Metal Detecting at St. Augustine & Ponte Vedra Beaches
St. Johns County · Northeast · City/County beach
Last verified:
The rules
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), and the county's beach rules say stay off the dunes and use the walkovers. The City of St. Augustine Beach adopts the county Beach Code (City Code Sec. 5-7). Anastasia State Park allows detecting only in beach zones the park manager picks, so call ahead (62D-2.013). Fort Matanzas National Monument bans metal detectors (36 CFR 2.1(a)(7)).
Permit: Not required
📞 Call ahead: 904-209-0331 (confirm the current rule before you go)
Why detect here
Oldest city in the US = high odds of old coins/relics on public beach
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: St. Johns County Beach Code, Ordinance 2007-19 (adopted in St. Augustine Beach by City Code Sec. 5-7); FL Admin. Code 62D-2.013; 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7). Verify against the managing authority before detecting.