Metal Detecting on Florida's First Coast (Jacksonville to St. Augustine)

13 locations · 3 allowed · 8 limited · 2 prohibited

Rules last verified: 2026-08-13 · Florida statewide rules

Amelia Island, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine and Flagler: wide Atlantic beaches with long public stretches (Flagler's beach ordinances restrict digging, so call ahead there), plus the oldest European-settled ground in the country. That history cuts both ways — Fort Matanzas is a national monument (prohibited), Anastasia State Park limits you to designated beach zones, Fort Clinch, Little Talbot and Gamble Rogers are state parks (designated zones only), the GTM Research Reserve at Guana is state preserve land where disturbing resources is prohibited, and Jacksonville's city beach parks post no detecting rule either way — ask first. The 50-year rule bites hard here: colonial-era finds are state property.

Beaches and parks on the First Coast

✅ Amelia Island Allowed · Nassau County
The Fernandina Beach beach rules (City Code Ch. 90, Art. II) and Nassau County's beach rules (Ch. 23½, Art. II) don't mention metal detectin…
✅ Jacksonville Beach & Atlantic Beach Allowed · Duval County
Neither city code bans metal detecting on the beach. Jacksonville Beach Sec. 6-7 bans excavating or removing sand, shell or coquina but exem…
✅ St. Augustine & Ponte Vedra Beaches Allowed · St. Johns County
The St. Johns County Beach Code (Ord. 2007-19, as amended) has no metal-detecting or digging rule; it bans removing beach sand (Sec. 3.12), …
🟠 Anastasia State Park Limited · St. Johns County
Coastal state park — detecting allowed only in the park-manager-designated beach zone (toe of dune to high-water line); no submerged detecti…
🔴 Fort Matanzas National Monument Prohibited · St. Johns County
Federal NPS land — possessing or using a metal detector is prohibited (36 CFR 2.1(a)(7))
🟠 Flagler County Beaches Limited · Flagler County
Flagler County Code Sec. 7-1 and Flagler Beach City Code Sec. 6-11 (customary-use ordinances) list the only activities the public may do on …
🟠 Fort Clinch State Park Limited · Nassau County
Statewide rule: detecting only in beach zones the park manager designates (toe of dune to high-water line), never in the water; anything 50+…
🟠 Little Talbot Island State Park Limited · Duval County
Statewide rule: detecting only in manager-designated beach areas between toe of dune and high-water line, not submerged; finds 50+ years old…
🟠 Huguenot Memorial Park Limited · Duval County
Posted park rules do not mention metal detecting. Dunes are closed to all foot traffic (ejection on first offense); disturbing wildlife is u…
🟠 Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park Limited · Duval County
Park rules do not mention metal detecting, but the page states collection, destruction or disturbance of plants, animals or park property is…
🔴 GTM Research Reserve (Guana beaches) Prohibited · St. Johns County
DEP-managed state buffer-preserve lands: Rule 18-23.007 F.A.C. prohibits removal or disturbance of property or natural or cultural resources…
🟠 City of Jacksonville (Duval) inland city parks Limited · Duval County
Neither the Ordinance Code (Ch. 28, Sec. 614.133) nor the posted Park Rules mention metal detecting; rules do prohibit disturbance of wildli…
🟠 Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area (Flagler Beach) Limited · Flagler County
State-park rule: detecting only in the beach zone the park manager designates (toe of dune to high-water line), never in the water; anything…

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Local metal detecting clubs · First Coast

Historical Recovery Association of North Florida (HRANF) Jacksonville Monthly finds competition, a Metal Detecting 101 class and an annual club huntMeets: 2nd Thursday · 6:30–8 PM · Holiday Hill Baptist Church Website · Facebook

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Other Florida regions

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