Metal Detecting at Lori Wilson Park, Florida
PROHIBITED
Not permitted at this location
Key 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
Metal detecting prohibited — Brevard County park rules apply
Lori Wilson Park is operated by Brevard County Parks and Recreation, not the City of Cocoa Beach. Brevard County Code Section 78-120 (enacted 2008) states: 'No person shall... make any excavation by tool, equipment, blasting or other means or agency in any park, recreational facility or department managed lands.' Digging to recover a detected target — even a small plug — constitutes excavation under this ordinance. There is no permit system to obtain an exception.
Why the boundary matters on a seamless beach
The sand at Lori Wilson Park connects without a fence or physical marker to the open public Cocoa Beach city beach on both sides. The City of Cocoa Beach manages its own beach sections (Alan Shepard Park, Sidney Fischer Park, and the general public beach), and no city ordinance we could find bans detecting on the public beach. Detectorists who park at Lori Wilson Park but detect on the open city beach section outside the park's administrative boundary are operating under city rules — not county park rules. The park boundary on the sand is not posted, so verifying your position is difficult. The safest approach: use one of the city-managed access points instead of the county park entrance.
Lori Wilson Park vs. Nearby City Beach Sections
| Location | Manager | Metal Detecting | Digging Allowed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lori Wilson Park | Brevard County | Prohibited | No — Sec. 78-120 | Seamless beach; county rule applies within boundary |
| Alan Shepard Park | City of Cocoa Beach | No city ban found | No city rule found | City park at the end of the Cocoa Beach Causeway (SR 520) |
| Sidney Fischer Park | City of Cocoa Beach | No city ban found | No city rule found | City park at 2200 N Atlantic Ave, just north of Lori Wilson |
| Open city beach (A1A) | City of Cocoa Beach | Allowed | Yes (fill holes) | General public beach between the parks |
Managers confirmed from Brevard County's park directory and City of Cocoa Beach facility listings; re-checked 2026-09-28. City park rules on digging could not be read in full, so confirm before digging inside a city park.
- No excavation by tool, equipment, or any other means in any county park (Sec. 78-120)
- No removal of beach sand, soil, rocks, plants, or other natural materials (Sec. 78-120)
- No defacing or displacing park structures or property (Sec. 78-111)
- No admission fee or parking fee
- Park hours: 7 a.m. until dark.
- Sea turtle nesting season in Brevard County: March 1 – October 31 (FWC).
Source: Brevard County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 78, Article III (Municode); City of Cocoa Beach Beach Access page
Lori Wilson Park is a 32-acre Brevard County regional beach park at 1500 N Atlantic Ave, in the middle of Cocoa Beach. Behind the dune is a maritime hammock of live oak, sabal palm and sea grape with a nature boardwalk through it, and in front of it is the same Atlantic beach that runs the length of the city.
The park is run by Brevard County Parks and Recreation, not the City of Cocoa Beach. That's invisible on the sand — no fence, marker or sign says where county jurisdiction begins — but it's the difference between detecting being fine and digging being a county-code violation. North and south of the park, the Cocoa Beach city beach has no detecting ban. For what Florida law says about historic finds anywhere on the coast, see our Florida antiquities guide.
Park contact information
Lori Wilson Park is managed by Brevard County Parks and Recreation. For current rules, use the contact details on the county's Lori Wilson Park page (brevardfl.gov → Parks & Recreation → Park Directory → Lori Wilson Park).
Who Sets the Rules Here
- CountyBrevard County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 78, Sec. 78-120
All Brevard County parks, recreational facilities, and department-managed lands — including both the beach and inland sections of Lori Wilson Park
- CityCity of Cocoa Beach — Beach Rules
City ordinances apply within the park footprint (within Cocoa Beach city limits) in addition to county rules
- StateFlorida Statutes Chapter 267
State sovereignty submerged lands and items over 50 years old statewide
Permits & Licenses
| Permit | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Metal detecting permit | No | No permit exists. Brevard County has not published any permit pathway or exception for recreational metal detecting in county parks. The activity is prohibited outright under Sec. 78-120. |
Time & Seasonal Restrictions
- All excavation by tool is prohibited in county parks under Brevard County Code Sec. 78-120 (Ord. No. 08-12, April 22, 2008)
- Removing beach sand, soil, rocks, plants, or any natural material from the park is prohibited under the same section
- Sea turtle nesting season in Brevard County runs March 1 – October 31 (FWC); stay clear of staked nests
- Detecting in the maritime hammock or boardwalk areas is equally prohibited — Sec. 78-120 covers all 'department managed lands'
- Park hours: 7 a.m. until dark
Penalties for Violations
← Scroll to see all columns
| Violation | Statute | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Excavation or removal of natural materials in a county park | Brevard County Code Sec. 78-100; Sec. 78-120 | Fine up to $500 and/or up to 60 days county jail; violators may be expelled and prohibited from future use of Brevard County parks |
| Removing or disturbing an archaeological specimen on state-owned land (including sovereignty land below mean high water) without a permit | Fla. Stat. § 267.13 | First-degree misdemeanor if removed without digging (up to 1 year and $1,000); third-degree felony if excavated (up to 5 years and $5,000); all finds forfeited to the state and restitution may be ordered |
Nearby Alternatives
← Scroll to see all columns
| Site | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa Beach (city beach, north of park) | 0.3 mi | Immediately adjacent; city-managed; detecting allowed without a permit |
| Satellite Beach | 8.5 mi | Quiet residential beach; no published detecting ban |
| Melbourne Beach | 18 mi | — |
More Metal Detecting Sites Nearby
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I metal detect on the beach at Lori Wilson Park?
No. Lori Wilson Park is operated by Brevard County, not the City of Cocoa Beach. Brevard County Code Sec. 78-120 prohibits all excavation by tool in any county park or department-managed land. Since recovering a detected target requires digging, metal detecting is effectively prohibited within the park boundaries.
Is the Lori Wilson Park beach the same as the Cocoa Beach public beach?
The sand is physically continuous — there is no fence or marked boundary on the beach — but the managing authority differs. Within Lori Wilson Park's boundaries, Brevard County rules apply. Immediately north and south, the open public beach is city-managed by Cocoa Beach, where metal detecting is allowed. In practice, the boundary on the open sand is unmarked; most detectorists use the park's access points but detect on the open city beach section.
Is there a permit I can apply for?
No. Brevard County has not published any permit or variance system for recreational metal detecting in county parks. The prohibition is blanket under Sec. 78-120, and no exception pathway was found in any published county document as of April 2026.
What about scanning without digging?
Technically, Sec. 78-120 bans excavation — not scanning. Running a detector across the surface without digging is not explicitly prohibited by the text of the ordinance. However, any act of digging a plug to recover a target is prohibited. The practical result is that you cannot complete a find recovery, making the activity pointless. Operating a detector without digging is not a meaningful exception.
Where is the nearest beach where detecting is allowed?
The open Cocoa Beach city beach immediately adjacent to the park — accessible from the park's beach access points but outside the park's jurisdictional boundary — is the closest option. No permit is required on the city-managed sections of Cocoa Beach. See the Cocoa Beach page on this site for full rules.
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Disclaimer
Information is provided for general guidance only. Regulations change frequently. Always verify current rules with the official jurisdiction before relying on this information for legal decisions. Permitted Pursuits is not a substitute for official agency guidance. Report an error.
Sources
- Brevard County Code, Chapter 78, Article III — Parks and Recreation (Secs. 78-100, 78-120)(accessed 2026-09-28)
- Brevard County Parks & Recreation — Lori Wilson Park(accessed 2026-09-28)
- City of Cocoa Beach — Beach Access (county vs. city park designations)(accessed 2026-09-28)
- Fla. Stat. § 267.061 — Historic properties; state policy, responsibilities(accessed 2026-09-28)
- Fla. Stat. § 267.13 — Prohibited practices; penalties(accessed 2026-09-28)
- FWC — Sea turtle nesting season(accessed 2026-09-28)
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