Fort De Soto Park Metal Detecting Permit

Requirements

• Obtain the free permit from the park ranger station at the entrance on arrival — the station is staffed during normal park hours; permit is issued on the spot with no paperwork beyond basic contact information
• Metal detecting is permitted on the Gulf beach strand only — the ocean-side beach between the dune line and the water's edge; upland areas including dunes, picnic areas, camping areas, nature trails, and the historic fort grounds are strictly prohibited
• All finds must be surrendered to park staff for review before leaving — Pinellas County Code Chapter 90 gives the county ownership of objects recovered from county parks; in practice this primarily applies to historically significant or clearly valuable finds; rangers review finds on departure
• No digging tool deeper than 6 inches — shallow probing and surface recovery only; do not excavate into the beach profile
• All holes must be filled immediately after recovery — leaving open holes or a disturbed beach surface is a permit violation
• Dune vegetation must not be disturbed at any time — Florida Statute § 161.053 (Coastal Construction Control Line Act) and Pinellas County regulations prohibit any disturbance of dune faces and dune vegetation year-round
• Sea turtle nesting season applies May 1 through October 31 — detecting in the lower berm near the water's edge is restricted during nesting season; follow posted nesting area guidance and ranger instructions
• Florida Statutes Chapter 267 applies within the park — items over 50 years old are state property; the area's Civil War and 19th-century military history means older material is occasionally found; report to rangers immediately
• Fort De Soto's historic fort structure and grounds (Fort Dade / Fort De Soto site) are protected under Chapter 267 and Pinellas County historic preservation ordinances — the beach-only permit does not extend to any area near or within the historic fortification