New Hampshire allows detecting in specified shoreline, athletic-field, playground and picnic areas; digging up to 12 inches is allowed only on sand beaches, while digging elsewhere on department land requires a special-use permit. State historic sites, natural areas and Odiorne Point State Park are hard no’s. Here’s the detail.
Can I detect in New Hampshire?
The short answer for each kind of land. Tap a card for the detail and the rule’s own words.
- State parksDesignated areasunless otherwise postedChecked against the source Oct 8, 2026
- State & public landDesignated areasChecked against the source Oct 8, 2026
- BeachesDesignated areasshoreline of beaches on department property, unless otherwise postedChecked against the source Oct 8, 2026
- City / county parksNo verdict yetSource check pending
- Federal landNo verdict yetSource check pending
Open in many areas without a permitPermit, registration, or designated beaches onlyProhibited or effectively closed
The rules, land by land
State parks
Designated areasOn New Hampshire state park land, detecting is allowed without a permit along beach shorelines, at athletic fields and playgrounds, and within 25 feet of picnic tables and pavilions, unless posted otherwise. Elsewhere it needs a special use permit, and it is banned at state historic sites, natural areas and Odiorne Point State Park.
- beach shorelines, athletic fields, playgrounds, and within 25 feet of picnic tables and pavilions
- unless otherwise posted
- elsewhere on department property: special use permit under Res 7400
- never at state historic sites and natural areas listed in Res 101.06, or Odiorne Point State Park
- digging only on sand beaches, holes no deeper than 12 inches and filled
- money or items worth more than $50: Res 7301.27 lost-and-found
What the rule says
“Metal detectors shall be permitted along the shoreline of beaches and at athletic fields, playgrounds, and within a 25 foot radius from picnic tables and pavilions, unless otherwise posted.”
Digging
Designated areasDigging is allowed only on sand beaches, no deeper than 12 inches, with every hole filled before you leave. Anywhere else on department land it needs a special use permit.
- sand beaches only; holes at most 12 inches deep, completely filled
- elsewhere on department property, historic sites and natural areas: special use permit under Res 7400, in cooperation with the Division of Historical Resources
- so at athletic fields, playgrounds and picnic areas you may detect but not dig without a permit
What the rule says
“Digging shall be permitted on sand beaches, with all resulting holes completely filled in prior to leaving the site. Digging holes to a depth greater than 12 inches shall not be permitted.”
Keeping finds
AllowedMoney or items worth more than $50 found on department land must be left with park staff. They go back to the finder if no one claims them within 60 days, and finds over $250 fall under the state's unclaimed-property law.
- over $50: report and leave with authorized department personnel
- returned to the owner on proof of ownership; otherwise held 60 days, then returned to the finder
- over $250: subject to RSA 471-C (custody and escheat of unclaimed property)
- items of $50 or less are not covered by the reporting duty
- historic property or resources: no removal without the director's prior written permission (Res 7301.06)
What the rule says
“Any person who finds on a DRED property by whatever means money or items whose value is in excess of $50.00 shall report to and leave such money or items with an authorized DRED personnel.”
State & public land
Designated areasNew Hampshire's historic preservation law exempts treasure hunting with metal detectors on state-owned beaches, athletic fields, school grounds, cemetery perimeters, unpaved roads, within 25 feet of picnic tables and park pavilions, and currently used dumps, unless a recorded historic resource is posted. On department land, including state forests, the narrower Res 7301.19 zones apply and anywhere else needs a special use permit.
- RSA 227-C:12 II lands: beaches, athletic fields, school grounds, perimeters of cemeteries, unpaved roads, within 25 feet of picnic tables and park pavilions, currently used dumps
- not where a historic resource has been recorded and restrictions are posted
- department properties, including state forests (Res 7301.11 names Opechee Bay and Shieling state forests): Res 7301.19 zones only; elsewhere a special use permit
- outside the exempt areas, field investigations that alter or remove historic resources need a state permit
What the rule says
“Treasure hunting with metal detectors and dowsing rods is exempted from the restrictions of this subdivision on the following lands owned or controlled by the state, its agencies, departments, commissions, and institutions, unless an historic resource on such land has been recorded and restrictions are posted:”
Digging
Research permits onlyField investigations that disturb historic resources on New Hampshire state land or under state waters, or remove objects from them, are reserved to the state and need a permit from the Division of Historical Resources.
- 'field investigation' includes searching for historic resources by inspection, surveying, digging, excavating or removing objects, or going onto a site with that intent (227-C:1, IV)
- 'historic resource' is broad: property listed in or eligible for the state or National Register; any object in or associated with such property, or that enhances an understanding and appreciation of New Hampshire history; certain remains and fossils in a cultural context; and any object that may yield significant data whose value is not yet determined (227-C:1, VII)
- permits go to persons, agencies or institutions under the commissioner's rules, with criteria for professional and avocational archaeologists; the original discoverer of an unrecorded resource is presumed eligible (227-C:7, II to IV)
- treasure hunting with metal detectors on the RSA 227-C:12 II lands is exempt
- violation: misdemeanor, fine up to $1,000, up to 6 months, or both; forfeiture and restoration costs (227-C:17, II)
What the rule says
“the state, acting through the commissioner, reserves to itself the exclusive right and privilege to conduct, or cause to be conducted, field investigations of historic resources that involve the alteration of the surface or subsurface of the resource and removal of any surface or subsurface objects.”
Keeping finds
Permit requiredTaking a historic resource from New Hampshire state land or waters is a misdemeanor unless done under a permit or preservation agreement, or in the RSA 227-C:12 treasure-hunting areas. Isolated surface finds brought to the Division of Historical Resources stay in the finder's custody.
- isolated finds from the surface of state land or the bottom of state waters: custody goes to the discoverer once they are brought to the division for identification (227-C:8, III(a))
- permitted field investigations: at least 25 percent of recovered material stays with the state; the original discoverer gets 25 percent (227-C:8, III(b) and (c))
- private custody is governed by a preservation agreement with the state (227-C:8, IV)
- violation: forfeiture of all materials appropriated
What the rule says
“any person who knowingly appropriates, excavates, sells, ... or in any manner alters any historic resource located on state land, under state waters, or removed from same, except in the course of activities pursued under the authority of a permit or preservation agreement, or as exempted in RSA 227-C:12, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor”
Beaches
Designated areasState park beach shorelines, such as Hampton Beach, are open to detecting without a permit unless posted otherwise. Dig only in sand, no deeper than 12 inches, and fill every hole. Odiorne Point State Park is closed to detectors.
- shoreline of beaches on department property, unless otherwise posted
- dig only on sand beaches, at most 12 inches deep, holes filled
- not at Odiorne Point State Park
- state-owned beaches generally are also exempt under RSA 227-C:12, II(a)
- town and private beaches: not covered by any source
What the rule says
“Metal detectors shall be permitted along the shoreline of beaches and at athletic fields, playgrounds, and within a 25 foot radius from picnic tables and pavilions, unless otherwise posted.”
City / county parks
No verdict yetNo detector rule was confirmed for city or county parks in New Hampshire; ask the local park manager.
Federal land
No verdict yetDetector rules for federal land were not confirmed by the sources read; ask the specific federal manager.
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.
Metal detecting in New Hampshire state parks
Under N.H. Admin. Code Res 7301.19, detectors are not permitted on department properties unless otherwise stated or by special-use permit — but the rule affirmatively permits detecting “along the shoreline of beaches and at athletic fields, playgrounds, and within a 25-foot radius from picnic tables and pavilions.” It’s prohibited at state historic sites and natural areas (listed in Res 101.06) and specifically at Odiorne Point State Park. The digging rule (Res 7301.20) limits ground disturbance to sand beaches, with holes filled and no deeper than 12 inches.
Items found worth more than $50 are subject to state lost-and-found rules (Res 7301.27), and an individual park may override with “unless otherwise posted” signage.
New Hampshire’s antiquities law
RSA Chapter 227-C protects historic resources: RSA 227-C:7 reserves to the state the exclusive right to conduct field investigations that alter historic resources on state land or waters, and RSA 227-C:17, II makes it a misdemeanor (a fine of up to $1,000, up to 6 months, or both) to appropriate, excavate, or alter a historic resource on state land without a permit or preservation agreement. RSA 227-C:12, II exempts treasure hunting with metal detectors on listed kinds of state land, such as beaches and athletic fields, unless a recorded historic resource is posted.
Beaches, local rules & federal land
State-park ocean beaches such as Hampton allow detecting along the shoreline, subject to the fill-holes and 12-inch limits and “unless otherwise posted” signage; Odiorne Point is off-limits. We haven’t sourced town park, school-ground or federal rules, so check with the town or landowner first. See our national guide.
Sources
Official and statutory sources this page is based on (source check: October 8, 2026):
Once you’ve confirmed where you’re allowed to hunt, LuckyFind helps you make the most of it — track your route on the map, log each find with its location, and revisit your saved hunt records. LuckyFind does not verify land access or grant detecting permission. Free for iPhone and Android.
New to LuckyFind? Follow the first-hunt checklist, then learn how to record a hunt and add finds.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do you need a permit to detect on a New Hampshire state-park beach?
- Not for the permitted zones — Res 7301.19 allows detecting along the beach shoreline, at athletic fields, playgrounds, and within 25 feet of picnic tables and pavilions. A special-use permit is needed outside those areas, and historic sites are off-limits.
- How deep can you dig in New Hampshire?
- On sand beaches you may dig no deeper than 12 inches and must completely fill every hole before leaving (Res 7301.20). Ground disturbance is otherwise not allowed at state parks or historic sites without approval.
- Can you detect at Odiorne Point or other historic sites in New Hampshire?
- No — Res 7301.19 specifically bans metal detectors at Odiorne Point State Park and at the state historic sites and natural areas listed in Res 101.06.
Find more, remember where
Download LuckyFind — free for iPhone and Android — to track your routes, log your finds, and keep your permitted spots organized.
