North Dakota is a clear no in its state parks — the rule bans any device used to locate or remove metal, and the Parks Department issues no recreational permits. The only opening is a staff-supervised search for a lost item. Here’s the detail.
Can I detect in North Dakota?
The short answer for each kind of land. Tap a card for the detail and the rule’s own words.
- State parksLost items onlylost item only, under direct supervision of park staffChecked against the source Oct 8, 2026
- State & public landNo verdict yetSource check pending
- Public land & lakesLost items onlylost items only, under direct supervision of park staffChecked against the source Oct 8, 2026
- City / county parksNo verdict yetSource check pending
- Army Corps lakesDesignated areasAsk the project office for the current policy and designated areas.Checked against the source Oct 8, 2026
- BLM landAllowedChecked against the source Oct 8, 2026
- National Park Service landProhibitedChecked against the source Oct 8, 2026
Open in many areas without a permitPermit, registration, or designated beaches onlyProhibited or effectively closed
The rules, land by land
State parks
Lost items onlyNo person may use any device to locate or remove metallic objects or valuables in a state park; the only exception is finding a lost item under direct park-staff supervision (or director-approved/law-enforcement work).
- lost item only, under direct supervision of park staff
- director may except approved archaeological surveys and law enforcement
- violation: class 1 noncriminal offense
What the rule says
“No person may use any device for the purpose of locating or removing any metallic object or any other objects of value from a state park. … Use of a metal detector to find a lost item may be allowed under the direct supervision of park staff.”
State & public land
No verdict yetNo cited source sets a detector rule for North Dakota state land outside state parks; chapter 55-03 governs investigating and excavating cultural resources (see the dig rule).
Digging
Research permits onlyInvestigating or excavating cultural resources on North Dakota state land requires a permit from the director of the State Historical Society.
- cultural resources: prehistoric or historic archaeological sites, burial mounds, unregistered graves
- excavating cultural resources on private land also needs the permit
- violation: class A misdemeanor (55-03-07)
What the rule says
“Any person engaged in the investigation, excavation, or other recording of cultural resources on land owned by an instrumentality of the state or in the excavation of cultural resources on private land for any purposes other than those identified in section 55-03-01 first shall obtain a permit from the director.”
Keeping finds
ProhibitedArchaeological or historical materials from North Dakota state land go to the State Historical Society, and violators forfeit what they find.
- archaeological or historical materials
- violators forfeit finds to the state (55-03-07)
- state keeps title when it sells or leases land (55-03-06)
What the rule says
“When the cultural resources are on land owned by an instrumentality of the state, the permit may not be granted until the applicant has agreed to deliver to the director all of the archaeological or historical materials found and removed from the land.”
Public land & lakes
Lost items onlyReservoir shores inside North Dakota state parks fall under the park ban: a detector only to find a lost item, under park staff's direct supervision.
- lost items only, under direct supervision of park staff
- Inside state parks only; shorelines outside state parks require a separate check with the responsible land manager.
What the rule says
“No person may use any device for the purpose of locating or removing any metallic object or any other objects of value from a state park. … Use of a metal detector to find a lost item may be allowed under the direct supervision of park staff.”
City / county parks
No verdict yetNo detector rule was confirmed for city or county parks in North Dakota; ask the local park manager.
Army Corps lakes
Designated areasArmy Corps projects allow detector use on designated beaches or previously disturbed areas unless the District Commander closes them to protect archaeological, historical or paleontological resources.
- Ask the project office for the current policy and designated areas.
- Found items follow 36 CFR 327.15 and 327.16, except non-identifiable items such as coins worth less than $25 (327.14(d)).
What the rule says
“The use of metal detectors is permitted on designated beaches or other previously disturbed areas unless prohibited by the District Commander for reasons of protection of archaeological, historical or paleontological resources.”
BLM land
AllowedBLM rules allow detectors to aid reasonable, noncommercial collection of permitted rocks and mineral specimens, outside developed recreation sites and areas and except where prohibited.
- This allowance is tied to the collection allowed by 43 CFR 8365.1-5(b); it is not general permission to search for or remove archaeological resources.
- Reasonable amounts for noncommercial purposes only; the exception does not apply at developed recreation sites and areas or where collection is prohibited.
What the rule says
“Use on the public lands explosive, motorized or mechanical devices, except metal detectors, to aid in the collection of specimens permitted under paragraph (b) or (c) of this paragraph.”
Federal land
Digging
Permit requiredExcavating or removing archaeological resources on the public and Indian lands defined by ARPA requires authorization.
- This archaeological-resource rule does not establish general detector permission.
- Section 470ee(a) recognizes a permit under 470cc, a permit referred to in 470cc(h)(2), or the exemption in 470cc(g)(1).
What the rule says
“No person may excavate, remove, damage, or otherwise alter or deface, or attempt to excavate, remove, damage, or otherwise alter or deface any archaeological resource located on public lands or Indian lands unless such activity is pursuant to a permit”
National Park Service land
ProhibitedPossessing or using a metal detector is prohibited in National Park Service areas.
- Exceptions include a device broken down and packed to prevent use, navigation and safety equipment, and equipment used for authorized scientific, mining or administrative activities.
What the rule says
“Possessing or using a mineral or metal detector, magnetometer, side scan sonar, other metal detecting device, or subbottom profiler.”
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 North Dakota state parks
N.D. Admin. Code 58-02-08-16 states: “No person may use any device for the purpose of locating or removing any metallic object or any other objects of value from a state park.” The exceptions are narrow — director-approved archaeological surveys, law enforcement, or locating a lost item under direct park-staff supervision. A violation is a class 1 noncriminal offense, and the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department issues no recreational permits.
North Dakota’s antiquities law
NDCC Chapter 55-03 (Protection of Prehistoric Sites and Deposits) requires a permit from the Director of the State Historical Society of North Dakota to investigate, excavate, or record cultural resources on state land (55-03-01.1), with forfeiture of finds for violations (55-03-07). The chapter counts burial mounds and unregistered graves as cultural resources.
Public land, lakes & local rules
Reservoir shorelines within a state park are covered by the ban, and federally managed reservoir shores are governed by the federal agency. Federal reservoir shores follow their federal manager’s rules; confirm the particular shoreline’s manager. We haven’t sourced city and county park rules, and on private land, ask the owner first. See our national guide.
Sources
Official and statutory sources this page is based on (source check: October 8, 2026):
- N.D. Admin. Code 58-02-08-16 (state parks)
- NDCC Ch. 55-03, Protection of Prehistoric Sites and Deposits
- 36 CFR §327.14, Public property (Army Corps water resources projects) (eCFR)
- 43 CFR §8365.1-5, Property and resources (BLM public lands) (eCFR)
- 16 U.S.C. §470ee, ARPA prohibited acts (and §470bb definitions)
- 36 CFR §2.1, Preservation of natural, cultural and archeological resources (eCFR)
- N.D. Admin. Code chapter 58-02-08, Parks and Recreation (Legislative Council PDF)
- 16 U.S.C. §470bb, ARPA definitions
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
- Can you metal detect in a North Dakota state park?
- No. N.D. Admin. Code 58-02-08-16 prohibits using any device to locate or remove metallic objects or valuables in a state park (a class 1 noncriminal offense). The only allowed use is finding a lost item under direct park-staff supervision, or director-approved archaeological or law-enforcement work.
- Does North Dakota offer a state-park metal-detecting permit?
- No — the Parks and Recreation Department doesn’t issue recreational permits; only narrow staff-supervised or director-approved exceptions exist.
- What about artifacts on North Dakota public land?
- On any state-owned land, investigating, excavating, or recording cultural resources requires a permit from the Director of the State Historical Society (NDCC Ch. 55-03), and violators can forfeit finds. The chapter counts burial mounds and unregistered graves as cultural resources. On private land, ask the owner first.
Find more, remember where
Download LuckyFind — free for iPhone and Android — to track your routes, log your finds, and keep your permitted spots organized.
