Metal detecting laws, verified & up to date

Metal Detecting at Surfside Beach

Horry County · Grand Strand · Town beach

✅ Allowed

Last verified:

The rules

The Town's Rules & Laws of Beach Use cap holes at two feet deep and require you to fill any hole you dig before leaving; smoking is banned on the beach and public accesses. The town's hole-digging ordinance prohibits metal shovels except when used for metal detecting, so detecting itself is permitted. Standard beach-ordinance penalties run up to $500 and/or 30 days.

Permit: Not required

📞 Call ahead: 843-913-6111 (confirm the current rule before you go)

Why detect here

'The Family Beach' - a compact, low-key town beach with a fishing pier; dropped change and jewelry along the access paths and towel line.

Beach detecting here? You want a saltwater-capable machine and a long-handled sand scoop. The Nokta Legend 2 is the best value that handles wet salt sand. See the Nokta Legend 2 →


Source: Town of Surfside Beach - Rules & Laws of Beach Use. Verify against the managing authority before detecting.