Find Responsibly · The Code

Rules & Regs

Where can you legally search, and keep what you find? The Code projects legal context for 113 jurisdictions per activity, straight from the legal repository.

Metal detecting — 105 source-cited, 8 research required

Magnet fishing — 0 source-cited, 113 research required

Community reference, not legal advice. Every rating shown carries a source in the repository; where no source exists yet the entry reads research required rather than a guess. Laws change and local rules vary — always confirm with the landowner and the governing agency before you dig.

United States — federal authority

Abandoned Shipwreck Act

Transfers US title to abandoned, embedded (or Register-eligible) shipwrecks in state submerged lands to the state. Admiralty salvage & finds do NOT apply, you need state authorization.

Enforced via state permits/fines.

Source: legacy:fed.json#abandoned-shipwreck-act · 1987 · ASA · Research required

Archaeological Resources Protection Act

The workhorse. Bars excavating, removing, or trafficking any archaeological resource 100+ years old on federal & tribal land without a permit.

Up to 2 yrs + $20K (felony >$500); forfeiture.

Source: legacy:fed.json#archaeological-resources-protection-act · 1979 · ARPA · Research required

Antiquities Act

Protects objects of antiquity on federal land and lets the President declare national monuments. Largely superseded for enforcement by ARPA.

Up to $500 + 90 days.

Source: legacy:fed.json#antiquities-act · 1906 · Research required

Sunken Military Craft Act

Protects all US (and foreign, in US waters) sunken military ships & aircraft, perpetual title, war-grave protection. No disturbance without a permit.

Up to $100K/violation, per day.

Source: legacy:fed.json#sunken-military-craft-act · 2004 · SMCA · Research required

National Historic Preservation Act §106

Procedural: any federally permitted undertaking must weigh effects on historic properties and consult SHPO/THPO.

Non-compliance can enjoin the project.

Source: legacy:fed.json#national-historic-preservation-act-106 · 1966 · NHPA · Research required

NAGPRA

Strictly governs Native American human remains and cultural items on federal & tribal land. Removal generally prohibited; inadvertent discoveries must be reported.

Trafficking: up to 1 yr+ first offense.

Source: legacy:fed.json#nagpra · 1990 · Research required

Admiralty, Salvage & Finds

For non-military, truly abandoned wrecks in federal/international waters. Salvage = award but owner keeps title; Finds = finder takes title, but courts presume against abandonment.

Litigated case-by-case.

Source: legacy:fed.json#admiralty-salvage-finds · Common law · Research required

Federal land detecting rules

NPS & Wildlife Refuges: detectors banned entirely. BLM / USFS / Army Corps: modern lost items OK in non-sensitive areas, but never artifacts 100+ yrs (ARPA).

36 CFR 2.1; ARPA on top everywhere.

Source: legacy:fed.json#federal-land-detecting-rules · By agency · Research required

United States — by state

State	Metal detecting	Magnet fishing
Alabama	Yellow	Research required
Alaska	Green	Research required
Arizona	Red	Research required
Arkansas	Green	Research required
California	Yellow	Research required
Colorado	Yellow	Research required
Connecticut	Yellow	Research required
Delaware	Green	Research required
Florida	Yellow	Research required
Georgia	Red	Research required
Hawaii	Yellow	Research required
Idaho	Yellow	Research required
Illinois	Yellow	Research required
Indiana	Red	Research required
Iowa	Yellow	Research required
Kansas	Yellow	Research required
Kentucky	Red	Research required
Louisiana	Red	Research required
Maine	Yellow	Research required
Maryland	Yellow	Research required
Massachusetts	Yellow	Research required
Michigan	Yellow	Research required
Minnesota	Red	Research required
Mississippi	Red	Research required
Missouri	Yellow	Research required
Montana	Red	Research required
Nebraska	Red	Research required
Nevada	Yellow	Research required
New Hampshire	Green	Research required
New Jersey	Yellow	Research required
New Mexico	Yellow	Research required
New York	Yellow	Research required
North Carolina	Red	Research required
North Dakota	Red	Research required
Ohio	Green	Research required
Oklahoma	Yellow	Research required
Oregon	Green	Research required
Pennsylvania	Yellow	Research required
Rhode Island	Yellow	Research required
South Carolina	Yellow	Research required
South Dakota	Yellow	Research required
Tennessee	Yellow	Research required
Texas	Red	Research required
Utah	Yellow	Research required
Vermont	Yellow	Research required
Virginia	Red	Research required
Washington	Yellow	Research required
West Virginia	Red	Research required
Wisconsin	Yellow	Research required
Wyoming	Red	Research required

Around the world

Country	Metal detecting	Magnet fishing
United Kingdom	Green	Research required
Scotland	Yellow	Research required
Ireland	Red	Research required
Denmark	Green	Research required
Netherlands	Green	Research required
France	Red	Research required
Germany	Yellow	Research required
Italy	Red	Research required
Spain	Red	Research required
Greece	Red	Research required
Australia	Yellow	Research required
New Zealand	Yellow	Research required
Canada	Yellow	Research required
Mexico	Red	Research required
Sweden	Red	Research required
Norway	Yellow	Research required
Finland	Green	Research required
Poland	Red	Research required
Portugal	Red	Research required
Belgium	Yellow	Research required
Switzerland	Yellow	Research required
Austria	Yellow	Research required
Russia	Red	Research required
China	Red	Research required
India	Yellow	Research required
Japan	Yellow	Research required
South Africa	Yellow	Research required
Egypt	Red	Research required
Israel	Red	Research required
Brazil	Yellow	Research required
Argentina	Yellow	Research required
Czech Republic	Yellow	Research required
Romania	Yellow	Research required
Turkey	Red	Research required
Iceland	Red	Research required
Hungary	Yellow	Research required
Bulgaria	Red	Research required
Croatia	Red	Research required
Ukraine	Red	Research required
Lithuania	Yellow	Research required
Estonia	Red	Research required
Peru	Yellow	Research required
Colombia	Yellow	Research required
Chile	Red	Research required
Morocco	Yellow	Research required
Thailand	Green	Research required
Philippines	Red	Research required
Saudi Arabia	Red	Research required
Slovakia	Yellow	Research required
Latvia	Yellow	Research required
Vietnam	Green	Research required
Indonesia	Green	Research required
Cuba	Red	Research required
Tunisia	Red	Research required
Jordan	Red	Research required

Full rules, permits, prohibited areas, and citations live on the per-activity pages: metal detecting · magnet fishing. Detail pages by state: state law index.