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Metal Detecting Laws Around the World

Fifteen countries, every rule read from the law itself. Pick yours on the map.

By the LuckyFind team Sourced from official rules, and dated
Sources checked October 7, 2026 15 countries ~3 min read

Tap a country on the map, or pick one below.

A world map. United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain and Sweden each have a sourced, rule-by-rule guide; each is colored by its easiest public place to detect across beaches, forests and parks (striped where its regions differ), and selecting it opens that guide. Every other country is shaded as not covered yet. Where the LuckyFind Almanac covers metal detecting laws

Somewhere public is open, no permit (1)Public land needs a permit or a designated spot (7)Every public land type we track is closed (5)Varies by region: some open, some closed (2)

Not covered yet Map: Natural Earth

At a glance: the easiest public place to detect in each country, across beaches, forests and parks. Pick a land type for its exact rule.

All 15 countries: where you can detect, in one line each

All 15 countries: where you can detect, in one line each
CountryAt a glanceThe short answer
AustraliaMostly permitMostly a permit or a set spot — of its 8 states and territories, 7 permit or set spots, 1 closed.
AustriaClosed nationwideNo — the national law keeps every kind of land closed to hobby detecting.
BelgiumMostly permitMostly a permit or a set spot — of its 3 regions, 2 permit or set spots, 1 not yet confirmed.
CanadaMostly permitMostly a permit or a set spot — of its 13 provinces and territories, 1 open, 7 permit or set spots, 5 not yet confirmed.
FranceClosed nationwideNo — the national law keeps every kind of land closed to hobby detecting.
GermanyVaries by regionVaries by state — of its 16 states, 1 open, 9 permit or set spots, 6 closed.
IrelandClosed nationwideNo — the national law keeps every kind of land closed to hobby detecting.
ItalyClosed nationwideNo — the national law keeps every kind of land closed to hobby detecting.
NetherlandsPermit or set spotsWith strings attached — beaches & foreshore and national parks & nature reserves vary site by site.
PolandPermit or set spotsPermit needed — on every kind of public land we track.
RomaniaClosed nationwideNo — the national law keeps every kind of land closed to hobby detecting.
SpainPermit or set spotsWith strings attached — beaches & foreshore, public forests and national parks & nature reserves vary site by site.
SwedenPermit or set spotsPermit needed — on every kind of public land we track.
United KingdomMostly openYes — all 4 nations have public land open without a permit.
United StatesVaries by regionVaries by state — of its 50 states, 6 open, 35 permit or set spots, 9 closed.

Here’s the first rule of detecting abroad: there is no global metal detecting law. Every country writes its own, and most hand big pieces of it to their states, provinces and nations, so the beach that’s fair game at home can be off-limits one border over. We cover fifteen countries rule by rule from the official texts: 613 of the 712 rules quote the law’s own words, and anything we haven’t confirmed yet says so.

Pick your country

Each guide starts with the quick answer for the big land types, then goes rule by rule: what the law says, its exact words where we have them, the source and the day we checked.

More countries are on the way

Our researchers already have their shovels out. A country lands on this map only after every rule has been checked against the official texts, so we’d rather be right than first.

Open data: all 712 rules from the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain and Sweden, with their quotes, sources and check dates, free to reuse (CC BY 4.0). Download the data →

Think it’s finders keepers? Not on Crown Estate foreshore, and not in Alberta’s parks. 11 detecting myths, checked against the actual rules →

Please read: this is general information for detectorists, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by park, town and landowner. Confirmed rules show the date we read them; always confirm the current rule with the land manager before you detect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an international metal detecting law?
No. There is no worldwide metal detecting law or permit. Each country writes its own rules, and in the countries we cover much of the detail is set closer to the ground: by states, provinces, territories and nations, then by individual parks, councils and landowners.
Which countries does the LuckyFind Almanac cover?
Fifteen so far: United States (50 states); Canada (13 provinces and territories); United Kingdom (4 nations); Australia (8 states and territories); Austria (one national rulebook); Belgium (one national rulebook); France (one national rulebook); Germany (one national rulebook); Ireland (one national rulebook); Italy (one national rulebook); Netherlands (one national rulebook); Poland (one national rulebook); Romania (one national rulebook); Spain (one national rulebook); Sweden (one national rulebook). More are on the dig list. We add a country only once its guide has been researched from the official texts.
How current are these rules?
Every confirmed rule carries the date we last read its official source, and the newest check here is October 7, 2026. Rules change, so treat that as the day we read it and confirm the current rule with the land manager before you go.

Read the rules