Georgia Metal Detecting

Georgia Metal Detecting Laws

State parks: prohibited. Beaches: varies. Civil War sites heavily protected.

Georgia state parks prohibit metal detecting. Tybee Island Beach: allowed with restrictions. Jekyll Island: check current rules. Savannah beaches: varies by jurisdiction. Civil War battlefield sites strictly protected by state and federal law. Archaeological sites protected. Private land with written permission. Atlanta metro parks generally prohibit. Fill all holes.

Metal Detecting - Where Allowed

Georgia: Metal detecting allowed on some public lands but prohibited on many. ARPA (artifacts law) applies on federal land. Check before you dig.

METAL DETECTING LAWS

WHERE IT'S GENERALLY ALLOWED
• Your own property: Always OK
• Private property: With permission
• Some beaches: Check local rules
• Some county/city parks: With permit
• BLM land: With restrictions (no artifacts)

WHERE IT'S PROHIBITED
• National Parks: Strictly prohibited
• National Monuments: Prohibited
• State Historic Sites: Prohibited
• Archaeological Sites: Felony (ARPA)
• National Forests: Varies by forest
• Cemeteries: Always prohibited

ARPA - ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES PROTECTION ACT
Federal law protecting artifacts:
• Applies to federal and tribal lands
• FELONY to remove artifacts 100+ years old
• Fines up to $100,000
• Imprisonment up to 2 years
• Applies even if accidentally discovered

WHAT YOU CAN KEEP
On allowed lands, modern items like:
• Coins (modern)
• Jewelry (lost, not historic)
• Hardware and debris
• Things clearly not artifacts

CODE OF ETHICS
1. Always get permission
2. Fill all holes completely
3. Remove all trash you find
4. Report significant finds
5. Don't detect where prohibited
6. Respect other detectorists

GETTING PERMISSIONS
• City parks: Contact parks department
• Beaches: Check city/county rules
• Private property: Get written permission
• Schools: Usually need district approval