Austria keeps a tight lid on detecting. Under the Denkmalschutzgesetz (heritage protection act), any search for archaeological finds needs a permit from the Bundesdenkmalamt (Federal Monuments Office), and the office only grants one when a university-trained archaeologist leads the search. Using a detector where no protected site lies is allowed in principle, as long as you are not hunting for history, and that is a thin line for anyone who digs up an old coin.
Can I detect in Austria?
The short answer for each kind of land. Tap a card for the detail and the rule’s own words.
- Anywhere: national heritage lawResearch permits onlyapplies on all land and under water, public or private (§ 10(1))Checked against the source Oct 7, 2026
- Beaches & foreshoreResearch permits onlythe rule covers the ground under water too (§ 10(1))Checked against the source Oct 7, 2026
- Protected monumentsResearch permits onlyfine: up to €5,000 (§ 37(4))Checked against the source Oct 7, 2026
- National parks & nature reservesResearch permits onlyChecked against the source Oct 7, 2026
- State forestsResearch permits onlythe state forest company's own policy was not readChecked against the source Oct 7, 2026
- Private landResearch permits onlyChecked against the source Oct 7, 2026
Open in many areas without a permitPermit, registration, or designated beaches onlyProhibited or effectively closed
The rules, land by land
Anywhere: national heritage law
Research permits onlyAustria's Denkmalschutzgesetz (heritage protection act) bans searching for archaeological finds with a metal detector without a permit from the Bundesdenkmalamt (Federal Monuments Office), and it only grants one for a search led by a university-trained archaeologist. Swinging a detector where no protected site lies is allowed in principle, but not to look for old things.
- applies on all land and under water, public or private (§ 10(1))
- a permit is granted only if the search is led by someone with a relevant university degree and is carried out and documented to current archaeological standards (§ 10(5)), so hobby detectorists cannot get one
- the Federal Monuments Office says simply using a detector on land with no protected archaeological monument is allowed in principle, but any search aimed at finding archaeological monuments needs its permit (information sheet 1 A, 2024)
- it presumes that every archaeological find is an archaeological monument, which is why it says digging is forbidden
- on land with a protected archaeological monument, any use of a detector without a permit is banned (§ 10(2))
- fines: up to €25,400 for searching without a permit, and finds from the search can be declared forfeit (§ 37(3)); up to €5,000 for using a detector on protected land (§ 37(4))
- a permit never replaces the landowner's consent
What the rule says
“Die Nachforschung nach archäologischen Denkmalen an Ort und Stelle, sei es durch Veränderungen der Erdoberfläche bzw. des Grundes unter Wasser (Grabungen), sei es durch Verwendung von Metallsuchgeräten oder systematische Messungen oder andere archäologische Prospektionsmethoden, ist ohne Bewilligung des Bundesdenkmalamtes verboten.”
Keeping finds
AllowedIn Austria a treasure, archaeological finds included, belongs half to the finder and half to the landowner, under the civil code (ABGB). But if you searched without the landowner's knowledge and consent, or broke the law while searching, your half goes to whoever reported you, or to the state if no one did.
- a treasure is money, jewelry or other valuables hidden so long that the former owner can't be traced (ABGB § 398); finder and landowner each get half (§ 399)
- the Federal Monuments Office says the same 50/50 split applies to archaeological finds; ownership follows civil law and there is no general state treasure right, but a cultural object of unknown ownership that was apparently the object of an offense under the heritage act becomes federal property when found (Denkmalschutzgesetz § 34(1))
- if you searched without the landowner's knowledge and consent, hid the find, or committed an offense while searching (for example searching for archaeological finds without a permit), your share goes to whoever reported you, or to the state if no one did (ABGB § 400)
- the Federal Monuments Office can require archaeological finds for up to two years for study (Denkmalschutzgesetz § 9(3)), and finds from an unpermitted search can be declared forfeit (§ 37(3))
- ordinary lost property goes to the lost-property office (Fundbehörde); if no one claims it within a year (six months if it is worth €100 or less), it becomes the finder's (ABGB §§ 390, 395)
What the rule says
“Von einem Schatz erhalten der Finder und der Eigentümer des Grundes je die Hälfte.”
Reporting finds
Must be reportedFound something that could be archaeological? Report it without delay to the Bundesdenkmalamt (Federal Monuments Office), or to the district authority, the nearest federal police station, the mayor or a public museum, and leave the spot untouched for five working days after the office gets your report.
- applies to objects hidden under ground or water that have historical, artistic or other cultural importance (Denkmalschutzgesetz § 8(1))
- the finder reports; a substitute office must pass the report on to the Federal Monuments Office (§ 8(2)-(3))
- leave the find spot unchanged until the end of the fifth working day after the report arrives, but take finds that could go missing into safe keeping (§ 9(1)); the office can extend this by eight weeks (§ 9(2))
- lend the finds to the office for up to two years if it asks (§ 9(3))
- failing to report, or disturbing the find spot, can mean a fine of up to €5,000 (§ 37(4))
- a treasure must also be reported to the authorities (ABGB § 398), and ordinary lost property goes to the lost-property office without delay (ABGB § 390)
What the rule says
“Werden Gegenstände aufgefunden, die unter der Erd- oder Wasseroberfläche verborgen waren und von geschichtlicher, künstlerischer oder sonstiger kultureller Bedeutung sind (archäologische Denkmale), so ist dies unverzüglich dem Bundesdenkmalamt zu melden.”
Beaches & foreshore
Research permits onlyAustria has no sea coast, and on lake and river beaches the national rule applies: no searching for archaeological finds with a detector without a Federal Monuments Office permit, which only archaeologists get.
- national rule: searching for archaeological finds with a metal detector needs a Federal Monuments Office permit, granted only for searches led by someone with a relevant university degree (Denkmalschutzgesetz § 10(1), (5))
- the rule covers the ground under water too (§ 10(1))
- no separate rule for lake or river beaches was found
What the rule says
“Die Nachforschung nach archäologischen Denkmalen an Ort und Stelle, sei es durch Veränderungen der Erdoberfläche bzw. des Grundes unter Wasser (Grabungen), sei es durch Verwendung von Metallsuchgeräten oder systematische Messungen oder andere archäologische Prospektionsmethoden, ist ohne Bewilligung des Bundesdenkmalamtes verboten.”
Protected monuments
Research permits onlyOn any plot of land with a protected archaeological monument, using a metal detector at all is banned without a permit from the Federal Monuments Office, and the office prosecutes it.
- covers any use of a detector, whatever you are looking for (Denkmalschutzgesetz § 10(2))
- permits follow the same § 10 process, which requires a search led by someone with a relevant university degree
- fine: up to €5,000 (§ 37(4))
- the ban does not apply to detector use while enforcing the law
What the rule says
“Auf Grundstücken, auf denen sich archäologische Denkmale befinden, die unter Denkmalschutz stehen, ist jede Verwendung von Metallsuchgeräten ohne Bewilligung des Bundesdenkmalamtes verboten.”
National parks & nature reserves
Research permits onlyIn national parks and nature reserves the national rule applies: no searching for archaeological finds with a detector without a Federal Monuments Office permit, which only archaeologists get. Park and reserve rules may add their own bans.
- national rule: searching for archaeological finds with a metal detector needs a Federal Monuments Office permit, granted only for searches led by someone with a relevant university degree (Denkmalschutzgesetz § 10(1), (5))
- the national park and nature reserve laws of the federal states (Länder) were not read for this page
What the rule says
“Die Nachforschung nach archäologischen Denkmalen an Ort und Stelle, sei es durch Veränderungen der Erdoberfläche bzw. des Grundes unter Wasser (Grabungen), sei es durch Verwendung von Metallsuchgeräten oder systematische Messungen oder andere archäologische Prospektionsmethoden, ist ohne Bewilligung des Bundesdenkmalamtes verboten.”
State forests
Research permits onlyIn Austria's forests the national rule applies: no searching for archaeological finds with a detector without a Federal Monuments Office permit. The forest law lets everyone walk in the woods for recreation, but anything beyond that needs the forest owner's consent.
- national rule: searching for archaeological finds with a metal detector needs a Federal Monuments Office permit, granted only for searches led by someone with a relevant university degree (Denkmalschutzgesetz § 10(1), (5))
- Forstgesetz 1975 (forest act) § 33: everyone may enter a forest for recreation; uses beyond that, such as camping after dark, driving or riding, need the forest owner's consent
- the Federal Monuments Office adds that ground disturbance always needs the landowner's consent
- the state forest company's own policy was not read
What the rule says
“Die Nachforschung nach archäologischen Denkmalen an Ort und Stelle, sei es durch Veränderungen der Erdoberfläche bzw. des Grundes unter Wasser (Grabungen), sei es durch Verwendung von Metallsuchgeräten oder systematische Messungen oder andere archäologische Prospektionsmethoden, ist ohne Bewilligung des Bundesdenkmalamtes verboten.”
Private land
Research permits onlyOn private land you need the owner's consent, and the national rule still applies: no searching for archaeological finds with a detector without a Federal Monuments Office permit, which only archaeologists get.
- national rule: searching for archaeological finds with a metal detector needs a Federal Monuments Office permit, granted only for searches led by someone with a relevant university degree (Denkmalschutzgesetz § 10(1), (5))
- the Federal Monuments Office says ground disturbance is only lawful with the landowner's consent
- searching for treasure without the owner's knowledge and consent costs you your share of it (ABGB § 400)
- the owner's consent does not replace the heritage permit, and the permit does not replace the owner's consent
What the rule says
“Die Nachforschung nach archäologischen Denkmalen an Ort und Stelle, sei es durch Veränderungen der Erdoberfläche bzw. des Grundes unter Wasser (Grabungen), sei es durch Verwendung von Metallsuchgeräten oder systematische Messungen oder andere archäologische Prospektionsmethoden, ist ohne Bewilligung des Bundesdenkmalamtes verboten.”
Even where detecting is allowed, archaeological and historic sites are protected, and you must fill every hole and follow posted rules. Always confirm the current rule with the land manager.
Detecting beyond Austria? We cover 14 more countries rule by rule too. See the world map →
Open data: every rule in our Austria guide, with its quote, source and check date, free to reuse (CC BY 4.0). Download the data →
One permit, and it isn't for hobbyists
The rule sits in section 10 of the Denkmalschutzgesetz: searching for archaeological monuments on site, by digging, by metal detector or by any other prospecting method, is banned without the Federal Monuments Office's permit. The permit is only granted if the search is led by someone with a relevant university degree and documented to current archaeological standards. It applies on every kind of land and under water, public or private.
The office's own information sheet on detecting spells out the catch. Simply using a detector on land with no protected archaeological monument is allowed in principle. But any search aimed at finding archaeological monuments needs the permit, and the office presumes every archaeological find is one, which is why it says digging is forbidden. On land with a protected monument, any detector use at all is banned. Fines run up to €25,400 for an unpermitted search, and the finds can be declared forfeit.
Finds, reporting and who owns what
If you find something that could be archaeological, report it without delay to the Federal Monuments Office, or to the district authority, the nearest federal police station, the mayor or a public museum. Leave the spot untouched until the fifth working day after the office receives your report, and lend it the finds for up to two years if it asks.
Ownership follows the civil code, the ABGB: a treasure is split half and half between the finder and the landowner, and the office says archaeological finds are shared the same way. There's a sting in the tail, though. If you searched without the landowner's knowledge and consent, or broke the law while searching, your half goes to whoever reported you, or to the state if no one did. Ordinary lost property goes to the lost-property office, and it becomes yours if nobody claims it within a year.
Lakes, forests, parks and private land
Austria has no sea coast, and no separate rule for lake or river beaches turned up, so the national rule applies there as everywhere else. The forest act lets everyone walk in the woods, but anything beyond that needs the forest owner's consent. National park and nature reserve rules, which we have not read yet, may add their own bans, so check with the park before you go. On private land you need the owner's consent and, for any search for archaeological finds, the federal permit too: one never replaces the other.
Sources
Official and statutory sources this page is based on (source check: October 7, 2026):
The federal states' national park and nature reserve laws were not read; the parks row applies the national rule.
- Denkmalschutzgesetz (DMSG), BGBl. Nr. 533/1923, consolidated (Gesamte Rechtsvorschrift)
- Informationsblatt Nr. 1 A: Die Suche nach Bodenfunden (information sheet on metal detecting, PDF)
- Häufige Fragen: Archäologie (FAQ)
- ABGB § 398 (Schatz: definition and duty to report)
- ABGB § 399 (treasure split between finder and landowner)
- ABGB § 400 (finder's share forfeited after an unlawful or concealed search)
- ABGB § 390 (report found property to the lost-property office)
- ABGB § 395 (finder acquires unclaimed found property)
- Forstgesetz 1975 § 33 (use of forests for recreation)
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New to LuckyFind? Follow the first-hunt checklist, then learn how to record a hunt and add finds.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is metal detecting legal in Austria?
- Only in a narrow sense. Searching for archaeological finds with a detector needs a Federal Monuments Office permit, which is only granted for searches led by a university-trained archaeologist. Using a detector where no protected site lies is allowed in principle, but not to look for archaeological finds, and on land with a protected monument any detector use is banned.
- Can I get a metal detecting permit in Austria as a hobbyist?
- No. The Denkmalschutzgesetz only allows a permit when the search is led by someone with a relevant university degree and follows current archaeological standards.
- Who owns a treasure found in Austria?
- Under the civil code the finder and the landowner each get half, and the Federal Monuments Office applies the same split to archaeological finds. If you searched without the landowner's consent or broke the law while searching, your half goes to the person who reported you, or to the state if no one did.
- Do I have to report finds in Austria?
- Yes. Report anything that could be archaeological without delay to the Federal Monuments Office, or to the district authority, police, mayor or a public museum, and leave the find spot untouched for five working days after the office receives the report.
- What is the fine for illegal metal detecting in Austria?
- Up to €25,400 for searching without a permit, with the finds liable to be declared forfeit, and up to €5,000 for using a detector on land with a protected archaeological monument or for not reporting a find.
Find more, remember where
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