On state park land
Permission needed
Park manager's permission on state park land.
This state also reaches city and county land — see below
1. The rule, in full
Colorado – C.R.S. 24-80-401 et seq.
Operative text, 24-80-401:
"The state of Colorado reserves to itself title to all historical, prehistorical, and archaeological resources in all lands, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other areas owned by the state or any county, city and county, city, town, district, or other political subdivision of the state."
Scope: reaches municipal land.
What this section actually does: it reserves title. It is an ownership provision, not a prohibition.
Operative prohibition, located: C.R.S. 24-80-409(1). It sits four sections past the permits provision, which is why the first two attempts missed it:
"Any person who knowingly appropriates, excavates, injures, or destroys any historical, prehistorical, or archaeological resource on land owned by the state or any county, city and county, city, town, district, or other political subdivision of the state without a valid permit commits a class 2 misdemeanor. All articles and materials illegally taken and all money and materials derived from the sale or trade of the same shall be forfeited to the society."
Colorado is the broadest of the five, and the distinction is finer here. Kansas and Washington protect a site – the prohibited act is disturbing it. Colorado protects a resource, and the prohibited verbs begin with "appropriates". Taking an artefact of genuine historical or archaeological character from city land in Colorado is a class 2 misdemeanor, with forfeiture, whether or not any site was dug.
What it still does NOT prohibit: metal detecting. Sweeping a city park with a detector, and recovering modern coins and jewellery, is untouched by this statute. What it reaches is appropriating an archaeological resource.
Entry complete.
2. Cities in Colorado that publish a rule
Awaiting review. None of the city or county rows publishes until its status is set and its quotation chosen by hand.
3. County rules
Awaiting review. None of the city or county rows publishes until its status is set and its quotation chosen by hand.
4. Cities checked — no published rule
Awaiting review. None of the city or county rows publishes until its status is set and its quotation chosen by hand.