On state park land
May be authorised
The park manager may allow it, as what the rule calls a non-traditional recreational activity. Idaho neither permits nor forbids it by default – you have to ask.
1. The rule, in full
Idaho – IDAPA 26.01.20.175.11
Operative text, read from the current rule PDF at adminrules.idaho.gov:
"Non-traditional Recreational Activities. Non-traditional recreational activities such as model airplane and glider operations, geo-caching, gold panning, drone operation, and metal detecting may be authorized by the park or program manager if such activities do not interfere with traditional uses of the park and are consistent with preservation of park resources."
Scope, IDAPA 26.01.20.001:
"These rules apply to any persons visiting a state park or recreation area or making a reservation to occupy an Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation area or facility."
Determination: Department of Parks and Recreation land only. Does NOT reach municipal parks.
Unusual framing worth preserving: Idaho does not prohibit and then carve out an exception. It treats detecting as a "non-traditional recreational activity" that a park manager may authorize. The default is neither yes nor no, which makes permit_required the closest controlled value but an imperfect fit.
For Boise specifically – the city's own $13 metal detecting permit is a municipal scheme and sits on the city row, not here.
Source: adminrules.idaho.gov 26/260120.pdf, parsed locally. Checked 19 Sep 2026.
2. Cities in Idaho 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.