Know before you go
Metal detecting laws by country
What needs permission, what you must report and to whom, in the countries where detectorists dig most. Every section links to the official source.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Laws change and differ between regions: always check the official rules where you detect, and always have the landowner's permission.
England and Wales
Possible Treasure must be reported to the coroner within 14 days, usually through your Finds Liaison Officer. Recording other finds with the Portable Antiquities Scheme is voluntary and encouraged.
- Treasure includes objects at least 300 years old that are at least 10% gold or silver; from the same find, two or more such coins, or ten or more other coins of that age; and prehistoric objects with any gold or silver, or two or more prehistoric base-metal objects found together.
- Since 30 July 2023 it also includes objects at least 200 years old, made at least partly of metal, that give an exceptional insight into national or regional history, archaeology or culture.
- The 14 days start the day after you found it, or on the day you realised it might be Treasure if that's later. Not reporting it without a reasonable excuse is an offence.
- Treasure belongs to the Crown. If a museum acquires it, the reward is normally shared equally between finder and landowner, unless you've agreed otherwise.
- Have the landowner's permission, ideally in writing, with an agreement on finds.
- Record findspots to at least a 10 m square (an 8-figure grid reference), ideally better with GPS.
- Detecting on a scheduled monument without consent is a criminal offence, and so is removing anything you find there.
Northern Ireland
The Treasure Act applies, and every other archaeological find must be reported within 14 days too. Digging to search for archaeological objects needs a licence.
- Report possible Treasure within 14 days, in practice to the Curator of Archaeology at National Museums NI, who tells the Coroners Service.
- Report any other archaeological find within 14 days to National Museums NI, the Historic Environment Division or a police station.
- Digging to search for archaeological objects needs a licence from the Department for Communities, normally given only to archaeologists.
- Detectors are banned on scheduled and State Care monuments without written consent.
Scotland
Under Treasure Trove law every archaeological find, of any material or value, must be reported, usually within four weeks of finding it.
- Report finds to the Treasure Trove Unit at National Museums Scotland.
- Finds belong to neither the finder nor the landowner: they're ownerless property the Crown may claim on the Treasure Trove Unit's advice. Unclaimed finds go back to the finder.
- If a find is claimed, any reward goes to the finder.
Netherlands
Hobby detecting is allowed without a permit only in the top 30 cm, and every archaeological find must be reported.
- Don't detect on national, provincial or municipal monuments, where an excavation is under way, or under water. Some municipalities ban detecting altogether.
- Report every archaeological find as soon as possible to the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, through PAN or Archis, and keep it available for research for six months.
Flanders (Belgium)
Hobby detecting is legal once you hold an erkenning (recognition as a metal detectorist), and every archaeological find must be reported to Onroerend Erfgoed.
- Report every archaeological find and its findspot through Onroerend Erfgoed's online form. MEDEA is an optional research database.
- Dig no deeper than 30 cm, never detect on protected sites or where archaeologists are working, and only between sunrise and sunset.
- Get the owner's or tenant's permission. Finds belong to the landowner unless you agree otherwise.
Denmark
Possible danefæ (finds the state can claim) must be handed in to the National Museum through your local museum.
- Register your detector finds in DIME first, then hand possible danefæ in to the local museum.
- Don't detect on or within 2 m of protected monuments.
- Finders of danefæ receive a reward.
Germany
Every state claims significant archaeological finds for the state (Schatzregal), and most require a permit to search (Nachforschungsgenehmigung).
- Check your state's heritage office before detecting. Bavaria doesn't require a permit, but needs permission on and near known sites; its Schatzregal has applied since 1 July 2023.
- Report archaeological finds to the state heritage office.
France
Searching for archaeological objects with a detector needs an authorisation from the regional prefect (through the DRAC), given only for a research project, as well as the landowner's consent.
- Report a chance archaeological find immediately to the town hall (mairie).
- Archaeological objects found since July 2016 are presumed to belong to the State.
United States
On federal land, leave historic and archaeological objects where they lie: ARPA protects anything over 100 years old, and Forest Service rules protect them at any age. Metal detectors are banned in national parks.
- State and local rules vary for state parks, beaches and other public land: check before you detect.
- Private land needs the owner's permission.
Australia
Each state licenses prospecting and fossicking: a Miner's Right in Victoria and Western Australia, a fossicking licence in Queensland, and a permit to fossick in NSW state forests.
- Keep out of national parks unless the rules there allow it.
- Historic relics and Aboriginal objects are protected: leave them where they lie and report them.
Anywhere else
Check the law where you detect: many countries require a permit and the reporting of archaeological finds. Ask the national heritage agency or the local museum before you go.