Metal Detecting at Jacksonville Beach & Atlantic Beach
Duval County · Northeast · City/County beach
Last verified:
The rules
Neither city code bans metal detecting on the beach. Jacksonville Beach Sec. 6-7 bans excavating or removing sand, shell or coquina but exempts minor digging as part of reasonable recreational use. Atlantic Beach Ch. 5 (Beaches, Parks, and Recreation) has no digging or detector rule. Fill your holes, and don't dig in Jacksonville Beach city parks (Sec. 20-13(9) bans disturbing the natural ground surface in listed parks, including Oceanfront Park).
Permit: Not required
📞 Call ahead: 904-247-6100 (confirm the current rule before you go)
Why detect here
22 miles of beaches near a major city
Beach detecting here? You want a saltwater-capable machine and a long-handled sand scoop. The waterproof Minelab X-Terra Elite is the best value that handles wet salt sand. See the Minelab X-Terra Elite → All picks by budget →
More spots nearby: First Coast (Jacksonville to St. Augustine) · See the full Florida metal detecting laws · federal rules · which detector to buy
Source: City of Jacksonville Beach Code of Ordinances, Sec. 6-7 (Removal of shell, sand, coquina, natural items is prohibited); City of Atlantic Beach Code of Ordinances, Ch. 5. Verify against the managing authority before detecting.