails are off-limits under Florida State Parks policy; $8 park entry applies.", "conditions": [ "Restricted to beach areas the park manager designates, between the toe of the dune and the high-water line — interior trails, picnic groves, and upland habitat are off-limits under Florida State Parks policy", "$8 per vehicle entry fee required at the Dunedin Causeway gate; Florida State Parks Annual Pass accepted", "Sea turtle nesting season (May 1 – October 31): no digging in or beside a marked nest", "This is state park land, so historic objects found anywhere in the park belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); Florida State Parks treats anything over 50 years old as historic, and visitors can't keep it" ], "governing_rules": [ "Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Division of Historical Resources)", "Pinellas County" ], "required_permits": [ "Park entry fee ($8 per vehicle (up to 8 people); $4 single-occupant; $2 pedestrian or cyclist)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/honeymoon-island-state-park", "https://www.flrules.org/gateway/RuleNo.asp?id=62D-2.013", "https://www.floridastateparks.org/plan-your-visit/faqs", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-21", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 28.082, "lng": -82.837, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/hutchinson-island", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Hutchinson Island", "county": "Martin", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Hutchinson Island is a 20-mile barrier island split between St. Lucie and Martin counties with multiple distinct access points. Metal detecting rules depend on which section you are on: county-managed beaches are allowed without a permit; state park sections restrict detecting to the ocean beach only.", "conditions": [ "County-managed beach sections (St. Lucie County and Martin County public beaches) allow detecting without a permit", "State park sections (Fort Pierce Inlet SP on the north end) restrict detecting to the ocean beach only under Florida State Parks policy", "The St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant boundary zone in the island's midsection is a hard no-access area — stay well clear", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Sea turtle nesting season March 1 – October 31: stay out of marked nests and keep well clear of them; Hutchinson Island is one of Florida's most active nesting beaches" ], "governing_rules": [ "Florida DEP Division of Recreation and Parks", "St. Lucie County Parks and Recreation", "Martin County Parks and Recreation", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 — Division of Historical Resources" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.stlucieco.gov/departments-services/a-d/community-services/parks-recreation", "https://www.martin.fl.us/parks", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://www.flrules.org/gateway/RuleNo.asp?id=62D-2.013", "https://www.floridastateparks.org/plan-your-visit/faqs", "https://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/sea-turtles/" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-20", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 27.32, "lng": -80.23, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#treasure-coast-1715-fleet-salvage", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/jensen-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Jensen Beach Park", "county": "Martin", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed at Jensen Beach Park on Hutchinson Island without a permit. This Martin County public beach is free to access and sits within the southern end of the 1715 Fleet treasure corridor — the same Florida antiquities rules apply.", "conditions": [ "No permit required for recreational metal detecting on the public beach", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Stay below the dune crest; dune vegetation protected under Fla. Stat. § 161.053", "Sea turtle nesting season March 1 – October 31: stay out of marked nests and keep well clear of them", "No Martin County ordinance specifically prohibiting metal detecting on public beaches was in effect as of May 2026" ], "governing_rules": [ "Martin County Parks and Recreation", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 — Division of Historical Resources" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.martin.fl.us/parks", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/sea-turtles/" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-19", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 27.2556, "lng": -80.2239, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#treasure-coast-1715-fleet-salvage", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/longboat-key", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Longboat Key", "county": "Sarasota", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed at Longboat Key with no permit required. Most Gulf beach fronts private resort or condominium property — public access is restricted to approximately 12 recorded access easements along the island's 12-mile Gulf shoreline.", "conditions": [ "No specific metal detecting ordinance found in Town of Longboat Key code as of May 2026 — verify current rules before visiting", "Public beach access requires using one of the recorded public access easements — most Gulf shoreline fronts private resort or condominium property", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Sea turtle nesting season (May 1 – October 31): no digging in or beside a marked nest on the Gulf beach" ], "governing_rules": [ "Town of Longboat Key", "Manatee County", "Sarasota County", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Division of Historical Resources)", "Florida Statutes § 161.053 (Coastal Zone Protection)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://library.municode.com/fl/longboat_key/codes/code_of_ordinances", "https://www.scgov.net/government/departments/parks-recreation-and-natural-resources", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-21", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 27.3975, "lng": -82.6568, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/lori-wilson-park", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Lori Wilson Park", "county": "Brevard", "land_type": "county-park", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is prohibited at Lori Wilson Park. Brevard County Code Sec. 78-120 bans all excavation in county parks — digging to recover any detected target is not permitted within the park boundaries.", "conditions": [ "Brevard County Code Sec. 78-120 prohibits all excavation by tool in any county park or department-managed land", "No permit pathway exists to obtain an exception for recreational metal detecting at county parks", "The adjacent city-managed Cocoa Beach public beach (outside the park boundary) operates under different city rules", "The prohibition applies to both the beach section and the inland maritime hammock area" ], "governing_rules": [ "Brevard County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 78, Sec. 78-120", "City of Cocoa Beach — Beach Rules", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://brevardfl.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12858297&GUID=96433136-EDC3-4B7E-BBF3-C6FC2271890D", "https://www.brevardfl.gov/ParksAndRecreation/ParkDirectory/LoriWilsonPark", "https://www.cityofcocoabeach.com/198/Beach-Access", "https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/267.061", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/Sections/0267.13.html", "https://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/sea-turtles/nesting/" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-28", "last_updated": "2026-09-28", "lat": 28.3366, "lng": -80.6085, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/melbourne-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Melbourne Beach", "county": "Brevard", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "unclear", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting on the Town of Melbourne Beach's own beach is unclear: no town rule on it has been found, but we haven't been able to read the full text of the town's beach ordinances (Chapter 40), so confirm with Town Hall before visiting. Brevard County's beach parks in and around the town ban digging, so detecting is prohibited there.", "conditions": [ "Town of Melbourne Beach Code Chapter 40 (Beaches and Waterways) is published online but we could not read its full text; confirm the status with Town Hall at (321) 724-5860 (Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) before visiting", "Chapter 40's indexed sections cover driving on beaches, littering, walking on dunes and sea turtles; none is titled for detecting or digging, but that doesn't confirm the full text is silent", "Spessard Holland North Beach Park is operated by Brevard County — same Sec. 78-120 excavation ban as Lori Wilson Park applies; detecting is prohibited there", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Sea turtle nests are protected during nesting season (March 1 – October 31 in Brevard), and lights-out rules apply after 9 p.m. from May 1 to October 31" ], "governing_rules": [ "Town of Melbourne Beach Code of Ordinances, Chapter 40 — Beaches and Waterways", "Brevard County Code, Chapter 78, Sec. 78-120", "Brevard County — Sea Turtle Lighting Ordinance, Chapter 46, Article III", "Town of Melbourne Beach — Chapter 40, Article II (Sea Turtle Lighting)", "Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge — 50 CFR 27.61, 27.63", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Antiquities Act)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/melbournebeach/latest/melbournebeach_fl/0-0-0-18850", "https://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/lighting/ordinances/", "https://library.municode.com/fl/brevard_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH78PARE", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://melbournebeachfl.prelive.opencities.com/files/content/city/v/12/forms-and-documents/sea_turtle_season_3-2023-1.pdf", "https://library.municode.com/fl/brevard_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH46EN_ARTIIIMATUPR", "https://melbournebeachfl.prelive.opencities.com/Residents/Streets-Within-the-Town-Limits", "https://www.fws.gov/refuge/archie-carr", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-27/subpart-F/section-27.63", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0100-0199/0161/Sections/0161.242.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-10-12", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 28.0685, "lng": -80.5576, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#brevard-lighting-ordinance-incorporated-beaches", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#melbourne-beach-val-steele-location", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/naples-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Naples Beach", "county": "Collier", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on City of Naples public beaches and Collier County beach access points without a permit. Naples' high-net-worth visitor demographic creates a qualitatively different jewelry-loss profile from most Florida Gulf beaches; Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park (6 miles north) is allowed on the ocean beach only under Florida State Parks policy.", "conditions": [ "City of Naples public beaches (Naples Pier area, Lowdermilk Park, Gulf Shore Boulevard access points) — allowed; no permit required; no city ordinance banning recreational detecting found as of May 2026", "Collier County beach access points (Vanderbilt Beach, Barefoot Beach, Tigertail Beach on Marco Island) — allowed; no county ban found", "Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park (6 miles north): allowed on ocean beach only under Florida State Parks policy; interior areas prohibited; $6 entry fee applies", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)" ], "governing_rules": [ "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Antiquities Act); Florida State Parks metal-detecting policy", "Collier County Parks & Recreation", "City of Naples Code of Ordinances" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.naplesgov.com/parksrec/page/beaches-and-parks", "https://www.collierparks.com/Parks-and-Beaches/Beaches", "https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/delnor-wiggins-pass-state-park", "https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-27", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 26.1366, "lng": -81.8063, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/navarre-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Navarre Beach", "county": "Santa Rosa", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on Santa Rosa County's Navarre Beach without a permit. The Gulf Islands National Seashore Santa Rosa Area runs immediately west — that NPS section is federally prohibited under 36 CFR 2.1.", "conditions": [ "No permit required on Santa Rosa County-managed beach sections", "Gulf Islands National Seashore (Santa Rosa Area, immediately west) is prohibited under 36 CFR 2.1 — do not detect within that NPS boundary", "Sea turtle nesting season May 1–October 31: avoid flagged nests; do not dig in or beside a marked nest", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "All holes must be filled before leaving the beach" ], "governing_rules": [ "36 CFR 2.1 / Gulf Islands National Seashore (Santa Rosa Area)", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Archaeological and Property Act)", "Santa Rosa County Parks & Recreation" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.nps.gov/guis/learn/management/lawsandpolicies.htm", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://www.santarosacountyfl.gov/government/departments-a-z/parks-recreation/" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-01", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 30.3742, "lng": -86.8631, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/new-smyrna-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "New Smyrna Beach", "county": "Volusia", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "permit-required", "permit_required": true, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed at the city and county beach sections of New Smyrna Beach with a free annual permit from the Volusia County Beach Safety Department. A critical boundary runs through this beach: Canaveral National Seashore (Apollo Beach section) begins at 7611 S. Atlantic Ave and is federal NPS land where metal detecting is absolutely prohibited under 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7). Detecting on the city/county beach north of that boundary is permitted with the free county permit.", "conditions": [ "Free annual permit required from the Volusia County Beach Safety Department — contact (386) 239-6484; provide name, address, and contact information; permit is valid for one year", "CRITICAL: Canaveral National Seashore (Apollo Beach section) begins at 7611 S. Atlantic Ave, New Smyrna Beach — do not cross south of this boundary with a metal detector; NPS prohibition under 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7) is absolute", "The city and county beach sections NORTH of the Canaveral NS boundary are where the Volusia County permit applies", "Metal detecting is prohibited in inland Volusia County parks — beach area only", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Dunes and dune vegetation off-limits year-round (Fla. Stat. § 161.053); sea turtle nesting season May 1 – October 31" ], "governing_rules": [ "36 CFR § 2.1(a)(7) — National Park Service Resource Protection", "Volusia County Code of Ordinances Chapter 20 (Beach Code)", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Historical Resources Act)", "Florida Statutes § 161.053 (Coastal Construction Control Line Act)" ], "required_permits": [ "Volusia County Beach Safety — Metal Detecting Permit (city/county beach only) (Free)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.nps.gov/places/apollo-beachentrance-station.htm", "https://www.nps.gov/cana/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm", "https://library.municode.com/fl/volusia_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH20BECO", "https://www.volusia.org/services/public-protection/beach-safety/", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-29", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 29.0469, "lng": -80.9246, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/panama-city-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Panama City Beach", "county": "Bay", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on Panama City Beach's 26-mile public Gulf shore without a permit. Observe Gulf Coast turtle nesting season restrictions from May 1 through October 31, and check with St. Andrews State Park at the eastern end before detecting there — state policy allows it only in beach areas the park manager designates.", "conditions": [ "No permit required on the public Gulf shore", "Gulf Coast sea turtle nesting season May 1 – October 31: avoid all flagged nests", "St. Andrews State Park at the eastern beach terminus allows detecting only in beach areas its park manager designates (Florida State Parks policy) — none are published online, so call before detecting there", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Tyndall Air Force Base immediately east of the state park is a federal military exclusion zone" ], "governing_rules": [ "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Antiquities Act)", "Florida State Parks (FL DEP Division of Recreation and Parks)", "Bay County Code of Ordinances", "City of Panama City Beach Code of Ordinances" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.pcbfl.us/parks-recreation/beaches", "https://www.flrules.org/gateway/RuleNo.asp?id=62D-2.013", "https://www.floridastateparks.org/plan-your-visit/faqs", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/sea-turtle/", "https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/st-andrews-state-park" ], "last_verified": "2026-06-16", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 30.176, "lng": -85.808, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/pensacola-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Pensacola Beach", "county": "Escambia", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed at the Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) managed sections of Pensacola Beach without a permit. The critical boundary issue: Gulf Islands National Seashore (GUIS) wraps around both ends of the Pensacola Beach community — Fort Pickens to the west and the eastern sections beyond Portofino. Metal detecting is absolutely prohibited in all GUIS areas under 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7). The safe detecting zone is the Casino Beach area around the SRIA community, roughly centered on the beach sphere water tower.", "conditions": [ "No permit required on SRIA-managed Pensacola Beach sections (Casino Beach and the main community beach area) — confirm current rules with SRIA at (850) 932-2257", "CRITICAL: Gulf Islands National Seashore begins at Fort Pickens to the west and at the eastern sections of Santa Rosa Island beyond Portofino — metal detecting is absolutely prohibited in all GUIS areas under 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7)", "The safe detecting zone is the SRIA community beach area roughly centered on the sphere water tower (Via de Luna corridor), extending a few miles in each direction before reaching NPS boundaries", "No metal shovels permitted; no holes deeper than 2 feet", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Dunes and dune vegetation off-limits year-round (Fla. Stat. § 161.053); sea turtle nesting season May 1 – October 31" ], "governing_rules": [ "36 CFR § 2.1(a)(7) — National Park Service Resource Protection", "Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) — Escambia County", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Historical Resources Act)", "Florida Statutes § 161.053 (Coastal Construction Control Line Act)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.nps.gov/guis/faq-guis.htm", "https://www.nps.gov/guis/learn/management/lawsandpolicies.htm", "https://www.sria-fla.com/about-santa-rosa-island-authority-sria", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-02", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 30.3275, "lng": -87.1444, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#fort-de-soto-verdict", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/sanibel-island", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Sanibel Island Beaches", "county": "Lee", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on City of Sanibel public beaches without a permit. The J.N. \"Ding\" Darling National Wildlife Refuge and SCCF sanctuary sections covering nearly 40% of the island are prohibited; Calusa midden complexes at the east end are documented archaeological sites and should be left undisturbed.", "conditions": [ "City of Sanibel public beaches (Bowman's Beach, Gulfside City Park, Lighthouse Beach, Turner Beach) — allowed without permit", "J.N. \"Ding\" Darling National Wildlife Refuge: prohibited under 50 CFR § 27.61 — covers the island's interior wetlands and mangrove habitat", "SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) sanctuary sections: prohibited — private conservation land", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13); Calusa midden complexes at the east end are protected archaeological sites — do not probe or disturb midden areas" ], "governing_rules": [ "50 CFR Part 27 — National Wildlife Refuge System", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Antiquities Act) and § 267.061", "Lee County Parks & Recreation", "City of Sanibel Code of Ordinances" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.mysanibel.com/288/Beach-Parks", "https://www.fws.gov/refuge/jn-ding-darling", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-27", "https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-27", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 26.4569, "lng": -82.1399, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/satellite-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Satellite Beach", "county": "Brevard", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on Satellite Beach's public beaches with no permit. The city code has no rule against it, and § 26-1(c) even lists metal detecting among the public's recreational uses of the dry-sand beach. Under Florida Statute Chapter 267, historic items found below the mean high-water line belong to the state.", "conditions": [ "No City of Satellite Beach ordinance restricts metal detecting; City Code § 26-1(c) lists it among the public's permitted recreational uses of the dry-sand beach (code checked through Ord. No. 1295, October 2026)", "Fill all holes before leaving — open holes trap sea turtle hatchlings during nesting season (March 1 – October 31)", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "During sea turtle nesting season (March 1 – October 31), city guidance under its Chapter 26, Article X lighting rules says no flashlights, flash photography or other visible lights on the beach after dark", "Paid parking enforced 7 a.m.–7 p.m. daily at all city beach parks — purchase via license plate at kiosks or via app" ], "governing_rules": [ "City of Satellite Beach Code of Ordinances (§ 26-1; Ch. 26, Art. X sea turtle lighting; § 66-54 dunes; Ch. 35 parking)", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Antiquities Act)" ], "required_permits": [ "Beach parking" ], "sources": [ "https://library.municode.com/fl/satellite_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances", "https://www.parksatellitebeach.org", "https://www.satellitebeach.gov/departments/public-works/sustainable-satellite/", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://www.satellitebeach.gov/departments/recreation-department/parks-facilities/beach-parks-and-accesses/", "https://www.parksatellitebeach.org/payment", "https://www.parksatellitebeach.org/parking-passes" ], "last_verified": "2026-10-12", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 28.194, "lng": -80.5947, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#brevard-lighting-ordinance-incorporated-beaches", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/sebastian-inlet", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Sebastian Inlet State Park", "county": "Brevard", "land_type": "state-park", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed without a permit at Sebastian Inlet State Park, but only on the beach areas the park manager designates, between the toe of the dune and the high-water line. The park sits at the heart of the 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet corridor; the offshore wreck sites belong to the state and are worked only by a court-appointed salvor, so removing material from them is a crime.", "conditions": [ "Recreational detecting is permitted on the ocean beach — only within the beach areas the park manager designates (toe of the dune to the high-water line, never in the water); call the park to confirm which sections are open; standard park entrance fee applies ($8/vehicle)", "This is state park land, so historic objects found anywhere in the park belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); Florida State Parks treats anything over 50 years old as historic, and visitors can't keep it", "The 1715 Fleet shipwreck sites in state waters lie on state sovereignty submerged land — digging up wreck material without a Division of Historical Resources permit is a third-degree felony (§ 267.13)", "Sea turtle nesting season March 1 – October 31: stay well clear of marked nests; no nighttime excavation", "Upland park areas, dunes, and dune vegetation: detecting prohibited under Florida State Parks policy" ], "governing_rules": [ "Florida DEP Division of Recreation and Parks", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 — Division of Historical Resources", "Florida Statutes §§ 267.061 and 267.13 — state title to wreck material on sovereignty submerged land; permit required for recovery" ], "required_permits": [ "State park daily entrance fee ($8 per vehicle (up to 8 passengers); $2 per pedestrian or cyclist)", "Treasure salvage license (1715 Fleet offshore wrecks)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/sebastian-inlet-state-park", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://dos.fl.gov/historical/preservation/maritime/", "https://www.flrules.org/gateway/RuleNo.asp?id=62D-2.013", "https://www.floridastateparks.org/plan-your-visit/faqs", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/florida/Fla-Admin-Code-Ann-R-62D-2-013", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/florida/Fla-Admin-Code-Ann-R-1A-31-0045", "https://www.d4fdot.com/projects/t4729", "https://www.melbournebeachfl.org/Town-News/UPDATE-SR-A1A-Over-Sebastian-Inlet-Bridge-Replacement-Project" ], "last_verified": "2026-10-12", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 27.8561, "lng": -80.4509, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sebastian-inlet-residual-errors", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#treasure-coast-1715-fleet-salvage", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/siesta-key-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Siesta Key Beach", "county": "Sarasota", "land_type": "county-park-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed at Siesta Key Beach without a permit under Sarasota County Code § 90-33. The famous white quartz sand produces modern finds consistently; fossils, minerals, and cultural resources may not be removed under county ordinance.", "conditions": [ "No permit required on the public beach; Sarasota County Code § 90-33 permits recreational metal detecting on county beaches", "Fossils, minerals, rocks, sand, and cultural resources may not be removed under § 90-33 — modern jewelry and coins are not restricted", "Shark teeth and shells that naturally wash up on the beach may be collected (explicit exception in § 90-33), but digging for them is not the same as surface collection", "Stay below the high-tide line; dunes and dune vegetation off-limits year-round under Fla. Stat. § 161.053", "Sea turtle nesting season May 1 – October 31: stay well clear of marked nests" ], "governing_rules": [ "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Historical Resources Act)", "Florida Statutes § 161.053 (Coastal Construction Control Line Act)", "Sarasota County Code Chapter 90, Article II, § 90-33 (Parks, Recreation and Public Lands)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://library.municode.com/fl/sarasota_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH90PAREPULA_ARTIIUSPABEPULA", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://www.sarasotacountyparks.com/i-want-to/about-us/park-and-facility-rules" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-25", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 27.267, "lng": -82.549, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#fort-de-soto-verdict", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/south-beach-fort-pierce", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "South Beach (Fort Pierce)", "county": "St Lucie", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed at South Beach in Fort Pierce without a permit. This free St. Lucie County public beach sits on the south side of Fort Pierce Inlet — the inlet mouth concentrates finds, and proximity to the 1715 Fleet corridor means occasional historic material after significant storms.", "conditions": [ "No permit required for recreational beach metal detecting on the public beach", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Stay below the dune line; dune vegetation is protected under Fla. Stat. § 161.053", "Sea turtle nesting season March 1 – October 31: stay well clear of marked nests", "No St. Lucie County ordinance specifically prohibiting metal detecting on public beaches was in effect as of May 2026" ], "governing_rules": [ "St. Lucie County Parks and Recreation", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 — Division of Historical Resources" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.stlucieco.gov/departments-services/a-d/community-services/parks-recreation", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://dos.fl.gov/historical/preservation/maritime/" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-18", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 27.4664, "lng": -80.2889, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#treasure-coast-1715-fleet-salvage", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/st-augustine-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "St. Augustine Beach", "county": "St Johns", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting appears to be allowed at the City of St. Augustine Beach's public beach, but this area demands heightened care: the City of St. Augustine (a separate historical municipality) prohibits metal detecting on all city-owned property, St. Johns County prohibits disturbing archaeological sites on county lands, and the density of significant historical deposits in this area makes Chapter 267 compliance especially important. The beach itself is managed by the City of St. Augustine Beach, not the historic city.", "conditions": [ "No permit required on the City of St. Augustine Beach's public beach — no specific city ordinance prohibiting recreational metal detecting found in Chapter 5; confirm with the City of St. Augustine Beach at (904) 471-2122", "IMPORTANT: The City of St. Augustine Beach and the City of St. Augustine are two separate municipalities — the historic city explicitly prohibits metal detecting and excavation on all city-owned property (Archaeological Preservation Ordinance, Chapter 6)", "St. Johns County Land Development Code § 3.01.07 and Ordinance 2005-114 prohibit knowingly disturbing archaeological sites on county-owned lands — do not dig at any location that may be an archaeological site", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13); especially relevant here given the area's occupation since 1565", "Anastasia State Park: Florida State Parks policy applies — ocean beach section only; Fort Matanzas National Monument: NPS land — metal detecting prohibited under 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7)", "Dunes and dune vegetation off-limits year-round (Fla. Stat. § 161.053); sea turtle nesting season May 1 – October 31" ], "governing_rules": [ "City of St. Augustine Beach Code of Ordinances Chapter 5 (Beach, Pier and Waterway Use)", "St. Johns County Land Development Code § 3.01.07; County Ordinance 2005-114", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Historical Resources Act), §§ 267.061, 267.12–267.13", "Florida Statutes § 161.053 (Coastal Construction Control Line Act)", "36 CFR § 2.1(a)(7) — National Park Service Resource Protection" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.citystaug.com/FAQ.aspx?QID=207", "https://fpangoingpublic.blogspot.com/2012/01/artifact-collecting-st-johns-county.html", "https://library.municode.com/fl/st._augustine_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH5BEPIWA_ARTIINGE_S5-15PRNETU", "https://www.sjcfl.us/beach-services/beach-rules/", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-30", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 29.8574, "lng": -81.2741, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/st-george-island", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "St. George Island State Park", "county": "Franklin", "land_type": "state-park-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on the St. George Island State Park ocean beach; $6 entry; no separate permit required. Upland areas and dunes are prohibited under Florida State Parks policy.", "conditions": [ "Ocean beach face only, within the sections the park manager designates (never in the water) — upland areas, dunes, and all interior areas are prohibited under Florida State Parks policy", "Park entry fee: $6 per vehicle; no separate metal detecting permit required", "Park closes at sunset — no night detecting", "Sea turtle nesting season May 1–October 31: avoid all flagged nests on the Gulf beach", "This is state park land, so historic objects found anywhere in the park belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); Florida State Parks treats anything over 50 years old as historic, and visitors can't keep it" ], "governing_rules": [ "Florida State Parks (FL DEP Division of Recreation and Parks)", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267", "Franklin County" ], "required_permits": [ "State park entry ($6 per vehicle)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.flrules.org/gateway/RuleNo.asp?id=62D-2.013", "https://www.floridastateparks.org/plan-your-visit/faqs", "https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/dr-julian-g-bruce-st-george-island-state-park", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-06-22", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 29.6483, "lng": -84.7695, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/st-pete-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "St. Pete Beach", "county": "Pinellas", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed at St. Pete Beach without a permit. No city ordinance has been found restricting recreational metal detecting; Florida Chapter 267 applies statewide. The Pass-A-Grille section at the southern end offers potential for older finds in one of the Gulf Coast's earliest beach communities.", "conditions": [ "No permit required; no City of St. Pete Beach ordinance found restricting recreational metal detecting", "Stay below the high-tide line; dunes and dune vegetation are protected under Fla. Stat. § 161.053 — no digging year-round", "Sea turtle nesting season May 1 – October 31: stay out of marked nests and keep well clear of them; do not dig in nesting zones at night", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)" ], "governing_rules": [ "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Historical Resources Act)", "Florida Statutes § 161.053 (Coastal Construction Control Line Act)", "City of St. Pete Beach Code of Ordinances" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.fws.gov/refuge/egmont-key/visit-us/rules-policies", "https://library.municode.com/fl/st._pete_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://pinellas.gov/park-rules/" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-24", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 27.7246, "lng": -82.7436, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#fort-de-soto-verdict", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/stuart-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Stuart Beach", "county": "Martin", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed at Stuart Beach without a permit. The City of Stuart manages this free public beach at the south end of Hutchinson Island near St. Lucie Inlet — the inlet dynamics concentrate finds near the beach's northern end.", "conditions": [ "No permit required for recreational metal detecting on the public beach", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Stay below the dune crest; dune vegetation protected under Fla. Stat. § 161.053", "Sea turtle nesting season March 1 – October 31: stay out of marked nests and keep well clear of them", "No City of Stuart ordinance specifically prohibiting metal detecting on the public beach was in effect as of May 2026" ], "governing_rules": [ "City of Stuart Parks and Recreation", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 — Division of Historical Resources" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.ci.stuart.fl.us/161/Parks", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://www.martin.fl.us/parks" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-21", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 27.1975, "lng": -80.2103, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#treasure-coast-1715-fleet-salvage", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-state-park-detecting-rule", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/venice-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Venice Beach", "county": "Sarasota", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed at Venice Beach without a permit. The city is marketed as the Shark Tooth Capital of the World — shark teeth can be collected freely, but metal detecting rules and shark tooth rules are distinct activities governed by different frameworks.", "conditions": [ "No permit required for metal detecting; City of Venice Code does not contain a specific ordinance prohibiting recreational metal detecting on public beach", "Shark teeth may be collected freely on the public beach — no permit required for shark teeth specifically", "Other vertebrate fossils (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals — excluding shark teeth) require a Florida Fossil Permit from the Florida Museum of Natural History on state lands (which include the beach below mean high water and the sea floor)", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Stay below the high-tide line; dunes off-limits year-round under Fla. Stat. § 161.053; sea turtle nesting season May 1 – October 31" ], "governing_rules": [ "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Historical Resources Act)", "Florida Statutes § 161.053 (Coastal Construction Control Line Act)", "City of Venice Code of Ordinances" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.venicegov.com/government/public-works/parks/city-park-rules", "https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-fossil-permit/", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://www.visitsarasota.com/article/guide-venices-shark-tooth-capital-world" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-26", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 27.0995, "lng": -82.4546, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-fossil-permit-state-lands", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/vero-beach-jaycee-park", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Vero Beach Jaycee Park", "county": "Indian River", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed at Jaycee Beach Park in Vero Beach without a permit. The park sits in the southern end of the 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet corridor — historic artifacts found below the mean high-water line are state property under Florida's antiquities law and can't be removed without a state permit.", "conditions": [ "No permit required for recreational beach metal detecting", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Stay below the dune line; dune vegetation and upland areas are protected under state coastal construction rules", "Sea turtle nesting season March 1 – October 31: stay well clear of marked nests", "No city ordinance restricts metal detecting: the City of Vero Beach Code (Supplement 60, through Ord. 2026-03) does not mention it. The code treats the beach as a park, and § 54-40 bars removing sand or damaging vegetation there" ], "governing_rules": [ "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 — Division of Historical Resources", "City of Vero Beach Recreation Department — City Code Chapter 54 (Parks and Recreation)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.covb.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Jaycee-Beach-Park-32", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html", "https://dos.fl.gov/historical/preservation/maritime/", "https://library.municode.com/fl/vero_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPAGEOR_CH54PARE", "https://library.municode.com/fl/vero_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPAGEOR_CH46MAACSTFA_ARTIVBE_DIV2PRMATU", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0100-0199/0161/Sections/0161.242.html", "https://www.covb.org/206/Recreation-Department" ], "last_verified": "2026-10-12", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 27.6656, "lng": -80.3597, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#vero-beach-jaycee-location-dune-citation", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#treasure-coast-1715-fleet-salvage", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/florida/vilano-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "florida", "state_name": "Florida", "place": "Vilano Beach", "county": "St Johns", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed at Vilano Beach without a permit. This unincorporated St. Johns County beach sits north of St. Augustine on the barrier island side of the Tolomato River. Governed by St. Johns County Beach Code (Ordinance 2007-19), Vilano is more straightforward than the city beaches to the south — no separate city ordinances, no overlapping historic city ban. The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve begins to the north; detecting is not permitted in the reserve.", "conditions": [ "No permit required; metal detecting is allowed on St. Johns County beaches under Ordinance 2007-19; contact St. Johns County Beach Services at (904) 209-0331 to confirm current rules", "St. Johns County Land Development Code § 3.01.07 prohibits knowingly disturbing archaeological sites on county-owned or managed lands — do not excavate potential archaeological deposits", "Historic artifacts abandoned on state-owned land, which on the beach generally means below the mean high-water line, belong to the state (Fla. Stat. § 267.061); removing them without a DHR permit is a crime (§ 267.13)", "Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve: detecting not permitted within reserve boundaries to the north", "Dunes and dune vegetation off-limits year-round (Fla. Stat. § 161.053); sea turtle nesting season May 1 – October 31" ], "governing_rules": [ "St. Johns County Beach Code (Ordinance 2007-19)", "St. Johns County Land Development Code § 3.01.07; Ordinance 2005-114", "Florida Statutes Chapter 267 (Historical Resources Act)", "Florida Statutes § 161.053 (Coastal Construction Control Line Act)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.sjcfl.us/beach-services/beach-rules/", "https://fpangoingpublic.blogspot.com/2012/01/artifact-collecting-st-johns-county.html", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-30", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 29.9214, "lng": -81.3119, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-267-13-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/georgia/tybee-island", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "georgia", "state_name": "Georgia", "place": "Tybee Island", "county": "Chatham", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on Tybee Island's public beach with no permit. Stay out of the dunes and put back any live sand dollar or shell your scoop brings up.", "conditions": [ "No permit: nothing in the Tybee Island Code of Ordinances mentions metal detectors, and the beach rules in § 12-1 don't ban detecting or digging", "Walking in the dunes or disturbing sea oats is a § 12-1(a)(8) violation, listed on the city's citation schedule at $300", "Live sand dollars, shells with animals in them and hermit crabs have to go back where they came from (§ 12-1(a)(17))", "Fort Pulaski National Monument, the next island west on US-80, bans metal detectors and magnet fishing under its 2026 compendium, and Georgia law bans detectors in every DNR state park and historic site (O.C.G.A. § 12-3-10)" ], "governing_rules": [ "36 CFR 2.1(a)(7); Fort Pulaski National Monument Superintendent's Compendium (Jan. 6, 2026)", "O.C.G.A. § 12-3-10 (state parks and historic sites); O.C.G.A. § 12-3-621 (archaeological sites)", "Tybee Island Code of Ordinances, Chapter 12, § 12-1 (Use of municipal beaches and facilities)" ], "required_permits": [ "Parking (Park TYB, Zone 2100) ($4/hour, or a $25 day pass (up to 7 consecutive days for $175); no cash or coins accepted)" ], "sources": [ "https://library.municode.com/ga/tybee_island/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH12BEWA_ARTIINGE_S12-1USMUBEFA", "https://www.cityoftybee.org/398/Citations-Ordinances", "https://www.cityoftybee.org/465/Parking-Services", "https://www.nps.gov/fopu/learn/management/compendium.htm", "https://codes.findlaw.com/ga/title-12-conservation-and-natural-resources/ga-code-sect-12-3-621/", "https://codes.findlaw.com/ga/title-12-conservation-and-natural-resources/ga-code-sect-12-3-10/", "https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/datums.html?id=8670870", "https://www.tybeelighthouse.org/history-of-tybee-light-station-and-fort-screven" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-17", "last_updated": "2026-09-17", "lat": 31.992, "lng": -80.8464, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/maryland/ocean-city-maryland", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "maryland", "state_name": "Maryland", "place": "Ocean City Beach", "county": "Worcester", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on Ocean City's 9-mile town beach with no permit. The beach is closed midnight to 5 a.m., holes must be filled, and Assateague to the south runs two stricter rulebooks.", "conditions": [ "No Town of Ocean City ordinance mentions metal detectors, and no permit is required on the town beach", "The beach is closed to everyone but police and maintenance crews from midnight to 5 a.m. (Town Code § 106-113)", "Leaving a hole unfilled on the beach is a municipal infraction (§ 106-114), with fines up to $5,000 (§ 106-71)", "Assateague State Park allows detecting only from the day after Labor Day to May 30 and only on the ocean side of the dune; Assateague Island National Seashore bans detectors" ], "governing_rules": [ "Town of Ocean City Code, Chapter 106 (Waterways) and Chapter 30 (Environment)", "State of Maryland — owner of the Ocean City beaches and dunes; Md. Code, State Finance & Procurement §§ 5A-339 to 5A-346", "Maryland DNR — COMAR 08.07.06.18", "National Park Service — 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7)" ], "required_permits": [ "Assateague State Park detecting permission" ], "sources": [ "https://library.municode.com/md/ocean_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH106WA", "https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/city-hall/ocean-city-ordinances/", "https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/engineering/dune-crossings/", "https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/engineering/beach-replenishment/", "https://regs.maryland.gov/us/md/exec/comar/08.07.06.18", "https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/eastern/assateague.aspx", "https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/MetalDetecting.aspx", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-I/part-2/section-2.1", "https://www.nps.gov/asis/learn/management/lawsandpolicies.htm", "https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gsf§ion=5A-339", "https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gsf§ion=5A-346", "https://www.mgs.md.gov/coastal_geology/ocsand2.html", "https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Atlantic-Coast-of-Maryland-Shoreline-Protection/", "https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/ocean-city-wedding-ring/" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-28", "last_updated": "2026-09-28", "lat": 38.336, "lng": -75.085, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/massachusetts/revere-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "massachusetts", "state_name": "Massachusetts", "place": "Revere Beach", "county": "Suffolk", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Detecting is allowed on the sand at Revere Beach with no DCR permission — sandy beaches are the one carve-out in the state detector rule.", "conditions": [ "The sand is the exception, not the rule. 302 CMR 12.04(12) requires DCR permission to use a metal detector anywhere on DCR property — with coastal and inland sandy beaches carved out. Revere Beach is a DCR coastal sandy beach.", "That carve-out stops where the sand does. The seawall, the pavilions, the bandstand lawns and the grass strips along Revere Beach Boulevard are DCR property where you need staff permission, and only to recover lost personal property.", "Roped-off piping plover areas are off-limits April 1 through August 31, and they cover a meaningful share of the beach — the City of Revere puts it at roughly 15%.", "The Massachusetts Antiquities Act (M.G.L. c. 9, § 27C) applies to all Commonwealth land. Unpermitted field investigation is a misdemeanor and any specimens are forfeited to the Commonwealth — keep your session to modern lost property.", "No city permit. The City of Revere states the beach is under DCR jurisdiction; Revere's ordinances govern the boulevard and the parking, not the sand." ], "governing_rules": [ "Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation", "302 CMR 12.04 — Rules of Conduct on DCR Properties", "Massachusetts Antiquities Act — M.G.L. c. 9, §§ 26A–27C", "Massachusetts Endangered Species Act — M.G.L. c. 131A; 321 CMR 10.00", "City of Revere" ], "required_permits": [ "Detector use elsewhere on DCR property (No fee — it is permission, not a permit)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/302-CMR-12-04", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/302-CMR-12-20", "https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleII/Chapter9/Section27C", "https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIX/Chapter131A/Section6", "https://www.mass.gov/locations/revere-beach-reservation", "https://revere.org/departments/public-works/revere-beach-information", "https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/mhc/mhc.htm", "https://www.nps.gov/places/revere-beach-reservation-historic-district.htm", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-I/part-2/section-2.1" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-21", "last_updated": "2026-09-21", "lat": 42.4157, "lng": -70.9895, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/michigan/warren-dunes-state-park", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "michigan", "state_name": "Michigan", "place": "Warren Dunes State Park", "county": "Berrien", "land_type": "state-park", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed at Warren Dunes State Park without a permit, but only on the bare Lake Michigan shoreline. Dunes and trails are closed.", "conditions": [ "Only the unvegetated portion of the Lake Michigan shoreline is open to detectors. Every other part of the park is closed under DNR Land Use Order 5.26 unless the park manager authorizes it in writing", "Registered campers may also detect inside the campgrounds; day visitors may not", "Park staff can inspect anything you recover and keep it while they look into it. Relics and anything of historical value stay with the state", "Use a probe or small hand trowel only, and backfill every hole", "A Recreation Passport is required on any vehicle entering the park" ], "governing_rules": [ "Michigan DNR Land Use Orders of the Director — Chapter V, Order 5.26 (Amendment No. 6 of 2023)", "Michigan Administrative Code R 299.922 and R 299.927 (State Land Rules)", "MCL 324.76102 — Aboriginal records and antiquities (NREPA Part 761)", "Warren Dunes State Park" ], "required_permits": [ "Written authorization from the park manager (No fee published)", "Recreation Passport ($15/yr for Michigan-registered vehicles (added at plate renewal); non-resident vehicles $12/day or $42/yr (2026))" ], "sources": [ "https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/places/state-parks/metal-detecting", "https://www.michigan.gov/recsearch/-/media/Project/Websites/recsearch/documents/metaldetect/warrendunes.pdf", "https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/dnr/Documents/Orders/Land-Use-Orders/LUOD_Chap_V_State_Parks_Rec_Areas.pdf", "https://www.michigan.gov/recsearch/parks/warrendunes", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/michigan/Mich-Admin-Code-R-299-922", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/michigan/Mich-Admin-Code-R-299-927", "https://legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=MCL-324-76102", "https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/recreation-passport" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-25", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 41.9066, "lng": -86.601, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/new-jersey/asbury-park-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "new-jersey", "state_name": "New Jersey", "place": "Asbury Park Beach", "county": "Monmouth", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on Asbury Park's beach — no city ordinance was found prohibiting it. A seasonal beach badge is required Memorial Day through Labor Day, the exact stretch that covers peak July crowds.", "conditions": [ "No City of Asbury Park ordinance was found prohibiting recreational metal detecting on the public beach; the city's beach and boardwalk regulations (Chapter 5) govern conduct, equipment, and hours but do not address detecting specifically", "A seasonal beach badge is required for anyone using the beach from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend — exactly the stretch that includes peak July tourist season — priced from $7/weekday to $70 for an adult season badge", "Glass containers and alcohol are prohibited on the beach; tents and canopies carry a $250 fine if used without following posted size rules", "Ocean Grove, the historic community immediately south of Asbury Park, is governed by a separate religious association that owns the beach outright — a fundamentally different legal situation, not just a different town ordinance", "Island Beach State Park, about an hour south, requires a state permit under N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.16 for detecting — a meaningfully different rule from Asbury Park's unrestricted city beach" ], "governing_rules": [ "City of Asbury Park — Code of Ordinances, Chapter 5 (Beach, Boardwalk and Beachfront Regulations)", "New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection — N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.16", "Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association" ], "required_permits": [ "Seasonal beach badge ($7 (weekday) / $10 (weekend-holiday) daily; $20 (teen/senior) to $70 (adult) season badge; children 12 and under free)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.cityofasburypark.com/185/Beach-Boardwalk", "https://ecode360.com/34669306", "https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-jersey/title-7/chapter-2/subchapter-2/section-7-2-2-16/", "https://www.oceangrove.org/regulations", "https://codes.findlaw.com/nj/title-13-conservation-and-development-parks-and-reservations/nj-st-sect-13-1l-10.html", "https://codes.findlaw.com/nj/title-13-conservation-and-development-parks-and-reservations/nj-st-sect-13-1l-23.html", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-7-2-2-10" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-30", "last_updated": "2026-10-05", "lat": 40.2204, "lng": -74.006, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#new-jersey-state-park-detecting-penalties" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/new-jersey/cape-may-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "new-jersey", "state_name": "New Jersey", "place": "Cape May Beaches", "county": "Cape May", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "The City of Cape May's own beaches have no ordinance against metal detecting beyond the standard seasonal beach badge. Two miles away, Cape May Point State Park requires a permit that's unlikely to be granted — one town, two very different answers.", "conditions": [ "No City of Cape May ordinance prohibiting recreational metal detecting on the city's own ocean beaches was found; a seasonal beach badge is required for anyone 12 and older, Memorial Day through Labor Day, under City Code Ch. 158 — the same badge every other beachgoer needs, not a detecting-specific permit", "Cape May Point State Park, a separate NJDEP unit about two miles from the city's beaches, requires a Special Use Permit from the Park Superintendent for metal detecting under N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.16 — since most of the park is designated the Cape May Point Natural Area, a permit here is genuinely unlikely to be issued", "Sunset Beach, in neighboring Lower Township, is a well-known collecting spot for 'Cape May diamonds' (quartz pebbles) rather than a metal-detecting destination — a different hobby and a different jurisdiction from both the city beach and the state park", "The Borough of Cape May Point, a small separate municipality that surrounds the state park, manages its own short stretch of beach under its own ordinance — don't assume its rules match either the city's or the state park's", "No specific New Jersey statute requiring surrender of historic artifacts found on an ordinary municipal beach was located — reporting a genuinely old find is a best practice here, not a confirmed strict legal mandate outside state-owned land" ], "governing_rules": [ "City of Cape May Code, Chapter 158 (Beach Tags; Beach and Sand Dune Protection)", "N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.16 (Metal Detectors)", "Borough of Cape May Point beach ordinance" ], "required_permits": [ "City of Cape May seasonal beach badge ($40/season, $25/week, or $10/day (2026 rates))", "Cape May Point State Park metal detecting permit (Permit fee varies; often not granted regardless of fee)" ], "sources": [ "https://ecode360.com/6657856", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-7-2-2-16", "https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/state-park/cape-may-point-state-park/", "https://www.capemaycity.com/Ordinances", "https://codes.findlaw.com/nj/title-13-conservation-and-development-parks-and-reservations/nj-st-sect-13-1l-23.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-13", "last_updated": "2026-10-05", "lat": 38.9339, "lng": -74.9147, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#new-jersey-state-park-detecting-penalties" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/new-jersey/island-beach-state-park", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "new-jersey", "state_name": "New Jersey", "place": "Island Beach State Park", "county": "Ocean", "land_type": "state-park", "verdict": "permit-required", "permit_required": true, "summary": "Metal detecting at Island Beach State Park requires a Superintendent's permit under N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.16, often denied across the park's protected Natural Areas.", "conditions": [ "A written permit from the park Superintendent is required before using a metal detector anywhere in the park, under N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.16", "Permits will not be issued in areas of significant historical value or where use would conflict with resource protection — in practice this rules out the park's Northern and Southern Natural Areas, which together account for roughly 1,896 of the park's 3,003 acres", "Even with a valid detecting permit, removing an archaeological or historical find from state park land without separate written DEP permission is a distinct violation under N.J.S.A. 13:1L-10", "The detecting permit is free but separate from the vehicle entrance fee, which runs $6–$20 depending on season, day of week, and residency" ], "governing_rules": [ "N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.16 — NJDEP Division of Parks and Forestry", "N.J.S.A. 13:1L-10 — Destruction of park property, archaeological findings, sites prohibited", "Island Beach State Park Natural Area designation (Northern and Southern Natural Areas)" ], "required_permits": [ "Metal detector use permit (Free)", "Vehicle entrance fee ($6–$20 depending on season, weekday/weekend, and NJ residency)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-7-2-2-16", "https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-13/section-13-1l-10/", "https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/state-park/island-beach-state-park/", "https://www.islandbeachnj.org/History/History.html", "https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/beach-erosion-reveals-fragments-of-a-136-year-old-shipwreck-that-sank-in-new-jerseys-graveyard-of-the-atlantic-180988079/", "https://codes.findlaw.com/nj/title-13-conservation-and-development-parks-and-reservations/nj-st-sect-13-1l-23.html", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-7-2-2-10" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-28", "last_updated": "2026-10-05", "lat": 39.9053, "lng": -74.0814, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#new-jersey-state-park-detecting-penalties" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/new-york/jones-beach-state-park", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "new-york", "state_name": "New York", "place": "Jones Beach State Park", "county": "Nassau", "land_type": "state-park", "verdict": "permit-required", "permit_required": true, "summary": "Metal detecting is permit-required at Jones Beach State Park. A $40 annual New York State Parks Long Island Region permit confines detecting to specific mapped areas, bans digging tools over 1½\" x 6\", and requires any archaeological object — permit or not — to be surrendered to Park Police rather than kept.", "conditions": [ "A $40 annual New York State Parks Long Island Region metal detecting permit is required — it is not free and does not come with the price of park admission", "Detecting is confined to specific mapped areas designated in the permit guide, not the whole 6.5-mile beach — some sections are open year-round, others only Memorial Day through Labor Day", "Digging tools cannot exceed 1½ inches wide by 6 inches long, and any disturbed sand must be restored immediately", "Any item recovered worth more than $20 must be turned in to Park Police — the permit lets you search, not automatically keep everything you find", "Archaeological or paleontological objects cannot be kept under a standard detecting permit at all; they must be surrendered to Park Police regardless of value", "Golf courses, driving ranges, and residential-use areas within the park boundary are off-limits" ], "governing_rules": [ "New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP)", "9 NYCRR § 372.7" ], "required_permits": [ "NYS Parks Long Island Region Metal Detecting Permit ($40/year, expires December 31 regardless of purchase date)" ], "sources": [ "https://parks.ny.gov/sites/default/files/MetalDetectorGuide.pdf", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-york/9-NYCRR-372.7", "https://parks.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2026-02/Metal%20Detecting%20Permit%202025-2026.pdf", "https://parks.ny.gov/parks/jonesbeach" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-04", "last_updated": "2026-09-04", "lat": 40.5958, "lng": -73.5153, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/north-carolina/cape-hatteras-national-seashore", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "north-carolina", "state_name": "North Carolina", "place": "Cape Hatteras National Seashore", "county": "Dare", "land_type": "national-park", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is banned outright at Cape Hatteras National Seashore under 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7) — a specific federal subsection targeting detectors, not just the general ban on removing natural objects. The 'Graveyard of the Atlantic' history that draws detectorists here is exactly why the rule is enforced without exception.", "conditions": [ "Metal detecting is banned parkwide under 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7), a subsection written specifically to prohibit metal and mineral detectors, magnetometers, and side-scan sonar — separate from and in addition to the general ban on removing natural or cultural objects under 2.1(a)(1)", "The only exception in the regulation is for a detector that is broken down and stored so it cannot be used, or one used solely for boat/aircraft navigation — carrying an assembled, ready-to-use detector onto NPS beach sections is itself a citable violation", "The seashore's roughly 70-mile span excludes several unincorporated villages (Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, Hatteras, and Ocracoke village) — the beach directly fronting these villages sits outside NPS jurisdiction, though no confirmed Dare or Hyde County ordinance was found either permitting or banning detecting there, so treat those stretches as unclear rather than assuming the NPS ban follows you into town", "A separate NPS off-road vehicle (ORV) beach-driving permit exists for vehicle access ($50 for 10 consecutive days or $120 annual) — this has no bearing on the detecting ban and does not authorize it" ], "governing_rules": [ "National Park Service — 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7)", "National Park Service — 36 CFR 2.1(a)(1)", "Archaeological Resources Protection Act — 16 U.S.C. § 470ee", "Dare County / Hyde County" ], "required_permits": [ "Recreational metal detecting", "ORV (beach driving) permit ($50 / 10 consecutive days or $120 / year)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.nps.gov/caha/faqs.htm", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/2.1", "https://www.nps.gov/articles/wwii_caha_torpedo_junction.htm", "https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/fees.htm", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/16/470ee" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-07", "last_updated": "2026-07-07", "lat": 35.2481, "lng": -75.5316, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/north-carolina/carolina-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "north-carolina", "state_name": "North Carolina", "place": "Carolina Beach", "county": "New Hanover", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on the town-managed strand at Carolina Beach — no ordinance bans it and no permit is required. Carolina Beach State Park, a short walk inland, is a completely separate jurisdiction where detecting is prohibited outright.", "conditions": [ "No provision in the Town of Carolina Beach Code of Ordinances specifically addresses or bans recreational metal detecting on the town-managed strand, and no permit is required", "Carolina Beach State Park — a separate NC state park unit adjoining the town, reached from a different entrance off Dow Road — prohibits metal detecting outright except under a Special Use Permit to recover lost personal property", "Freeman Park, the town's separately managed 4WD beach-driving area at the north end, requires its own paid access pass for vehicle entry; no detecting-specific rule was found for it either, but its rules (fires, camping, dogs) run on a different schedule than the main strand", "Bonfires and open fires are illegal within town limits — a hard contrast with both Freeman Park and the state park, which each allow contained fires under their own separate rules", "N.C. Gen. Stat. § 113-189 protects sea turtles, nests, and eggs statewide, including this beach" ], "governing_rules": [ "Town of Carolina Beach", "North Carolina State Parks — Carolina Beach State Park", "Freeman Park (Town of Carolina Beach)", "N.C. Gen. Stat. § 113-189" ], "required_permits": [ "Freeman Park access pass", "NC State Parks (Carolina Beach State Park)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_143B/GS_143B-135.16.pdf", "https://www.carolinabeach.gov/296/Freeman-Park", "https://www.carolinabeach.com/carolina-beach-guidelines.html", "https://www.ncparks.gov/about-us/guidelines-park-rules-and-regulations", "https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/environmental-assistance-and-customer-service/z-topic-index/metal-detectors", "https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_113/gs_113-189.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-24", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 34.0353, "lng": -77.8914, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#north-carolina-state-park-detecting-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/north-carolina/kure-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "north-carolina", "state_name": "North Carolina", "place": "Kure Beach", "county": "New Hanover", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on the Kure Beach strand — no town ordinance addresses it — but Fort Fisher SRA next door prohibits it except by permit.", "conditions": [ "No Town of Kure Beach ordinance specifically addressing metal detecting was found; the town's posted beach rules cover glass containers, pets, fires, and alcohol, but not detecting", "Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, immediately south on the same barrier peninsula, is a separate NC State Parks jurisdiction where detectors are prohibited except by Special Use Permit to search for a specific lost personal item, under 07 NCAC 13B .0203", "No glass containers, open fires, fireworks, or alcohol on the town strand — general conduct rules, not detecting-specific, but they shape what a normal session here looks like", "Dogs are restricted on the strand April 1–September 30, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., which affects crowd and access patterns during the exact hours most visitors are on the beach" ], "governing_rules": [ "Town of Kure Beach beach ordinance", "07 NCAC 13B .0203 (formerly 15A NCAC 12B .0203) — NC State Parks metal detector rule", "Cape Fear Civil War Shipwreck District, National Register of Historic Places" ], "required_permits": [ "Fort Fisher SRA Special Use Permit" ], "sources": [ "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_143B/GS_143B-135.16.pdf", "https://www.townofkurebeach.org/beach-regulations", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/north-carolina/07-N-C-Admin-Code-13B-0203", "https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/fort-fisher/history/wwii-fort-fisher", "https://archaeology.ncdcr.gov/getinvolved/archsites/capefearshipwreckdistrict" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-28", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 33.9989, "lng": -77.9078, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#north-carolina-state-park-detecting-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/north-carolina/nags-head-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "north-carolina", "state_name": "North Carolina", "place": "Nags Head", "county": "Dare", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on Nags Head's public beach with no permit — confirmed directly by the town. Walk south past the town line into Cape Hatteras National Seashore, though, and the same activity becomes a federal offense.", "conditions": [ "Metal detecting is allowed on the public beach in Nags Head — the Town's own published FAQ confirms it directly, and no permit is required for the activity itself", "Walk south past the town's boundary into Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the rule flips entirely: federal 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7) bans detecting outright, with no permit path for recreational use", "Holes may be dug but cannot be left unattended overnight or for more than one hour during the day, and cannot create a hazard or block a beach-driving lane", "Beach driving is a separate activity from detecting and is only permitted October 1–April 30 under a town permit — meaning in July, the peak of summer tourist season, no vehicles are allowed on the Nags Head beach at all, with or without a permit", "Jockey's Ridge State Park, the dune system a short walk inland from the beach, is a separate state jurisdiction where metal detecting is banned under North Carolina state park rules except by a special-use permit to recover one's own specifically lost item" ], "governing_rules": [ "Town of Nags Head — Beach Rules and Regulations", "National Park Service — 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7)", "North Carolina State Parks — 07 NCAC 13B .0203", "Town of Nags Head — Beach Driving Ordinance" ], "required_permits": [ "Jockey's Ridge State Park special-use permit" ], "sources": [ "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_143B/GS_143B-135.16.pdf", "https://www.nagsheadnc.gov/m/faq?cat=20", "https://www.nagsheadnc.gov/173/Beach-Driving", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/north-carolina/07-N-C-Admin-Code-13B-0203", "https://www.nps.gov/caha/learn/management/lawsandpolicies.htm" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-30", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 35.9582, "lng": -75.6235, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#north-carolina-state-park-detecting-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/north-carolina/wrightsville-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "north-carolina", "state_name": "North Carolina", "place": "Wrightsville Beach", "county": "New Hanover", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is legal on Wrightsville Beach's public strand unless a specific area is posted otherwise, confirmed directly by the town's own visitor guidelines. Masonboro Island Reserve to the south is a separate, more ambiguous jurisdiction worth checking before you bring a detector there.", "conditions": [ "Metal detecting is legal on the public beach strand at Wrightsville Beach unless a specific area is posted otherwise — the town's own visitor guidelines state this directly", "All holes, trenches, or depressions dug in the beach strand must be completely filled before you leave, under Town Code § 92.17", "Metal detecting is prohibited in North Carolina state parks — this affects nearby Carolina Beach State Park and Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, not the town-managed beach at Wrightsville itself", "Masonboro Island Reserve, the undeveloped barrier island immediately south, is a separately managed NC National Estuarine Research Reserve site; its published rules require written authorization for collecting natural or cultural material for scientific purposes, but say nothing explicit about ordinary recreational detecting — contact the NC Coastal Reserve program before bringing a detector there", "North Carolina General Statute § 113-189 protects sea turtles, their nests, and their eggs — stay well clear of any marked nest" ], "governing_rules": [ "Town of Wrightsville Beach Code, Chapter 92 (Beach and Shore Regulations)", "North Carolina State Parks — Special Use Permit rule", "NC Coastal Reserve Rules — 15A NCAC 07O", "N.C. Gen. Stat. § 113-189" ], "required_permits": [ "NC State Parks (Carolina Beach SP, Fort Fisher SRA)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_143B/GS_143B-135.16.pdf", "https://www.wrightsvillebeach.com/wrightsville-beach-guidelines.html", "https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/wrightsvillebeach/latest/wright_nc/0-0-0-3575", "https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/environmental-assistance-and-customer-service/z-topic-index/metal-detectors", "https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/nc-coastal-reserve/reserve-sites/masonboro-island-reserve", "https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_113/gs_113-189.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-13", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 34.2112, "lng": -77.7986, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#sea-turtle-nest-penalties-and-distance", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#north-carolina-state-park-detecting-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/pennsylvania/presque-isle-state-park", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "pennsylvania", "state_name": "Pennsylvania", "place": "Presque Isle State Park", "county": "Erie", "land_type": "state-park", "verdict": "permit-required", "permit_required": true, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed at Presque Isle with the park manager's sign-off, but Pennsylvania's statewide state-park rule leaves summer beach access to the manager's discretion, and the Gull Point Natural Area is closed to everyone from April through November.", "conditions": [ "Pennsylvania's statewide DCNR rule requires checking in with the park manager and getting approval before detecting — there's no written application or fee, but it isn't a walk-up-and-go activity either, and approval can be withheld on a busy day or near an in-use facility", "On Presque Isle's beaches, detecting is only guaranteed from the Tuesday after Labor Day through the Saturday before Memorial Day; during the summer season it's entirely at the park manager's discretion", "The Gull Point Natural Area at the peninsula's tip is closed to all public use — detecting included — every April 1 through November 30, to protect nesting and migratory shorebirds", "Digging tools are restricted on turf, vegetation, or wooded ground to narrow-pronged tools like screwdrivers and ice picks; shovels and trowels aren't allowed there (bare sand isn't covered by this restriction)", "Presque Isle's War of 1812 history around Misery Bay and Graveyard Pond raises real archaeological-law exposure — Pennsylvania's History Code makes unpermitted field investigation or disturbance of an archaeological site on Commonwealth land a misdemeanor, separate from the routine metal-detecting rule" ], "governing_rules": [ "PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)", "Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC)" ], "required_permits": [ "Park manager approval to metal detect (Free)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/rules-and-regulations/metal-detecting", "https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/presque-isle-state-park", "https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/presque-isle-state-park/wildlife-watching", "https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/presque-isle-state-park/history", "https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/37/00.005..HTM", "https://law.justia.com/codes/pennsylvania/2020/title-37/chapter-5/section-511/", "https://www.post-gazette.com/life/outdoors/2024/02/13/presque-isle-state-park-pa-visitors/stories/202402120080" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-08", "last_updated": "2026-09-08", "lat": 42.1584, "lng": -80.1109, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/south-carolina/myrtle-beach-grand-strand", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "south-carolina", "state_name": "South Carolina", "place": "Myrtle Beach", "county": "Horry", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on the open public beach within Myrtle Beach city limits, but not in the dunes. Holes can't exceed 2 feet and metal shovels are banned — a 2021 city ordinance carved out a specific exception for sand scoops used while detecting.", "conditions": [ "The City of Myrtle Beach's own government has confirmed metal detecting is allowed on the open public beach — but not in the dunes, on street ends, or on other public property", "Holes and trenches can't exceed 2 feet deep, and every hole must be filled in before you leave, under City Code § 5-20", "Metal shovels are banned for recreational digging; metal sand scoops are allowed, and specifically while metal detecting", "This page covers the City of Myrtle Beach only. North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Garden City, Murrells Inlet, and Pawleys Island are separately incorporated towns along the same 60-mile Grand Strand, each running its own ordinance — don't assume this page's rules travel with you" ], "governing_rules": [ "City of Myrtle Beach Code of Ordinances, Chapter 5 (Beach and Boat Ramp Regulations)", "South Carolina Underwater Antiquities Act (S.C. Code Title 54, Ch. 7)", "South Carolina State Parks Division metal detecting policy" ], "required_permits": [ "State park metal detecting (lost personal property only)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.facebook.com/myrtlebeachcitygovernment/posts/did-you-know-that-myrtle-beach-allows-metal-detecting-on-the-beach-but-not-in-th/819569300202832/", "https://library.municode.com/sc/myrtle_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH5BEBORE_S5-20DIJUPIPR", "https://www.myhorrynews.com/news/city-council-new-beach-regulations-boost-safety-for-myrtle-beach/article_741f9f4c-ba6f-11eb-8942-7f2a4c1672d5.html", "https://southcarolinaparks.com/faqs", "https://law.justia.com/codes/south-carolina/2019/title-54/chapter-7/", "https://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/turtles/nest.htm" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-31", "last_updated": "2026-08-31", "lat": 33.6891, "lng": -78.8867, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/texas/galveston-island-state-park", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "texas", "state_name": "Texas", "place": "Galveston Island State Park", "county": "Galveston", "land_type": "state-park", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is prohibited at Galveston Island State Park under Texas Parks and Wildlife Department regulations. Texas Administrative Code § 59.134 prohibits collection or disturbance of any natural feature, cultural resource, or historical item within TPWD-managed state parks without written departmental authorization — authorization not issued for recreational metal detecting. The city-managed public beaches east of the park (Stewart Beach, East Beach) are a different jurisdiction where detecting is allowed.", "conditions": [ "Metal detecting is prohibited under Texas Administrative Code § 59.134, which prohibits collecting, disturbing, or altering any natural feature, cultural resource, or historical structure within a TPWD state park without prior written departmental authorization", "TPWD does not issue recreational metal detecting authorizations at Galveston Island State Park", "The Texas Antiquities Code (Natural Resources Code Chapter 191) additionally protects archaeological sites and historical objects on state-owned land — the entire state park is state-owned land", "No permit category exists for recreational metal detecting in Texas state parks", "Adjacent city- and county-managed Galveston beaches (Stewart Beach, East Beach) are separate jurisdictions with different rules — detecting is allowed on those beaches" ], "governing_rules": [ "Texas Administrative Code § 59.134 — TPWD State Park Regulations", "Texas Antiquities Code — Natural Resources Code Chapter 191", "Texas Open Beaches Act — Natural Resources Code Chapter 61" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=31&pt=2&ch=59&rl=134", "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/NR/htm/NR.191.htm", "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/NR/htm/NR.61.htm", "https://www.thc.texas.gov/preserve/projects-and-programs/antiquities-program", "https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/galveston-island" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-06", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 29.1985, "lng": -94.9907, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#texas-park-rule-and-antiquities-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/texas/galveston-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "texas", "state_name": "Texas", "place": "Galveston Public Beaches", "county": "Galveston", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on Galveston's city- and county-managed public beaches without a permit. Stewart Beach (City of Galveston) and East Beach / R.A. Apffel Park (Galveston County) are the primary managed access points, but the entire Seawall Boulevard public beach strip is open to detecting. The Texas Antiquities Code applies — historically significant finds are state property — and the island's deep history from the Lafitte era through the 1900 hurricane makes Galveston one of the most historically interesting Gulf Coast detecting destinations.", "conditions": [ "Metal detecting is allowed on Galveston city and county-managed public beaches without a permit — no published city ordinance or county regulation prohibits recreational metal detecting on the beach strand", "The Texas Antiquities Code (Natural Resources Code Chapter 191) applies to state-owned tidelands and submerged land and to city- or county-owned beach land — historic wreck material and archaeological objects there are state property and can't be removed without a Texas Historical Commission permit (§ 191.093)", "Texas Open Beaches Act (Natural Resources Code Chapter 61) guarantees public access to all Gulf Coast beaches below the vegetation line — metal detecting in this zone is permitted as a lawful beach activity absent a specific prohibition", "Galveston Island State Park (west end of the island) is a separate TPWD jurisdiction where metal detecting is prohibited — these rules apply only to city/county-managed beaches", "Stewart Beach and East Beach charge vehicle/pedestrian entry fees; Seawall Boulevard beach access points are free", "No digging more than necessary for recovery — City of Galveston beach ordinances require beach users to leave the beach in good condition; leave no holes open" ], "governing_rules": [ "City of Galveston — Beach Management Ordinances", "Galveston County Parks — East Beach / R.A. Apffel Park", "Texas Antiquities Code — Natural Resources Code Chapter 191", "Texas Open Beaches Act — Natural Resources Code Chapter 61" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/NR/htm/NR.61.htm", "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/NR/htm/NR.191.htm", "https://www.galvestonparkboard.org", "https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/stationhome.html?id=8771450", "https://www.thc.texas.gov/preserve/projects-and-programs/antiquities-program" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-07", "last_updated": "2026-09-28", "lat": 29.2849, "lng": -94.7885, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#florida-chapter-267-scope", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#texas-park-rule-and-antiquities-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/texas/padre-island-national-seashore", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "texas", "state_name": "Texas", "place": "Padre Island National Seashore", "county": "Kleberg", "land_type": "national-park", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is banned across all 70 miles of Padre Island National Seashore under 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7). Even the historic 1554 shipwreck corridor near Mansfield Cut carries double federal protection.", "conditions": [ "Metal detecting — and simply possessing an assembled detector — is banned across the entire 70-mile seashore under 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7); no permit path exists for recreational use", "The ban covers every zone equally: Malaquite Beach, North Beach, South Beach (Mile 0–60), Yarborough Pass, and the remote Mansfield Cut area — there is no quieter stretch where it's tolerated", "The Mansfield Cut Underwater Archeological District, at the park's southern end, layers additional federal archaeological protection over the wreck and salvage-camp sites of the 1554 Spanish Plate Fleet disaster", "A park entrance pass ($15–$25 per vehicle for 7 days) is required for any visit regardless of activity — it has nothing to do with the detecting ban and creates no exception", "South Padre Island (~60 mi south, reachable only by mainland road) and Port Aransas / Mustang Island State Park (~40 mi north) sit outside the seashore boundary under different city, county, and state rules — don't confuse them with this park" ], "governing_rules": [ "National Park Service — 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7)", "National Park Service — 36 CFR 2.1(a)(1)", "Endangered Species Act / Kemp's ridley sea turtle recovery program", "Seashore enabling legislation, Section 4(a) (1962)", "Mansfield Cut Underwater Archeological District (NRHP)" ], "required_permits": [ "Recreational metal detecting", "Park entrance pass ($15 (individual/7-day) to $25 (private vehicle/7-day); $45 annual)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.nps.gov/pais/learn/management/superintendents-compendium.htm", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/2.1", "https://www.nps.gov/pais/planyourvisit/fees.htm", "https://www.nps.gov/pais/learn/nature/kempsridleystory.htm", "https://www.nps.gov/pais/learn/management/enabling-legislation.htm", "https://www.nps.gov/pais/learn/historyculture/1554-1.htm" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-30", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 27.4242, "lng": -97.2992, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#texas-park-rule-and-antiquities-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/texas/port-aransas-beach", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "texas", "state_name": "Texas", "place": "Port Aransas Beach", "county": "Nueces", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed on the Port Aransas city beach without a permit, from near Horace Caldwell Pier down to Marker 62. Keep walking south past that point and you cross into Mustang Island State Park, where detecting is banned outright — a boundary that isn't fenced or obvious from the sand.", "conditions": [ "No City of Port Aransas ordinance was found prohibiting recreational metal detecting on the open city beach, which runs roughly from near Horace Caldwell Pier to Marker 62 at the city limit", "A separate $12/year vehicle beach parking permit is required only if you plan to drive on the beach — it has nothing to do with detecting and isn't needed if you park in a lot and walk out", "Mustang Island State Park begins south of the city beach (around Marker 102) and is a different jurisdiction entirely: metal detecting there is prohibited by Texas park rule (31 TAC § 59.134(i)) except as authorized by permit. TPWD publishes no recreational detecting permit, so ask the park superintendent before searching for something you lost", "Padre Island National Seashore, further south past the state park, prohibits metal detecting under federal rule 36 CFR 2.1", "Pre-20th-century artifacts found anywhere on Texas public land or tidelands are state property under the Texas Antiquities Code (Natural Resources Code Ch. 191) and must be reported to the Texas Historical Commission" ], "governing_rules": [ "City of Port Aransas — Code of Ordinances, Ch. 27 (Public Beach)", "Texas Parks and Wildlife Department — 31 TAC § 59.134(i)", "National Park Service — 36 CFR 2.1", "Texas Antiquities Code — Natural Resources Code Ch. 191" ], "required_permits": [ "Vehicle beach parking permit ($12/year)", "Mustang Island State Park lost-item search permit" ], "sources": [ "https://www.portaransas.org/beach/beach-rules/", "https://regulations.justia.com/states/texas/title-31/part-2/chapter-59/subchapter-f/section-59-134/", "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/NR/htm/NR.191.htm", "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/NR/htm/NR.61.htm", "https://www.nps.gov/pais/learn/historyculture/1554-1.htm" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-07", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 27.8339, "lng": -97.0708, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#texas-park-rule-and-antiquities-penalty" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/texas/south-padre-island", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "texas", "state_name": "Texas", "place": "South Padre Island", "county": "Cameron", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Metal detecting is allowed without a permit on South Padre Island's city and county beaches. The federal ban at Padre Island National Seashore lies 60 miles north — a separate jurisdiction, not the same beach.", "conditions": [ "No permit is required to metal detect on South Padre Island's public Gulf beaches, including Isla Blanca Park, Andy Bowie Park, and the city beach strip between them", "Padre Island National Seashore, where detecting is prohibited under 36 CFR 2.1, lies roughly 60 miles north across an undeveloped stretch of beach with no through road — it does not border South Padre Island and is a separate legal jurisdiction", "Historic shipwreck material and other antiquities on state-owned beach land are protected under the Texas Antiquities Code (Nat. Res. Code Ch. 191); removing them without reporting is a misdemeanor under § 191.171", "Vehicles are prohibited on the beach within city limits except for permitted construction or maintenance access; the undeveloped beach north of the city toward Port Mansfield allows recreational 4WD driving", "Boca Chica Beach, about 20 miles south across Brazos Santiago Pass, is a separate Cameron County beach periodically closed for SpaceX Starbase launch operations — it is not covered by this page" ], "governing_rules": [ "36 CFR § 2.1 — Padre Island National Seashore", "Texas Antiquities Code — Natural Resources Code Chapter 191", "Texas Open Beaches Act — Natural Resources Code Chapter 61", "Cameron County Parks — Isla Blanca Park & Andy Bowie Park", "City of South Padre Island Code of Ordinances, Ch. 22 (Dune Protection)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.nps.gov/pais/learn/management/lawsandpolicies.htm", "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/NR/htm/NR.191.htm", "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/NR/htm/NR.61.htm", "https://www.myspi.org/department/division.php?structureid=141", "https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/parks-coastal-parks/parks-isla-blanca/" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-13", "last_updated": "2026-07-13", "lat": 26.0755, "lng": -97.1631, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/metal-detecting/virginia/virginia-beach-oceanfront", "hobby": "metal-detecting", "hobby_name": "Metal Detecting", "state": "virginia", "state_name": "Virginia", "place": "Virginia Beach Oceanfront", "county": "Virginia Beach", "land_type": "public-beach", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "No Virginia Beach ordinance bans metal detecting on the public sand beach. The rules that bite are sand-contour and dune-vegetation ordinances, not a permit.", "conditions": [ "No metal-detector provision exists in the chapters of the Virginia Beach City Code that govern the beach (Ch. 6), parks (Ch. 24), amusements (Ch. 4), offenses (Ch. 23) or soil removal (Ch. 30) — the widely repeated \"written permission from the Parks & Recreation director\" requirement is not in the Code", "City Code § 6-13 makes it unlawful to alter the contours of the sand by grading, carrying away or removing sand from the beach or dunes without a permit from the city manager — refill every hole and carry nothing off the beach but your finds", "City Code § 6-14 makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor to disturb or remove any structure, grass, vines, shrubbery or brush placed within 200 feet of the shoreline to catch sand for dune rebuilding", "The public sand beach ends at 89th Street, where Gate 8 of Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story begins — the base is a controlled military installation, not open beach", "Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and First Landing State Park both prohibit detecting outright; objects of antiquity on state-controlled land belong to the Commonwealth under Va. Code § 10.1-2302" ], "governing_rules": [ "50 CFR 27.61, 27.62, 27.63", "Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek–Fort Story", "Virginia Antiquities Act, Va. Code §§ 10.1-2302, 10.1-2306", "4VAC5-30-50 (Virginia State Parks Regulations)", "Virginia Beach City Code Chapter 6 (Beaches, Boats and Waterways) and Chapter 24 (Parks and Recreation)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://library.municode.com/va/virginia_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH6BEBOWA", "https://library.municode.com/va/virginia_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH24PARE", "https://cvb.virginiabeach.gov/resort-management/beach-rules", "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title10.1/chapter23/section10.1-2302/", "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter1/section18.2-11/", "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincodefull/title4/agency5/chapter30/", "https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/metal-detecting-and-permits/", "https://www.fws.gov/refuge/back-bay/visit-us/rules-policies", "https://parks.virginiabeach.gov/outdoors/city-parks/little-island-park", "https://www.whro.org/arts-culture/2026-08-21/the-old-cape-henry-lighthouse-has-reopened-for-tours-with-new-rules" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-10", "last_updated": "2026-09-14", "lat": 36.8529, "lng": -75.978, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/arizona/alamo-lake-blm", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "arizona", "state_name": "Arizona", "place": "Alamo Lake BLM Area", "county": "La Paz Yavapai", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Rockhounding is allowed on BLM land surrounding Alamo Lake — 25 lb/day casual collection, hand tools only. Collecting is prohibited within Alamo Lake State Park and the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge; know the boundaries before you dig.", "conditions": [ "Allowed on BLM land only — BLM Arizona's personal-use limit of 25 lb/day and 250 lb/year applies (the federal rule, 43 CFR § 8365.1-5(b)(2), says only \"reasonable amounts\")", "Hand tools only — no motorized equipment, no breaking bedrock", "Prohibited within Alamo Lake State Park (14,000 acres around the lake itself) under Arizona State Parks rules", "Prohibited within the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge (downstream of Alamo Dam) under 50 CFR § 27.61", "Check for active mining claims on BLM's MLRS before collecting near historic mine workings in the Bill Williams Mining District" ], "governing_rules": [ "Bureau of Land Management — Lake Havasu Field Office (43 CFR § 8365.1-5)", "US Fish & Wildlife Service — Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge (50 CFR § 27.61)", "Arizona State Parks — Alamo Lake State Park (ARS § 37-1022)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/rockhounding", "https://www.blm.gov/visit/bill-williams-river", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-27/subpart-F/section-27.61", "https://azstateparks.com/alamo-lake", "https://www.mindat.org/loc-31278.html", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/2014%20Rockhounding_14_web_2018.pdf", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8365.1-5" ], "last_verified": "2026-06-05", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 34.249, "lng": -113.5381, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/arizona/black-hills-rockhound-az", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "arizona", "state_name": "Arizona", "place": "Black Hills Rockhound Area (BLM Safford Field Office)", "county": "Graham", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Digging for fire agate is allowed at the Black Hills Rockhound Area near Safford with no fee or permit. BLM Arizona's limit is 25 lb a day; hand tools only.", "conditions": [ "BLM says the site is 'open for digging by the public without fees or permits'", "BLM Arizona's personal-use limit applies: up to 25 lb a day and 250 lb a year per person, and nothing may be sold or bartered", "Hand tools only. BLM Arizona bars motorized or mechanical excavation and explosives for casual collecting", "The area is roughly 18 miles north of Safford off US-191, and it's managed by the BLM Safford Field Office, (928) 348-4400" ], "governing_rules": [ "Bureau of Land Management — Safford Field Office", "43 CFR 8365.1-5(b) and BLM Arizona collecting limits", "Arizona State Land Department (neighboring Trust Land)" ], "required_permits": [ "BLM permit for more than 250 lb a year, or for sale (Set by the field office)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.blm.gov/visit/black-hills-rockhound-area", "https://www.blm.gov/visit/black-hills-back-country-byway", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/2014%20Rockhounding_14_web_2018.pdf", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8365.1-5", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8360.0-7", "https://www.rockngem.com/fire-agate-color-explained/" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-25", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 32.87397, "lng": -109.39496, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#black-hills-rockhound-area-location" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/arizona/lynx-creek-prescott", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "arizona", "state_name": "Arizona", "place": "Lynx Creek — Prescott National Forest", "county": "Yavapai", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Placer gold and almandine garnet collecting are allowed on Prescott National Forest land at Lynx Creek under Forest Service personal-use rules: no permit, and generally up to 10 lb of rocks and minerals per person per day. Mining claims overlay much of the drainage, so check open ground in BLM's MLRS before each visit.", "conditions": [ "Recreational collecting with hand tools on open Prescott NF land is allowed without a permit. The Forest Service says a reasonable amount is generally up to 10 lb of rocks and minerals per person per day", "Active mining claims cover significant portions of Lynx Creek — verify open ground in BLM's MLRS Research Map (mlrs.blm.gov/s/research-map) before collecting; collecting within a valid claim without permission violates federal mining law", "Hand tools only — picks, shovels, gold pans, hand-operated sluice boxes; motorized pumps and suction dredges require a separate USFS Special Use Authorization and ADEQ permit", "Commercial mineral collection requires a Mineral Materials Permit from the Prescott NF Bradshaw Ranger District" ], "governing_rules": [ "36 CFR Part 228 — USFS Mineral Resources; Mining Law of 1872", "30 U.S.C. (Federal Mining Laws) — Active placer and lode claims", "Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ); Arizona Department of Water Resources" ], "required_permits": [ "Suction dredge operation", "Commercial Mineral Materials Permit" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/prescott/recreation/rocks-minerals", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/prescott", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-228", "https://www.blm.gov/services/land-records/mlrs", "https://www.azdeq.gov/environ/water/permits/aquifer.html", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/30/26" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-27", "last_updated": "2026-10-05", "lat": 34.4892, "lng": -112.4068, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#mining-claim-collecting-penalties", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#lynx-creek-daily-limit" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/arizona/petrified-forest-np", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "arizona", "state_name": "Arizona", "place": "Petrified Forest National Park", "county": "Navajo", "land_type": "national-park", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Petrified wood and fossils cannot be collected at Petrified Forest National Park under any circumstances. Federal law under 16 U.S.C. § 1866(b) and NPS regulations prohibit all collection of natural or cultural objects — including petrified wood — from national parks. Taking even a small piece is a federal violation with fines up to $325. The park exists specifically because of historic over-collection; current protection is strict and actively enforced.", "conditions": [ "All collection of petrified wood, fossils, rocks, minerals, and any natural objects is strictly prohibited within Petrified Forest National Park under 36 CFR § 2.1(a)(1)", "16 U.S.C. § 1866(b) (Petrified Forest Act) specifically prohibits collection of petrified wood from the park", "Even small pieces, fragments, or chips may not be taken — the prohibition covers all natural material regardless of size", "Buying petrified wood from vendors or sites outside park boundaries is legal; park-sourced wood is illegal regardless of how or where it is sold", "There is no permit, exception, or special authorization that allows collection of any natural object from a national park" ], "governing_rules": [ "36 CFR § 2.1(a)(1) — National Park Service Regulations", "16 U.S.C. § 1866(b) — Petrified Forest Act (1962)", "Antiquities Act of 1906 (16 U.S.C. §§ 431–433)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-I/part-2/section-2.1", "https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title16-section1866&num=0&edition=prelim", "https://www.nps.gov/subjects/archeology/archaeological-resources-protection-act.htm" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-26", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 35.0659, "lng": -109.7862, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/arizona/quartzsite-blm", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "arizona", "state_name": "Arizona", "place": "Quartzsite BLM Open Desert", "county": "La Paz", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Rockhounding is allowed on the BLM open desert around Quartzsite without a permit: BLM Arizona sets personal use at 25 lb a day and 250 lb a year. Check for mining claims first, and don't cross into Kofa NWR.", "conditions": [ "BLM Arizona allows up to 25 lb per day and 250 lb per year of rocks and minerals for personal, non-commercial use, no permit required. The federal rule (43 CFR § 8365.1-5(b)(2)) says only \"reasonable amounts\"; the numbers are BLM Arizona's", "Active and patented mining claims exist throughout the Quartzsite area. Patented claims are private land; on an active unpatented claim the minerals belong to the claimant, and BLM says collecting is generally not allowed there. Check BLM's MLRS before collecting in any specific area", "La Posa Long Term Visitor Area (LTVA) is approximately 11,400 acres of BLM-managed desert open to casual rockhounding", "Kofa National Wildlife Refuge to the south is closed to collecting except the 1.5-square-mile Crystal Hill Area (10 specimens or 10 lb a year, no tools)", "Hand tools only; no motorized excavation. In the New Water Mountains Wilderness, collecting is still allowed but only with non-motorized hand tools and minimal surface disturbance" ], "governing_rules": [ "Bureau of Land Management — 43 CFR § 8365.1-5(b)(2)", "General Mining Act of 1872 / Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA)", "U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — Kofa National Wildlife Refuge", "Arizona Game & Fish Department" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8365.1-5", "https://www.blm.gov/office/yuma-field-office", "https://www.blm.gov/services/land-records/mlrs", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/rockhounding", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/2014%20Rockhounding_14_web_2018.pdf", "https://www.blm.gov/visit/la-posa-long-term-visitor-area", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-02/BLM-Rock-Collection-FAQs_2-28-24.pdf", "https://www.blm.gov/visit/new-water-mountains-wilderness", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/6302.20", "https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kofa/visit-us/rules-policies", "https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025-01/crystal-hill-area-kofa-national-wildlife-refuge-2.pdf", "https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2022-02/sonoran-desert-tortoise-does-not-warrant-endangered-species-protection", "https://www.fws.gov/species/mojave-desert-tortoise-gopherus-agassizii", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/30/26", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8360.0-7", "https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/0620c/report.pdf" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-28", "last_updated": "2026-10-05", "lat": 33.6639, "lng": -114.2295, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#mining-claim-collecting-penalties", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/arizona/vulture-mine-area", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "arizona", "state_name": "Arizona", "place": "Vulture Mine Area", "county": "Maricopa", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "The desert washes and BLM lands surrounding the historic Vulture Mine near Wickenburg, Arizona, are open for recreational rockhounding and gold prospecting under BLM casual use rules (43 CFR § 3809). The Vulture Mine ghost town itself is privately owned and requires paid admission for tours. BLM limits apply: 25 lbs per day plus one specimen, not to exceed 250 lbs per year. Always verify claim status via BLM's MLRS before prospecting in specific washes — the Wickenburg Mining District has active claims.", "conditions": [ "No permit required for casual-use rockhounding and gold prospecting on open BLM land surrounding the Vulture Mine area under 43 CFR § 3809", "BLM personal-use limits: 25 lbs per day plus one specimen piece, not to exceed 250 lbs per year", "IMPORTANT: Always verify land status via BLM's MLRS before prospecting specific washes — the Wickenburg Mining District has active mining claims and recently approved commercial operations in the Rogers Wash area. Placer claims here are located for gold, so detecting or prospecting for gold on an active claim takes the claimant's minerals: get permission first", "Vulture Mine ghost town: PRIVATE PROPERTY — requires paid admission for tours; do not prospect on the private mine property without permission", "Do not disturb archaeological sites, historic structures, or cultural resources under ARPA (16 U.S.C. § 470aa); the Wickenburg District has significant 19th-century mining history", "Motorized equipment (engines over 10 HP) requires a Plan of Operations notice; hand tools, pans, and small dry washers (under 10 HP) are casual use" ], "governing_rules": [ "Bureau of Land Management — 43 CFR § 3809 (Surface Management Rules); BLM Arizona", "Mining Law of 1872 (30 U.S.C. § 22 et seq.)", "Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) — 16 U.S.C. § 470aa" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.blm.gov/documents/arizona/public-room/brochure/rock-hounding-arizona", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/documents/files/2014%20Rockhounding_14_web.pdf", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulture_Mine", "https://www.blm.gov/announcement/blm-approves-gold-mine-project-near-wickenburg", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/WYNF-0004_rockhounding%20(051418).pdf", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/30/26" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-19", "last_updated": "2026-10-05", "lat": 33.8786, "lng": -112.7959, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#mining-claim-collecting-penalties" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/arkansas/crater-of-diamonds-state-park", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "arkansas", "state_name": "Arkansas", "place": "Crater of Diamonds State Park", "county": "Pike", "land_type": "state-park", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Every diamond, amethyst and garnet you find at Crater of Diamonds is yours to keep for a $15 admission and no permit. The catch is on the way out: five gallons of processed concentrate per person per day, and not one shovelful of raw dirt.", "conditions": [ "Admission only — $15 for adults over 12, $7 for children 6–12, free under 6. No rockhounding permit, mineral license or state prospecting registration exists for this site.", "Any rock, mineral or gem found in the search area is yours to keep, diamonds included, with no cap on value or count.", "No motor-operated or battery-operated searching equipment and no ladders; one hand-pushed or hand-pulled wheeled device per visitor, six cubic feet maximum.", "No more than the equivalent of five gallons of processed concentrate may leave the search area per paying customer per day, and unprocessed soil may not be removed at all.", "Excavations must be sloped at least 1½:1, may not be tunneled, and are refilled daily." ], "governing_rules": [ "Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism — Arkansas State Parks", "Code of Arkansas Rules 22 CAR § 50-104 (Rules for the Search Area, PD 2205)", "Pike County / City of Murfreesboro" ], "required_permits": [ "Diamond search area admission ($15 adults over 12; $7 children 6–12; free under 6)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.arkansas.com/state-parks/parks/crater-diamonds-state-park", "https://www.arkansas.com/state-parks/parks/crater-diamonds-state-park/about/faqs", "https://codeofarrules.arkansas.gov/Rules/Rule?levelType=section&titleID=22&chapterID=195&subChapterID=240&partID=813&subPartID=6651§ionID=43226", "https://portal.arkansas.gov/news/grandfather-finds-gorgeous-2-29-carat-diamond-at-crater-of-diamonds-state-park/", "https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/crater-of-diamonds-state-park-11/" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-07", "last_updated": "2026-09-07", "lat": 34.0323, "lng": -93.6702, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/arkansas/mount-ida-quartz-crystal-mines", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "arkansas", "state_name": "Arkansas", "place": "Mount Ida Quartz Crystal Mines", "county": "Montgomery", "land_type": "fee-dig-site", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Mount Ida's pay-to-dig crystal mines need only a ticket, and you keep what you find. On the national forest, digging needs Forest Service permission.", "conditions": [ "Pay-to-dig mines need no government permit. At Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines, $19 buys 2 hours at the Crystal Forest Mine or $10.50 a day on the tailings, and you keep everything you find.", "Crystal Vista on the Ouachita National Forest is a free, 4-acre former commercial mine where crystals are collected from the ground surface", "On national forest land, rockhounds may pick up small amounts of quartz from the surface for personal use, but the Forest Service must grant permission before you dig", "Collecting on the forest is personal and non-commercial only. Selling crystals from national forest land requires commercial authorization." ], "governing_rules": [ "Ouachita National Forest rockhounding guidance; 36 CFR 261.9", "Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines and other Mount Ida pay-to-dig operations" ], "required_permits": [ "Wegner Crystal Forest Mine ($19.00 per person for 2 hours of on-site collecting (transportation included))", "Wegner Tailings Area (Adults $10.50; kids 2–10 and seniors $6.60)", "Wegner Phantom Mine ($60.00 per person for 4 hours of on-site digging)", "Digging for crystals on national forest land" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/ouachita/recreation/trails/crystal-vista-trail", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/ouachita/recreation/opportunities/other", "https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/quartz-mining-1173/", "https://www.wegnercrystalmines.com/crystal-forest-mine", "https://www.wegnercrystalmines.com/tailings-pile", "https://www.wegnercrystalmines.com/world-famous-phantom-mine" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-17", "last_updated": "2026-09-17", "lat": 34.5576, "lng": -93.6326, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/california/wiley-well-blm", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "california", "state_name": "California", "place": "Wiley Well District / Hauser Geode Beds", "county": "Riverside", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Wiley Well is one of the few places BLM has formally designated for recreational mineral collecting rather than merely tolerating it. Geodes with quartz and chalcedony linings come out of the rhyolite here — but the road in is 15 miles of desert dirt, and summer heat regularly tops 115°F.", "conditions": [ "Wiley Well is a BLM-designated recreational mineral collecting area — one of a small number nationwide where the agency has formally set land aside for rockhounding rather than simply allowing casual collecting on undesignated land", "BLM California's personal-use limit applies: 25 pounds per day plus one piece, up to 250 pounds per year, covering rocks, minerals, gemstones, common invertebrate fossils and petrified wood together. Personal use only, no motorized or mechanical equipment", "Managed by the BLM El Centro Field Office, not the Palm Springs–South Coast Field Office sometimes cited for this area — confirm current conditions with El Centro directly", "Access requires a high-clearance vehicle on 15 miles of dirt road south of I-10; the first 2.9 miles are paved, the rest is graded desert road that varies with recent weather", "Summer travel is genuinely dangerous — Colorado Desert temperatures regularly exceed 115°F from June through September with no shade, water, or reliable cell service anywhere in the district" ], "governing_rules": [ "BLM El Centro Field Office", "43 CFR § 8365.1-5(b) — personal-use collecting; BLM California collection limits" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.blm.gov/visit/wileys-well-campground", "https://www.blm.gov/visit/wiley-well-district-geode-beds", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8365.1-5", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/rockhounding", "https://www.blm.gov/office/el-centro-field-office", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/recreation-activities/california", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/3622.4", "https://mlrs.blm.gov/s/research-map", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8360.0-7" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-13", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 33.3761, "lng": -114.9897, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/idaho/hells-canyon-blm-idaho", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "idaho", "state_name": "Idaho", "place": "Hells Canyon (Pittsburg Landing)", "county": "Idaho", "land_type": "national-forest", "verdict": "unclear", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Rockhounding at Hells Canyon is mixed: a third of the NRA is Wilderness, where collecting is prohibited, and no policy for the rest was confirmed.", "conditions": [ "Hells Canyon National Recreation Area is administered by the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, with the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests co-managing roughly 117,000 acres on the Idaho side — this is Forest Service land, not BLM, despite widespread BLM labeling in rockhounding guides", "Roughly a third of the NRA is designated Hells Canyon Wilderness, where the Wilderness Act of 1964 prohibits collecting any natural object, rocks included, regardless of quantity", "No published, HCNRA-specific casual-collecting policy for the non-Wilderness two-thirds of the recreation area was confirmed for this page — general national forest personal-use norms likely apply, but that's an inference, not a cited HCNRA rule", "Access to Pittsburg Landing itself, a non-Wilderness developed boat launch and campground on the Snake River, is a steep 16.5-mile gravel road (Forest Road 493) off US-95 near White Bird — confirm current road conditions before a trip" ], "governing_rules": [ "Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (lead agency, HCNRA)", "Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests", "Hells Canyon Wilderness (Wilderness Act of 1964)", "36 CFR Part 292, Subpart F — Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Federal Lands" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/nezperce-clearwater/recreation/hells-canyon-wilderness", "https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/wallowa-whitman/recreation/hells-canyon-wilderness", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-292/subpart-F" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-28", "last_updated": "2026-08-28", "lat": 45.6175, "lng": -116.4695, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/idaho/spencer-opal-mines", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "idaho", "state_name": "Idaho", "place": "Spencer Opal Mines", "county": "Clark", "land_type": "fee-dig-site", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Digging for opal at Spencer Opal Mines is a private fee-dig on a patented claim — $75/adult, $50/child — no permit needed, and no mapped free BLM ground nearby.", "conditions": [ "Spencer Opal Mines' tailings-pile dig — $75 per adult, $50 per child under 16 — sits entirely on privately claimed, patented ground; you pay the operator's fee directly, no government permit or reservation is needed", "No clearly mapped, publicly accessible BLM opal-bearing parcel comparable to the commercial claim was confirmed for this page — BLM's standard casual-collecting allowance applies to genuinely open public land in the surrounding district, but that's a different, unmapped proposition from where most visitors actually dig", "Spencer opal carries the same hydrophane risk documented at volcanic opal deposits nationally — rough stone can lose water content and crack (\"craze\") if it dries too fast after coming out of the ground", "The operation is strictly seasonal, roughly Memorial Day weekend through mid-September, and weather-dependent even within that window", "Vertebrate fossils, archaeological material, and anything inside an active mining claim boundary are off-limits regardless of where you are in the district" ], "governing_rules": [ "Spencer Opal Mines", "BLM Upper Snake Field Office (Idaho Falls District)", "Caribou-Targhee National Forest" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.spenceropalmines.com/about-us/", "https://www.blm.gov/office/upper-snake-field-office", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/Recreational-Rockhounding.pdf", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8365.1-5", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8360.0-7", "https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/15/3/258" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-28", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 44.3783, "lng": -112.1911, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/michigan/petoskey-state-park", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "michigan", "state_name": "Michigan", "place": "Petoskey State Park", "county": "Emmet", "land_type": "state-park", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Petoskey stones may be collected at Petoskey State Park with no permit, but Michigan caps rocks and fossils from all state land at 25 pounds a year.", "conditions": [ "No collecting permit exists or is needed — a Recreation Passport is required only for vehicle entry", "State land rule R 299.922(hh) caps removal at an aggregate 25 pounds per person per year of any rock, mineral specimen or invertebrate fossil — a Petoskey stone is a fossil coral, so it counts toward the same 25 pounds as every other rock you keep", "The 25 pounds is per year and across all state-owned land combined, not per park, per visit or per day; the DNR has said the limit reaches Great Lakes bottomlands too", "Collecting is allowed only for individual or non-commercial hobby use — a commercial operation on state land needs a DNR permit under R 299.922(dd)", "Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, 70 miles southwest, is federal land where removing any fossil or rock is prohibited under 36 CFR 2.1" ], "governing_rules": [ "36 CFR 2.1(a)(1)(iii)–(iv); Sleeping Bear Dunes Superintendent's Compendium", "Mich. Admin. Code R 299.922 and R 299.927 (State Land Rules), issued under MCL 324.504" ], "required_permits": [ "Recreation Passport (vehicle entry) (Michigan vehicles $15/yr at plate renewal (a $5 convenience fee applies if bought later); non-resident vehicles $12/day or $42/yr (2026 rates))", "Commercial use of state land" ], "sources": [ "https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/-/media/Project/Websites/dnr/Documents/PRD/parks/AdministrativeRules-ParksRecAreas.pdf", "https://www.michigan.gov/recsearch/parks/petoskey", "https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/recreation-passport", "https://www.michigan.gov/egle/public/learn/geology/rockhounding", "https://www.nps.gov/slbe/learn/management/superintendent-compendium.htm", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/2.1", "https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/state-confiscates-huge-petoskey-stone-man-pulled-from-lake/" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-14", "last_updated": "2026-09-14", "lat": 45.4065, "lng": -84.9063, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/nevada/garnet-hill-blm", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "nevada", "state_name": "Nevada", "place": "Garnet Hill — Ely BLM", "county": "White Pine", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Garnet Hill near Ely, Nevada is one of the most accessible free rockhounding sites in the Great Basin — an exposed rhyolite flow studded with red almandine garnets that can be collected by the bucketful with no permit for personal use. Federal rules allow \"reasonable amounts\" for noncommercial use, and BLM Nevada publishes no weight limit for garnets or other rocks. Garnets are found loose in the soil and matrix throughout the designated fee-free collection area managed by the BLM Ely District.", "conditions": [ "Personal-use collection of garnets and other surface minerals is allowed without a permit in \"reasonable amounts\" (43 CFR 8365.1-5(b)). BLM Nevada publishes no pound limit for rocks or gemstones; ask the Ely District at (775) 289-1800 if you plan to take a lot", "Collection must remain within the designated BLM collection area around Garnet Hill — not all surrounding land is open BLM; verify boundaries with Ely District office", "Surface collection and shallow hand digging only; no heavy equipment, blasting, or powered excavation tools", "Commercial collection requires a BLM mineral materials permit from the Ely District office", "Collection is for personal non-commercial use only; sale of BLM personal-use collected material is prohibited" ], "governing_rules": [ "Bureau of Land Management — BLM Ely District (Bristlecone Field Office); 43 CFR 8365.1-5(b) personal-use collecting" ], "required_permits": [ "Commercial mineral materials permit" ], "sources": [ "https://www.blm.gov/office/ely-district-office", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-B/chapter-II/subchapter-C/part-3600", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/rockhounding", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8365.1-5", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/collecting_on_publiclands.pdf", "https://www.blm.gov/visit/garnet-hill", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-02/BLM-Rock-Collection-FAQs_2-28-24.pdf", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8360.0-7", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/30/26" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-02", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 39.2699, "lng": -114.9197, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#mining-claim-collecting-penalties", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/nevada/royal-peacock-opal", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "nevada", "state_name": "Nevada", "place": "Royal Peacock Opal Mine", "county": "Humboldt", "land_type": "private-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": true, "summary": "Royal Peacock is a private, family-run fee-dig opal claim in Virgin Valley — pay to dig, keep everything you find, no daily weight limit. That's the big difference from the surrounding Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge land, where you may only pick up rock by hand from the surface, up to 7 lb a day.", "conditions": [ "This is private property, not BLM land — access requires paying the mine's day-use fee, not a government permit; 2026 season rates are $210/person/day for bank digging or $85/person/day for tailings-pile digging", "Hand tools only — no motorized or mechanical digging equipment is permitted anywhere on site", "Everything you find is yours to keep, and there is no daily weight limit. That is the mine's own policy; on the surrounding refuge land you may only collect by hand from the surface, up to 7 lb a day", "Bank digging (the productive opal-bearing face) is restricted to ages 12 and up; younger children are limited to the tailings pile", "Open seasonally, roughly May 1 through mid-October, weather and road conditions permitting — closed the rest of the year", "Hard hat, closed-toe shoes, and eye protection are mandatory before entering the dig area; sign in at the gift shop first" ], "governing_rules": [ "Royal Peacock Opal Mines (privately held claims, Virgin Valley Mining District)", "USFWS Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge — 50 CFR §§ 27.61, 27.63" ], "required_permits": [ "Bank digging (fee-dig access) ($210/person/day)", "Tailings-pile digging ($85/person/day)" ], "sources": [ "https://royalpeacock.com/digging/", "https://royalpeacock.com/about-us/", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/50/27.63", "https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/FA13-LN-technique-hydrophane-opal", "https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sheldon/visit-us/rules-policies", "https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Sheldon%20Brochure%20and%20updated%20map_2012.pdf" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-07", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 41.83, "lng": -118.77, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#nevada-state-park-and-refuge-citations", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#virgin-valley-land-manager" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/nevada/rye-patch-blm", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "nevada", "state_name": "Nevada", "place": "Rye Patch Reservoir BLM", "county": "Pershing", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Recreational rockhounding is allowed on BLM land surrounding Rye Patch Reservoir in \"reasonable amounts\" under 43 CFR 8365.1-5(b). Petrified wood has a federal limit of 25 lb a day plus one piece. Do not collect within Rye Patch State Recreation Area, where removing natural materials is prohibited under Nevada law.", "conditions": [ "\"Reasonable amounts\" of rocks and minerals for personal use on BLM land (43 CFR 8365.1-5(b)(2)); BLM Nevada publishes no pound figure for rock", "Petrified wood: 25 lb a day plus one piece, 250 lb a year (43 CFR 3622.4)", "Hand tools only — motorized excavation equipment is not permitted for casual use", "BLM land only; Rye Patch State Recreation Area prohibits all natural material removal under NRS 407.250", "Check BLM's Mineral & Land Records System (MLRS), which replaced LR2000, for active mining claims before collecting — occupied claims restrict casual use" ], "governing_rules": [ "BLM Nevada — Winnemucca District Office", "Nevada State Parks — Rye Patch State Recreation Area" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://nevada.public.law/statutes/nrs_407.250", "https://nevada.public.law/statutes/nrs_193.150", "https://www.blm.gov/office/winnemucca-district-office", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8365.1-5", "https://parks.nv.gov/parks/rye-patch", "https://mlrs.blm.gov/s/research-map", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/3622.4", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/collecting_on_publiclands.pdf", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-02/BLM-Rock-Collection-FAQs_2-28-24.pdf", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8360.0-7", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/30/26" ], "last_verified": "2026-06-16", "last_updated": "2026-10-05", "lat": 40.467, "lng": -118.29, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#mining-claim-collecting-penalties", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#nevada-state-park-and-refuge-citations", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#virgin-valley-land-manager" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/nevada/virgin-valley-opal", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "nevada", "state_name": "Nevada", "place": "Virgin Valley Opal Fields (Sheldon NWR)", "county": "Humboldt", "land_type": "national-wildlife-refuge", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Virgin Valley is inside Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, not BLM land. On refuge ground you may pick up rock, opal included, by hand from the surface, up to 7 lb a day, with no digging or tools. Digging for opal is done only at the private fee-dig mines.", "conditions": [ "Virgin Valley lies inside Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. It is not BLM land, despite how many rockhounding lists describe it", "On refuge land, rock collecting is allowed by hand from the surface only, up to 7 pounds per person per day, for personal use", "No digging, no disturbing the ground and no tools or equipment on refuge land. That rules out chisels, picks and shovels", "Digging for opal happens only at the private fee-dig mines (Royal Peacock and others) on mining claims inside the refuge, with the owner's permission and fee", "Arrowheads, stone tools and other artifacts may not be collected anywhere on the refuge" ], "governing_rules": [ "U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge", "Virgin Valley Mining District — private mining claims" ], "required_permits": [ "Private fee-dig mines" ], "sources": [ "https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sheldon/visit-us/rules-policies", "https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sheldon/visit-us/activities/camping", "https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sheldon/visit-us", "https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sheldon/contact-us", "https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Sheldon%20Brochure%20and%20updated%20map_2012.pdf", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/50/27.61", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/16/668dd" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-25", "last_updated": "2026-10-02", "lat": 41.8521, "lng": -119.0024, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#virgin-valley-land-manager" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/new-jersey/buckwheat-dump-franklin", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "new-jersey", "state_name": "New Jersey", "place": "Buckwheat Dump, Franklin", "county": "Sussex", "land_type": "fee-dig-site", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "No state permit applies — the Buckwheat Dump is museum-owned private ground. Your ticket covers two pounds of rock; everything after that runs $2 per pound.", "conditions": [ "This is private land owned and staffed by the Franklin Mineral Museum, not public ground. There is no state or federal collecting permit involved — you buy a ticket and follow the museum's posted rules.", "The ticket includes two pounds of rock per person and a collecting bag. Additional poundage is $2 per pound plus tax, which is the number that actually decides what a serious day costs.", "Everyone in your party must wear wraparound goggles if tools are in use, and any hammer you bring must be a rock hammer, not a claw hammer. Children are not permitted to use tools at all.", "Open April through November only, and the dump closes one hour before the museum does — so the last hour on the posted museum schedule is not collecting time.", "Closed-toe shoes are mandatory. The dump is a steep, uneven pile of broken rock, and an upper collecting area is provided for visitors who cannot manage the grade." ], "governing_rules": [ "Franklin Mineral Museum posted collecting rules", "N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3 — Defiant trespasser" ], "required_permits": [ "Museum & Rock Collecting admission (Adults $25.00; children 3–16 $20.00; seniors 65+ and veterans $23.00)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.franklinmineralmuseumnj.org/visit", "https://www.franklinmineralmuseumnj.org/", "https://www.sterlinghillminingmuseum.org/mineral-collecting", "https://www.sterlinghillminingmuseum.org/minerals-of-sterling-hill-and-franklin", "https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-2c/section-2c-18-3/", "https://uvminerals.org/", "https://www.fomsnj.org/" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-21", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 41.1199, "lng": -74.5828, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/new-mexico/bisti-badlands", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "new-mexico", "state_name": "New Mexico", "place": "Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness", "county": "San Juan", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Petrified wood collection is banned throughout Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness by the site's own Wilderness Management Plan — the one material most rockhounds show up hoping to find. General rock and mineral collecting status here isn't clearly published either, so BLM Farmington Field Office treats this as a look-don't-take badlands, not a casual-use collecting ground.", "conditions": [ "Petrified wood — the material most visitors come to look for — cannot be collected anywhere in the wilderness; BLM's own visitor page states this is banned under the site's Wilderness Management Plan, separate from and stricter than the standard BLM casual-use rule", "Vertebrate fossils and cultural objects cannot be disturbed or removed without a federal research permit, which is not something a recreational visitor can obtain", "No published BLM guidance confirms that ordinary rock and mineral collecting (unrelated to petrified wood or fossils) is allowed inside the wilderness boundary either — treat the whole 45,000 acres as look-but-don't-take unless Farmington Field Office tells you otherwise for a specific material", "No permit is required simply to hike, photograph, or camp — the collecting restriction is what's unusual here, not general access" ], "governing_rules": [ "Bureau of Land Management — Farmington Field Office", "Wilderness Act of 1964 / New Mexico Wilderness Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-603)" ], "required_permits": [ "Vertebrate fossil or cultural object collection", "Hunting" ], "sources": [ "https://www.blm.gov/visit/bisti-de-na-zin-wilderness", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/new-mexico/bisti-de-na-zin-wilderness", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-B/chapter-II/subchapter-H/part-8360/subpart-8360/section-8360.0-7", "https://www.blm.gov/visit/ah-shi-sle-pah-wilderness" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-31", "last_updated": "2026-08-31", "lat": 36.2674, "lng": -108.2238, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/new-mexico/rockhound-state-park-nm", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "new-mexico", "state_name": "New Mexico", "place": "Rockhound State Park", "county": "Luna", "land_type": "state-park", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Rockhound State Park is the rare state park built for the hobby it's named after: pay the day-use fee, collect up to 15 lb of jasper, agate, and thundereggs per visitor as souvenirs, and take it home. No other collecting rule on this site works quite like that.", "conditions": [ "Up to 15 lb of rocks and minerals per visitor may be collected, per the New Mexico Bureau of Geology. No separate rockhounding permit is required beyond the standard day-use fee", "State park rule 19.5.2.25 NMAC allows collecting only in areas designated and posted at the park, for souvenirs only, with small hand tools (handles 12 inches or shorter, no motorized tools, no wheelbarrows, carts or wagons)", "Commercial mineral dealers are prohibited from collecting here for resale; the limit is for personal, non-commercial use only", "Day-use fee is $5/day for New Mexico residents and $10/day for non-residents (2025 rate); residents are exempt from day-use fees October 1–April 30", "The park sits on the flank of the Little Florida Mountains, with collecting concentrated along marked trails such as the Jasper Trail and Thunder Egg Trail rather than spread evenly across the full 1,100 acres" ], "governing_rules": [ "New Mexico State Parks Division (EMNRD)", "Bureau of Land Management — Las Cruces District Office" ], "required_permits": [ "Day-use entry ($5/day resident, $10/day non-resident)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/spd/find-a-park/rockhound-state-park/", "https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/spd/fees-permits/", "https://geoinfo.nmt.edu/tour/state/rockhound/home.html", "https://www.blm.gov/office/las-cruces-district-office", "https://www.srca.nm.gov/parts/title19/19.005.0002.html", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8365.1-5", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/3622.4" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-07", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 32.186, "lng": -107.6122, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/new-york/herkimer-diamond-mines", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "new-york", "state_name": "New York", "place": "Herkimer Diamond Mines", "county": "Herkimer", "land_type": "fee-dig-site", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Digging at Herkimer Diamond Mines needs only an admission ticket, and you keep every crystal. Hand tools up to a 12-lb sledge are allowed; no power tools.", "conditions": [ "Private fee-dig: a day ticket ($19 ages 13+, $16 ages 5–12 on weekdays; +$3/+$2 Friday–Sunday) is the only permission needed, and you keep everything you find", "Hand tools only, up to a 12-lb sledge. Powered equipment is banned, and closed-toe shoes are required.", "2026 season: April 12 to October 31, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily. The mine closes during snow, sleet, heavy rain or thunderstorms.", "The neighboring Ace of Diamonds Mine is closed for the entire 2026 season, so do not plan a two-mine day on NY-28 this year", "Roadcuts and state land are not an alternative: 6 NYCRR § 190.8(g) bars removing rock, minerals or fossils from DEC-managed state land without a permit" ], "governing_rules": [ "Herkimer Diamond Mines posted mining rules", "6 NYCRR § 190.8(g)" ], "required_permits": [ "Mining admission (day ticket) (Ages 13+: $19 weekdays / $22 Fri–Sun. Ages 5–12: $16 weekdays / $18 Fri–Sun. Age 4 and under free. Active-military discount with ID.)", "DEC state land collecting" ], "sources": [ "https://herkimerdiamond.com/mine/", "https://herkimerdiamonds.com/mining", "https://www.diamondmountainmining.com/wilderness-dig", "https://crystalgrove.com/rates/", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-york/6-NYCRR-190.8", "https://www.nysga-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/NYSGA-1972-J-Little-Falls-Dolostone-Upper-Cambrian.pdf" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-17", "last_updated": "2026-09-17", "lat": 43.1306, "lng": -74.9754, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/north-carolina/emerald-hollow-mine", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "north-carolina", "state_name": "North Carolina", "place": "Emerald Hollow Mine", "county": "Alexander", "land_type": "fee-dig-site", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Emerald Hollow Mine is a private, pay-to-dig operation — no government permit exists or is needed — but it is not the site of North Carolina's record-setting emerald finds; those came from two private mines next door that don't admit the public.", "conditions": [ "Emerald Hollow Mine is private property — you pay the operator's own day permit ($30/adult ages 15+, $10/child ages 4–14 as of this writing), not a government permit; confirm current pricing before visiting since posted rates change with seasonal promotions", "Everyone on the property needs a permit, whether digging, sluicing, or just watching", "You keep everything you find — emerald, hiddenite, or any of the 60+ other species documented here — with no buyback or right-of-first-refusal clause found in the mine's published rules", "Hand tools only: anything without a motor is fine, but tunnel mining into the pit walls is banned under the mine's own safety rules, and holes must be benched (twice as wide as deep) rather than dug straight down", "This is not the site of North Carolina's famous record emeralds — those came from two adjoining private mines (see below) that don't admit visitors" ], "governing_rules": [ "Emerald Hollow Mine", "North Carolina General Statute § 145-8" ], "required_permits": [ "Emerald Hollow Mine day permit ($30/adult (ages 15+), $10/child (ages 4–14) as of September 2026)" ], "sources": [ "https://www.emeraldhollowmine.com/", "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_145/GS_145-8.pdf", "https://www.dncr.nc.gov/blog/2024/01/17/hiddenite-m-29", "https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/environmental-assistance-and-customer-service/z-topic-index/gemsgold-panning", "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/65-carat-emerald-pulled-from-nc-farm/" ], "last_verified": "2026-09-08", "last_updated": "2026-09-08", "lat": 35.91375, "lng": -81.08278, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/oregon/glass-buttes-blm", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "oregon", "state_name": "Oregon", "place": "Glass Buttes (BLM)", "county": "Lake", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Glass Buttes is open BLM land in the Oregon high desert where four varieties of obsidian — including rare fire obsidian — lie on the surface for personal-use collecting. BLM Oregon/Washington allows a reasonable amount with no permit, meaning under 250 lb a day. The catch most visitors don't expect: the site was a major Native American quarry for 10,000 years, and worked obsidian pieces are protected under ARPA regardless of how natural they look.", "conditions": [ "Surface collection of raw obsidian is allowed in reasonable amounts for personal use (43 CFR 8365.1-5(b)(2)). BLM Oregon/Washington's 2024 Rock Collecting Guide defines a reasonable daily amount as one that fits in a car trunk or partial pickup load and weighs under 250 lbs", "ARPA (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) prohibits collecting any worked obsidian — projectile points, scrapers, or any piece showing human modification. Glass Buttes was quarried for ~10,000 years and worked material is mixed into the surface scatter", "No motorized vehicles off designated roads — BLM Prineville District regulations apply", "No permit required for personal-use surface collection; commercial collection requires a mineral materials permit from BLM Prineville District Office", "No digging or excavation — surface collection only; subsurface work would enter archaeological site territory and is not permitted" ], "governing_rules": [ "BLM Prineville District — Mineral Materials Personal Use Policy", "Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) — 16 U.S.C. § 470aa" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.blm.gov/office/prineville-district-office", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8365.1-5", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-07/orwa-rock-collect-guide.pdf", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/3622.4", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8360.0-7", "https://www.nps.gov/subjects/archeology/archaeological-resources-protection-act.htm", "https://www.usgs.gov" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-07", "last_updated": "2026-10-05", "lat": 43.5781, "lng": -120.0519, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#glass-buttes-arpa-penalty", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/oregon/hampton-butte-blm", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "oregon", "state_name": "Oregon", "place": "Hampton Butte (BLM)", "county": "Deschutes", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Hampton Butte is an open BLM site in Deschutes County where surface collection of picture jasper — including dendritic and landscape-pattern varieties — is allowed in reasonable personal-use amounts with no permit. Most visitors driving US-20 stop at Glass Buttes for obsidian; those who continue past Hampton find different material entirely.", "conditions": [ "Surface collection of rocks, minerals, and jasper is allowed in reasonable amounts for personal use (43 CFR 8365.1-5(b)(2)). BLM Oregon/Washington's 2024 Rock Collecting Guide defines a reasonable daily amount as one that fits in a car trunk or partial pickup load and weighs under 250 lbs", "No permit required for personal non-commercial use; commercial collection requires a mineral materials permit from BLM Prineville District Office", "Surface and near-surface collection only — no mechanized excavation or blasting", "Motorized vehicles must remain on designated roads and two-tracks; no off-road travel", "ARPA applies to any surface material showing signs of prior human use — photograph and leave in place" ], "governing_rules": [ "BLM Prineville District Office — Mineral Materials Personal Use Policy", "Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) — 16 U.S.C. § 470aa" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.blm.gov/office/prineville-district-office", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8365.1-5", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-07/orwa-rock-collect-guide.pdf", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/3622.4", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8360.0-7", "https://www.nps.gov/subjects/archeology/archaeological-resources-protection-act.htm", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/rockhounding" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-13", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 43.724, "lng": -120.301, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/oregon/opal-butte-blm", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "oregon", "state_name": "Oregon", "place": "Opal Butte", "county": "Morrow", "land_type": "private-land", "verdict": "prohibited", "permit_required": false, "summary": "The gem-opal deposit at Opal Butte sits on private, patented mining claims — not BLM land. Surrounding public ground is open to standard Oregon BLM collecting but produces no comparable opal.", "conditions": [ "The commercial gem-opal deposit at Opal Butte sits on privately held, patented mining claims worked by West Coast Gemstones since 1987 — it is not BLM land and is not open to public collecting, despite frequently appearing on rockhounding lists as a BLM site", "General BLM land surrounding the butte, managed by the Prineville District, is open to standard Oregon/Washington BLM collecting rules — a reasonable daily amount (up to 250 lbs, a partial pickup-truck load, for non-commercial use) with no fee or permit — but this ground does not produce comparable gem-quality opal", "No current public fee-dig program was confirmed operating at the private claim as of this research; historical references describe occasional, informal public access rather than a standing commercial operation", "Collecting on or immediately adjacent to a marked or suspected mining claim without the claimant's consent is not advised — the claim holder retains a legal right to on-claim minerals, including gemstones, under federal mining law", "Access roads into the area are unmarked ranch and forest roads that cross between BLM and private parcels without signage — confirm land status with the BLM Prineville District Office before digging anywhere in the vicinity" ], "governing_rules": [ "BLM Prineville District Office", "General Mining Law of 1872 (30 U.S.C. § 22 et seq.)", "West Coast Gemstones (patented claim holder)" ], "required_permits": [ "Access to the private Opal Butte deposit" ], "sources": [ "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-07/orwa-rock-collect-guide.pdf", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/rockhounding", "https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/winter-1988-oregon-opals-smith", "https://www.mindat.org/loc-4068.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-07-30", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 45.0437, "lng": -119.6134, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#virgin-valley-land-manager" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/oregon/saddle-butte-blm", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "oregon", "state_name": "Oregon", "place": "Saddle Butte Lava Tubes (WSA)", "county": "Malheur", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "unclear", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Saddle Butte is a Wilderness Study Area, not the open BLM collecting ground the general rockhounding lists suggest — its 81,380 acres are protected specifically for an extensive lava tube cave system, and no confirmed gem-quality mineral deposit at this exact site turned up in official BLM sources.", "conditions": [ "Saddle Butte is a designated Wilderness Study Area (WSA) — 81,380 acres of BLM land in Malheur County, not a general-access rockhounding destination — overlaid by the Saddle Butte Lava Tubes Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), which protects the lava tube cave system as its specifically identified relevant and important value", "BLM's general interim management policy for WSAs allows non-motorized, hand-tool casual use that causes no more than minor surface disturbance, which would typically cover surface rockhounding — but no ACEC-specific stipulation addressing rock or mineral collecting near or within the lava tubes was found published online", "No confirmed gem-quality or notable mineral deposit specific to Saddle Butte itself turned up in BLM or geological literature during this research — this corrects a widely circulated assumption that the site is a basalt-hosted agate location; the surrounding Malheur/Harney/Lake county region is genuinely known for oolitic agate and Oregon sunstone, but not this specific parcel", "Tub Spring is the only perennial water source in the WSA, and shallow lakebeds elsewhere in the area typically dry by early summer — this is not a site to visit without carrying all the water you'll need", "Contact BLM's Malheur Field Office (Vale District) before planning a collecting trip specifically to Saddle Butte to confirm current ACEC-specific restrictions" ], "governing_rules": [ "BLM Malheur Field Office (Vale District)", "Saddle Butte Lava Tubes Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC)", "BLM Wilderness Study Area Interim Management Policy" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/oregon-washington/saddle-butte-wsa", "https://www.blm.gov/office/malheur-field-office", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-07/orwa-rock-collect-guide.pdf", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-04/Areas%20of%20Critical%20Environmental%20Concern%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-19", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 43.007354, "lng": -117.852074, "corrections": [] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/oregon/spectrum-sunstone-blm", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "oregon", "state_name": "Oregon", "place": "Spectrum Sunstone Public Collection Area (BLM)", "county": "Lake", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Sunstone collecting is free at the BLM Oregon Sunstone Public Collection Area near Plush. BLM allows a reasonable amount for personal use, hand tools only, and no collecting for sale or trade. BLM publishes no sunstone-specific weight limit. Private mining claims surround the area and sit inside it, so know where you are.", "conditions": [ "BLM designated public collecting area; no entry fee and no permit required", "Amount: a reasonable amount for personal use (43 CFR 8365.1-5(b)(2)). BLM publishes no sunstone-specific weight limit for this area. Its Oregon/Washington Rock Collecting Guide defines a reasonable daily amount as one that fits in a car trunk or partial pickup load and weighs under 250 lbs. Confirm with the BLM Lakeview District Office at (541) 947-6100 before visiting", "No collecting of sunstones for trade or commercial purposes (BLM Lakeview District; Lakeview Resource Management Plan)", "Hand tools only — no motorized or mechanized excavation equipment (Lakeview Resource Management Plan)", "Mining claims adjoin the BLM area on all sides and sit inside it; on an active claim the sunstone belongs to the claimant, so collecting there without permission takes their property (and on patented claims, which are private land, it's also trespass)" ], "governing_rules": [ "BLM Lakeview District Office — Oregon/Washington State Office" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.blm.gov/office/lakeview-field-office", "https://www.blm.gov/visit/sunstone-collection-area", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/LAK_OregonSunstone_map.pdf", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/Lakeview_RMP_Text_Appendices.pdf", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-07/orwa-rock-collect-guide.pdf", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8365.1-5", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8360.0-7", "https://mlrs.blm.gov/s/research-map", "https://www.oregongeology.org/minerals/index.htm", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/WYNF-0004_rockhounding%20(051418).pdf", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/30/26" ], "last_verified": "2026-06-22", "last_updated": "2026-10-05", "lat": 42.517, "lng": -119.9, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#mining-claim-collecting-penalties", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/oregon/succor-creek", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "oregon", "state_name": "Oregon", "place": "Succor Creek State Natural Area", "county": "Malheur", "land_type": "state-park", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Succor Creek State Natural Area in eastern Oregon's Owyhee canyon country allows rockhounding within the state natural area without a permit for personal-use collection. The creek canyon cuts through Miocene rhyolite exposures that produce thunder eggs, jasper, and occasional obsidian nodules. Adjacent BLM land — the primary destination for serious thunder egg collectors — is open for free personal-use collection under standard BLM rules.", "conditions": [ "Personal-use rockhounding is allowed within the Oregon State Natural Area under Oregon Parks and Recreation Department rules — collection for personal non-commercial use without a permit", "The adjacent BLM land (much of the broader Succor Creek area) follows BLM Oregon/Washington's personal-use rule: a reasonable amount, with no permit, defined in its 2024 Rock Collecting Guide as fitting in a car trunk or partial pickup load and weighing under 250 pounds (43 CFR 8365.1-5(b)(2))", "Collection must be non-motorized surface or shallow hand-tool digging only; no heavy equipment", "Commercial collection from state lands requires an Oregon Parks commercial use permit; commercial collection from BLM land requires a BLM mineral materials permit", "Respect designated camping areas and do not collect within the developed campground boundaries" ], "governing_rules": [ "Oregon Parks and Recreation Department — State Natural Area Management", "Bureau of Land Management — Vale District, Personal-Use Collecting (43 CFR 8365.1-5(b))" ], "required_permits": [ "Commercial collection permit" ], "sources": [ "https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=64", "https://www.blm.gov/office/vale-district-office", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-07/orwa-rock-collect-guide.pdf", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8365.1-5", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-B/chapter-II/subchapter-C/part-3600", "https://www.oregongeology.org" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-05", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 43.0017, "lng": -117.1148, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/utah/dugway-geode-beds", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "utah", "state_name": "Utah", "place": "Dugway Geode Beds", "county": "Juab", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Rockhounding is free at Dugway Geode Beds on open BLM land. You may take \"reasonable amounts\" for personal use under 43 CFR 8365.1-5(b)(2); BLM publishes no pound limit for the site. Tunneling is explicitly prohibited — collect from existing excavations. Remote access via Pony Express Road; no services on site.", "conditions": [ "No permit required; personal use is free under BLM casual-use rules", "Amount: \"reasonable amounts\" for personal use under 43 CFR 8365.1-5(b)(2). BLM publishes no pound limit for Dugway; ask the Fillmore Field Office before taking a large load", "Tunneling is explicitly prohibited — work from previously excavated areas, not straight down", "Hand tools only; no motorized digging equipment", "Contact BLM Fillmore Field Office at (435) 743-3100 for road conditions before visiting" ], "governing_rules": [ "BLM Fillmore Field Office — 43 CFR § 8365.1-5(b)(2)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://www.blm.gov/visit/dugway-geode-beds", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/rockhounding", "https://geology.utah.gov/popular/rocks-minerals/rock-mineral-collecting-sites/dugway-geodes/", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8365.1-5", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-02/BLM-Rock-Collection-FAQs_2-28-24.pdf", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8360.0-7" ], "last_verified": "2026-06-29", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 39.894, "lng": -113.1366, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/utah/mineral-mountains-blm", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "utah", "state_name": "Utah", "place": "Mineral Mountains (Rock Corral)", "county": "Beaver", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Rockhounding is free at Rock Corral Recreation Area in Utah's Mineral Mountains — BLM's own named site for the range's smoky quartz and feldspar crystals. Reasonable amounts for personal use, no permit. Ground near Roosevelt Hot Springs a few miles north sits inside active geothermal leases and should be verified with BLM before collecting.", "conditions": [ "No permit required for personal-use collecting at Rock Corral Recreation Area, the BLM's own named rockhounding site in the range", "Amount: \"reasonable amounts\" for personal use under 43 CFR 8365.1-5(b)(2). BLM's Cedar City Field Office publishes no pound limit; ask at (435) 865-3000 before taking a large quantity", "Hand tools only — no motorized digging or rock-cutting equipment for casual collection", "Ground within a few miles of Roosevelt Hot Springs and the Blundell Geothermal Plant sits inside active BLM geothermal exploration leases — call Cedar City Field Office at (435) 865-3000 to confirm current lease boundaries before collecting there", "No fee to enter or collect; the day-use area has restrooms, picnic shelters, and a separate primitive camping area" ], "governing_rules": [ "BLM Cedar City Field Office / Color Country District — 43 CFR § 8365.1-5(b)(2)", "BLM geothermal lease parcels (43 CFR Part 3200)" ], "required_permits": [ "Collecting within active geothermal lease boundaries" ], "sources": [ "https://www.blm.gov/visit/rock-corral", "https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/rockhounding", "https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey-notes/geosights/roosevelt_hot_springs/", "https://www.blm.gov/office/cedar-city-field-office", "https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-geothermal-leases-utah-sale-net-over-56-million", "https://www.blm.gov/visit/rock-corral", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8365.1-5", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-02/BLM-Rock-Collection-FAQs_2-28-24.pdf", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8360.0-7" ], "last_verified": "2026-08-03", "last_updated": "2026-09-25", "lat": 38.372524, "lng": -112.833453, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] }, { "url": "https://permittedpursuits.com/rockhounding/utah/topaz-mountain-blm", "hobby": "rockhounding", "hobby_name": "Rockhounding", "state": "utah", "state_name": "Utah", "place": "Topaz Mountain (BLM)", "county": "Millard", "land_type": "blm-land", "verdict": "allowed", "permit_required": false, "summary": "Topaz crystals are free to collect at Topaz Mountain in the Thomas Range, Utah, in \"reasonable amounts\" for personal use. BLM publishes no pound limit for the site. Crystals irreversibly fade from sherry-orange to colorless within minutes of UV exposure; wrap them immediately on recovery.", "conditions": [ "Collect \"reasonable amounts\" of topaz and other minerals for personal, noncommercial use under 43 CFR 8365.1-5(b)(2). BLM's Fillmore Field Office publishes no pound limit for Topaz Mountain; call (435) 743-3100 if you plan to take more than a small bag", "Hand tools only — no motorized or mechanical excavation equipment", "Check BLM's Mineral & Land Records System (MLRS), which replaced LR2000, for active mining claims before collecting; some private claims adjoin the BLM area", "Topaz crystals irreversibly fade in UV light — protect from direct sunlight immediately on recovery" ], "governing_rules": [ "BLM Utah — Fillmore Field Office (West Desert District)" ], "required_permits": [], "sources": [ "https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey-notes/glad-you-asked/what-utah-gemstone-is-rarer-than-diamond/", "https://geology.utah.gov/about-us/donate/redberyl_topazcove/", "https://www.blm.gov/office/fillmore-field-office", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8365.1-5", "https://geology.utah.gov/products/publication-categories/popular-publications/collecting-minerals-in-utah/", "https://mlrs.blm.gov/s/research-map", "https://www.blm.gov/visit/topaz-mountain-rockhound-recreation-area", "https://www.blm.gov/visit/topaz-mountain", "https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-02/BLM-Rock-Collection-FAQs_2-28-24.pdf", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/3622.4", "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/8360.0-7" ], "last_verified": "2026-06-16", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "lat": 39.7, "lng": -113.083, "corrections": [ "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#mining-claim-collecting-penalties", "https://permittedpursuits.com/legal/corrections#blm-collecting-limits" ] } ] }