Metal Detecting at Tybee Island, Georgia
ALLOWED
No permit required
Key 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)
- No section of the code mentions metal detectors, and no permit is required.
- Walking in the dunes or disturbing sea oats is prohibited under (a)(8).
- Removing live shells, sand dollars, hermit crabs or other invertebrates is prohibited under (a)(17).
- Going past the posted signs onto the south-end sandbar is prohibited under (a)(20).
- Walking or climbing on signed rocks and jetties is prohibited under (a)(15).
- No glass, dogs, smoking or vaping on the beach under (a)(3), (a)(4) and (a)(21).
- The general penalty is up to $1,000, six months in jail and 60 days of community service under (d).
Source: Tybee Island Code of Ordinances, Chapter 12 (Municode Supplement 32, updated through May 2026)
Detecting on Tybee isn't restricted. Detecting on the islands you pass on the way there is. US-80 crosses Cockspur Island, where Fort Pulaski National Monument's 2026 compendium bans metal detectors and extends the ban to magnet fishing. Georgia law then bans detector use in every DNR-run park and historic site statewide (O.C.G.A. § 12-3-10), including Skidaway Island State Park near Savannah. By the standards of this stretch of coast, Tybee's city beach is the open one.
The city beach itself has no detecting rule because the code never mentions detectors. We searched the whole Tybee Island Code for "metal detector," "metal detecting" and "excavation." The only dig-permit section, § 54-34, covers laying pipes, wires and poles in streets. What does govern a detectorist is the list of general beach rules in § 12-1, and two of them come up often when you're using a scoop: the dune rule and the live-animal rule.
The north end has more history than the rest of the beach. A day-mark tower stood on Tybee as early as 1736, and Fort Screven, a coastal-artillery post, occupied the North Beach area from 1897 until 1947, when the Army closed it and sold it to the city. That history isn't a ban on detecting the beach. It is a reason to leave alone any structure, foundation or battery ground behind the beach, where O.C.G.A. § 12-3-621 makes unauthorized digging a misdemeanor.
Tybee Island vs. Nearby Places You Might Try to Detect
| Location | Managing agency | Detecting? | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tybee Island public beach | City of Tybee Island | Allowed, no permit | No ordinance addresses detecting; general beach rules in § 12-1 apply |
| Fort Pulaski National Monument | National Park Service | Prohibited | 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7); 2026 compendium also bans magnet fishing |
| Skidaway Island State Park | Georgia DNR | Prohibited | O.C.G.A. § 12-3-10 bans detector use in any DNR park, historic site or recreational area |
| Fort Screven battery grounds (behind North Beach) | Various owners; museum run by Tybee Island Historical Society | Don't dig | Historic site; O.C.G.A. § 12-3-621 requires the owner's written permission to dig |
| Little Tybee Island | State of Georgia (Heritage Preserve) | Unverified | State-owned, boat-only; no published DNR detecting policy found. Ask DNR first |
Verified September 17, 2026 against the Tybee Island Code (Municode Supp. 32), the Fort Pulaski compendium dated Jan. 6, 2026, and O.C.G.A. §§ 12-3-10 and 12-3-621.
The south-end sandbar is off-limits, even at dead low tide
The sandbar off the south end at the Back River mouth looks like the perfect low-tide flat to detect, and the tide there drops far. NOAA's Fort Pulaski station records a mean range of about 6.9 feet. The city has designated the area past the warning signs extremely hazardous, and § 12-1(a)(20) makes it unlawful to walk, swim or wade beyond them. The incoming tide floods the channels behind you faster than you can walk back. Detect the south beach up to the signs and no farther.
When to Detect Tybee
Winter (Dec–Feb)
GoodThe beach is nearly empty and northeasters can strip sand from the upper beach. Paid parking is still enforced from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., but a spot is easy to find. This is the best time to grid the pier area slowly.
Spring (Mar–May)
FairSpring break crowds lose jewelry, and hunting early the next morning pays off. Sea turtle nesting season starts May 1, so staked nests begin to appear on the upper beach.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
FairSwimmers lose the most jewelry of the year near the pier and the Strand, but the beach is too crowded to swing a coil between about 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Go at dawn or dusk, and keep clear of marked turtle nests.
Fall (Sep–Nov)
GoodThe crowds thin out after Labor Day, and tropical systems passing offshore can cut sand off the beach. Turtle nesting season runs through October 31, so watch for nests left from late-season hatches.
Getting There and Parking
Parking rates and fines were confirmed September 17, 2026, on the City of Tybee Island Parking Services page.
Gear for Tybee's Wet Sand
- RequiredMulti-frequency or PI detector— Minelab Equinox 900, Nokta Legend or Garrett AT Max in beach mode. The salt-wet sand below the high-tide line swamps single-frequency VLF machines.
- RequiredLong-handled sand scoop— No hole-size or tool limit exists in the city code. A scoop still digs a smaller, faster-to-fill hole than a shovel, and a smaller hole turns up fewer live sand dollars.
- OptionalPinpointer— Garrett Carrot or Minelab Pro-Find 40. Fewer scoops mean less disturbance of live animals.
- RequiredFinds pouch without glass— Glass and breakable containers are banned on the beach under § 12-1(a)(3).
- RequiredPark TYB app on your phone— No cash at kiosks, and enforcement starts at 8 a.m. sharp.
Before You Detect Tybee
- Check the Fort Pulaski (8670870) tide prediction and plan to start about 90 minutes before low tide
- Load Park TYB and note Zone 2100, because there's no cash option
- Get onto the beach at a marked crossover, not through the dunes
- Find the south-end sandbar warning signs before the tide turns
- Don't stop at Fort Pulaski with a detector or a magnet on the drive in
- May 1–Oct 31: look for staked turtle nests and give them a wide berth
Permits & Licenses
| Permit | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Metal detecting on the public beach | No | No permit exists. We searched the full Tybee Island Code (Municode, Supplement 32, updated through May 2026) for 'metal detector,' 'metal detecting' and 'excavation' and found no rule about detecting on the beach. The § 54-34 dig permit covers pipes, wires and poles in streets and public places, not a sand scoop. |
| Parking (Park TYB, Zone 2100) | Yes | Paid parking is enforced citywide from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the year, including winter. A detecting session that starts at 7 a.m. low tide still needs a paid spot once 8 a.m. arrives. The fine for no payment is $65. |
| Fort Pulaski National Monument | No | No permit is available. Part 2.1(a)(7) of the monument's January 6, 2026 compendium states flatly that 'metal detecting devices are prohibited' and adds that 'this includes magnet fishing.' |
| Georgia state parks and historic sites | No | No permit route for hobby detecting. O.C.G.A. § 12-3-10 makes it unlawful to use any electronic device to detect metals, artifacts or lost articles in any park, historic site or recreational area run by DNR. A violation is charged as criminal trespass. |
Time & Seasonal Restrictions
- Dunes: § 12-1(a)(8) makes it unlawful to walk in the dunes or pick, gather or otherwise disturb dune vegetation, including sea oats. Get onto the sand at the marked crossovers only.
- Live animals: § 12-1(a)(17) bars removing non-regulated live animals from the beach, and names shells, sand dollars, hermit crabs and other invertebrates
- South-end sandbar: § 12-1(a)(20) prohibits walking, swimming or wading past the signs at the south end, which the city has designated extremely hazardous
- Jetties and rocks: § 12-1(a)(15) makes it unlawful to walk or climb on marked rocks, jetties or other structures, so the productive rock-edge sand has to be worked from the beach side
- No glass or breakable containers on the beach (§ 12-1(a)(3)) and no smoking or vaping anywhere on the beach, crosswalks or pier (§ 12-1(a)(21))
- No dogs on the beach at all, except certified service animals (§ 12-1(a)(4)). The minimum fine is $200 for a first offense.
- Sea turtle nesting season runs May 1 through October 31 under § 3-230. Loggerhead nests are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act, so give staked and marked nests a wide berth.
Equipment Notes
- Multi-frequency or pulse induction detector for the wet sand. Salt water and black mineral sand make a single-frequency VLF chatter below the high-tide line.
- Long-handled stainless or aluminum sand scoop. Tybee's code sets no hole-depth or tool-size limit, but a scoop keeps the hole small and quick to backfill.
- Pinpointer to keep digging to a minimum. Every extra scoop turns up more sand dollars you'll have to put back.
- Waterproof headphones. The pier and Strand area are busy and loud from late spring through Labor Day.
- A tide chart for NOAA station 8670870 (Fort Pulaski). Mean tidal range there is about 6.9 feet, so the beach at low tide is much wider than at high tide.
What People Find Here
- Modern clad coins, and rings, earrings and chains lost by swimmers near the pier, the Strand and the busiest crossovers
- Keys, sunglasses hardware and fishing tackle, mostly around the pier
- Older material is possible at the North Beach end, which was Fort Screven, an Army coastal-defense post, from 1897 until 1947. We found no documented notable find to cite. Treat anything military or pre-1950 with care, because digging at the old fort grounds falls under Georgia's archaeological-site law.
- Lost modern jewelry after big holiday weekends (Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day) and after the spring break crowds
Penalties for Violations
← Scroll to see all columns
| Violation | Statute | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Walking in the dunes or disturbing sea oats or other dune vegetation | Tybee Island Code § 12-1(a)(8), (d) | $300 on the city's published citation schedule; on conviction, up to $1,000, up to six months in jail and up to 60 days of community service |
| Removing live shells, sand dollars, hermit crabs or other live invertebrates from the beach | Tybee Island Code § 12-1(a)(17), (d) | Up to $1,000, up to six months in jail and up to 60 days of community service, at the judge's discretion |
| Using a metal detector in a Georgia state park, historic site or recreational area | O.C.G.A. § 12-3-10 | Charged as criminal trespass (a misdemeanor) |
| Digging into or removing material from an archaeological or historic site without the owner's written permission | O.C.G.A. § 12-3-621 | Misdemeanor. If you can't show landowner permission, possessing an artifact is prima facie evidence of a violation, and the artifact is confiscated. |
| Metal detecting or magnet fishing in Fort Pulaski National Monument | 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7); penalty under 36 CFR 1.3 | Federal misdemeanor: fine and/or up to six months in jail; equipment can be seized |
Etiquette & Leave No Trace
- Fill every hole before you move on
- When a scoop brings up a live sand dollar, set it back in the wet sand right away. The ordinance is about live animals, so an empty bleached test isn't the problem. A brown, fuzzy one that's still alive is.
- Work away from sunbathers and umbrellas on busy summer days. The hours after 5 p.m. on the Strand are both friendlier and more productive.
- Stay well back from staked turtle nests and from any volunteer checking them at dawn
- Carry out your trash targets. Pull tabs, foil and bottle caps left in the sand turn into the next person's false signals.
- If you find an engraved ring or a set of car keys on a busy beach day, hand it to a lifeguard stand or the city before you leave the island. Its owner is probably still on Tybee looking for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is metal detecting legal on Tybee Island?
Yes. The city's code has no metal-detecting rule and requires no permit for the public beach. The rules that do apply are the general beach rules in § 12-1: stay out of the dunes, put live animals back, and don't go past the south-end sandbar signs.
Can I detect at Fort Pulaski on the way to Tybee?
No. Fort Pulaski National Monument's 2026 Superintendent's Compendium prohibits metal detecting devices under 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7) and extends that ban to magnet fishing. The compendium explains that detecting disturbs archaeological resources and that magnet fishing there has pulled up bombs, ammunition and firearms. A violation is a federal misdemeanor.
What about the north end near the lighthouse and Fort Screven?
The North Beach sand is part of the city's public beach, and the same rules apply as anywhere else on it. The old Fort Screven batteries and grounds behind the beach are a different matter. Digging into a historic site without the owner's written permission is a misdemeanor under O.C.G.A. § 12-3-621, so keep your detecting on the open beach.
Why did I get told to put a sand dollar back?
Tybee Code § 12-1(a)(17) makes it unlawful to remove live shells, sand dollars, hermit crabs and other invertebrates from the beach. A scoop in the low-tide flats pulls up live sand dollars all the time, so drop them back in the wet sand right where you found them.
Can I detect on Little Tybee Island?
We couldn't confirm it either way. Little Tybee is state-owned land within a DNR Heritage Preserve, reachable only by boat, and we found no published DNR rule that addresses detecting there. Contact Georgia DNR before bringing a detector, and don't dig at any shell mound or old structure on the island. O.C.G.A. § 12-3-621 applies there too.
Do I have to pay for parking if I detect at sunrise in January?
Only once 8 a.m. arrives. Tybee enforces paid parking from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the year, winter included, at $4 an hour or $25 for a day pass through the Park TYB app (Zone 2100).
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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
- Tybee Island Code of Ordinances — Chapter 12, § 12-1 Use of municipal beaches and facilities (Municode, Supplement 32)(accessed 2026-09-17)
- City of Tybee Island — Citations & Ordinances (civil penalty schedule)(accessed 2026-09-17)
- City of Tybee Island — Parking Services(accessed 2026-09-17)
- National Park Service — Fort Pulaski National Monument Superintendent's Compendium (Jan. 6, 2026)(accessed 2026-09-17)
- O.C.G.A. § 12-3-621 — Unlawful acts at archeological, aboriginal, prehistoric or historic sites(accessed 2026-09-17)
- O.C.G.A. § 12-3-10 — Prohibited acts in parks, historic sites and recreational areas(accessed 2026-09-17)
- NOAA Tides & Currents — Station 8670870 Fort Pulaski, GA datums(accessed 2026-09-17)
- Tybee Island Light Station & Museum — History of the Light Station and Fort Screven(accessed 2026-09-17)
Last verified: 2026-09-17 · Last updated: 2026-09-17