Metal Detecting on Georgia's Atlantic Coast & Golden Isles

10 locations · 1 allowed · 8 prohibited · 1 limited

Rules last verified: 2026-08-19 · Georgia statewide rules

Georgia has only about 100 miles of coast, and most of it is off-limits. Tybee Island, the public beach near Savannah, is the one clearly open spot — no ordinance bans detecting on the sand. Jekyll Island bans metal detectors islandwide, St. Simons (Glynn County) needs a dig permit, and the wild barrier islands — Cumberland Island (national seashore), Sapelo and Little Tybee (state reserves), and the Fort Pulaski and Fort Frederica national monuments — are all closed to detecting. Stay off the dunes everywhere; Georgia's Shore Protection Act protects them. This is saltwater, so bring a multi-frequency machine.

Beaches and parks on the Atlantic Coast

✅ Tybee Island Allowed · Chatham County
No Tybee ordinance bans beach metal detecting; the beach chapter covers only swimming, litter, smoking and watercraft. Fill your holes and s…
🔴 Jekyll Island Prohibited · Glynn County
The Jekyll Island Authority prohibits metal or mineral detectors islandwide, including every beach — its rules ban electronic devices used t…
🟠 St. Simons Island — East Beach & Coast Guard Beach Limited · Glynn County
Glynn County's beach code doesn't ban detecting, but Sec. 2-11-3 makes it unlawful to dig, excavate or remove anything in a county park, his…
🔴 Sea Island Prohibited · Glynn County
A private, gated resort island (Sea Island Company) with no public land access — detecting the dry beach needs company permission. Georgia's…
🔴 Cumberland Island National Seashore Prohibited · Camden County
Federal NPS land — possessing or using a metal detector is prohibited (36 CFR 2.1(a)(7)). A national seashore with protected historic and ar…
🔴 Fort Pulaski National Monument Prohibited · Chatham County
Federal NPS land — possessing or using a metal detector is prohibited (36 CFR 2.1(a)(7)); the Civil War fort and Cockspur Island grounds are…
🔴 Fort Frederica National Monument Prohibited · Glynn County
Federal NPS land — possessing or using a metal detector is prohibited (36 CFR 2.1(a)(7)); the 1730s colonial fort and townsite on St. Simons…
🔴 Sapelo Island Prohibited · McIntosh County
A DNR-managed barrier island and estuarine research reserve with protected archaeological and cultural sites; access is by reserved ferry on…
🔴 Skidaway Island State Park Prohibited · Chatham County
Georgia State Parks rules (GAC 391-5-1-.04) prohibit possessing or using a metal detector in any state park. Skidaway is marsh and maritime …
🔴 Little Tybee Island Prohibited · Chatham County
A State Heritage Preserve (Georgia's highest land protection) managed by DNR to protect natural and cultural resources; metal detecting is n…

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Other Georgia regions

Metro Atlanta · North Georgia · South Georgia