Is Metal Detecting Legal in Florida?

Florida state parks ban metal detecting everywhere except designated stretches of coastal beach, between the dune and the high-water line. Anything 50 years old or older found on state land belongs to the state. Most Florida beach detecting happens on city and county beaches, each with its own rules.

Florida state parks: Florida State Parks prohibits detecting on park land except at coastal parks, where the park manager may designate an area between the toe of the dune and the high-water line. Detecting underwater is not allowed, and finds 50 or more years old are state property that cannot be kept.

Other state land in Florida: Florida owns the land under its navigable waters and below the mean high-water line ("sovereignty submerged lands"). Historic artifacts and shipwreck material on state-owned land and in state waters belong to the state under Chapter 267, Florida Statutes.

Florida's artifact law: Chapter 267, Florida Statutes, makes historic and archaeological objects on state-owned land state property. Removing them requires authorization from the Division of Historical Resources. The old Isolated Finds Program for river artifacts has ended.

Where you can legally metal detect in Florida: Many city and county beaches along both coasts allow detecting in the dry and wet sand. Check each city's ordinance. The Treasure Coast between Sebastian and Fort Pierce is famous for coins from the 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet washing up after storms. Private land works with written permission.

Florida-specific traps to avoid: Several well-known Treasure Coast beaches are state parks, such as Sebastian Inlet State Park, where state park rules apply. Offshore 1715 Fleet wreck sites are worked under state-authorized salvage agreements, and diving on them with a detector is not allowed. Canaveral National Seashore and Biscayne National Park are NPS units where detectors are prohibited.

For archaeologists and researchers in Florida: Archaeological research on state-owned land, including state submerged land, requires a permit from the Division of Historical Resources under Florida Administrative Code Chapter 1A-32. Recorded sites are kept in the Florida Master Site File, which also accepts new site recordings. Underwater work on historic shipwrecks in state waters falls under the same division.

Can I keep Spanish coins I find on a Florida beach? It depends on whose land the beach is. On state-owned land, including state parks and land below the mean high-water line, historic artifacts belong to the state. Check the specific beach before you search, and report historic finds.

Is metal detecting allowed in Florida state parks? Only at coastal parks, in areas the park manager designates between the dune and the high-water line. It is prohibited everywhere else in the park system.

Federal land in every state: National Park Service units ban metal detectors (36 C.F.R. § 2.1), and the Archaeological Resources Protection Act protects archaeological resources 100 years or older on federal and tribal land. Professional excavation or removal on federal land requires an ARPA permit from the managing agency (43 C.F.R. Part 7). See our national overview for details.

Sources checked 2026-10-13: Florida State Parks FAQ (https://www.floridastateparks.org/plan-your-visit/faqs); Chapter 267, Florida Statutes (Historical Resources) (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0267/0267.html). Rules change, so confirm with the managing agency before you dig. This page is research information, not legal advice.