On state park land
Allowed in some places
Only on designated beaches at eleven state parks, with a free annual registration and during set hours – under park division policy, which the regulation adopts.
1. The rule, in full
Missouri – 10 CSR 90-2.030(27), which hands the rule to policy
Read from the Code of State Regulations published by the Missouri Secretary of State, 10 CSR 90-2 (pages dated 11/30/25); rule 90-2.030 last "Amended: Filed May 28, 2025, effective Dec. 30, 2025." Division of State Parks policy read from mostateparks.com. Checked 21 Sep 2026.
Operative text, 10 CSR 90-2.030(27):
"(A) State parks and historic sites provide opportunities for our visitors to engage in varied recreational activities. However, the division maintains the right to prohibit or otherwise restrict recreational activities that are not in keeping with the mission and objectives of the Department of Natural Resources, that may damage property, that require special safety measures, or that conflict with other uses of an area. Such prohibitions or restrictions shall be determined by the director, who may establish policy or procedures to regulate conduct. (B) Specific recreational activities that are restricted by policy include using metal detectors, caving, rock climbing and rappelling, diving, and conducting special events and activities."
Scope: the rule's stated purpose is the use of facilities "provided in state parks", and (27)(A) speaks of "State parks and historic sites" under the Division of State Parks.
Determination: Division of State Parks land only. Does NOT reach municipal parks.
The rule delegates to policy, so here the policy is the operative text. This is the reverse of Florida: Missouri's regulation names metal detectors and says the restriction lives in policy. The Division publishes it:
"metal detecting is allowed in certain areas in 11 state parks; however, registration is required. The activity is allowed only on specific sand beaches at these state parks"
"State parks and historic sites protect our natural and cultural history, and no object of historical or archaeological value or interest may be removed from a state park."
The registration form lists the eleven: Cuivre River, Finger Lakes, Lake of the Ozarks, Lake Wappapello, Long Branch, Pomme de Terre, Stockton, Trail of Tears, Harry S Truman, Mark Twain and Watkins Mill, each with seasonal hours. Registration is free and "must be completed each calendar year". Its rules include:
"Any solid-faced digging or probing tool cannot exceed 12 inches in overall length and 3 inches in width. Any sand digging or sifting scoop cannot exceed 12 inches in overall length and 6 inches in width. Suction dredges and grappling hooks may not be used."
"Contact the facility manager if a historic, archaeological or item valued at $10 or more is found."
The page must say the list, hours and tool limits are Division policy under (27)(B), not text of the regulation, and carry the checked date: a policy can change without a rulemaking.
No statute reaches municipal land. The Revised Statutes of Missouri were searched for an antiquities provision. RSMo 253.420 requires a permit for salvage or excavation of a submerged or embedded abandoned shipwreck meeting National Register criteria. RSMo 194.410.1 makes it a class E felony to knowingly disturb "a marked or unmarked human burial site", wherever it is. Neither is a detecting rule, and no general antiquities act reaching city land was found.
Sources: sos.mo.gov 10 CSR 90-2 (PDF, parsed locally); mostateparks.com activity/metal_detecting and form/metal-detecting-registration-form; revisor.mo.gov 253.420, 194.410. Checked 21 Sep 2026.
2. Cities in Missouri 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.