Metal Detecting in North Dakota

On state park land

Permission needed

Written permission, state park land only.

N.D.A.C. 58-02-08-16 · Checked 20 September 2026 · Consolidated code

1. The rule, in full

North Dakota – N.D.A.C. 58-02-08-16

Operative text, read from the Legislative Branch PDF of chapter 58-02-08:

"No person may use any device for the purpose of locating or removing any metallic object or any other objects of value from a state park. Exceptions may be made by the director for approved archaeological surveys or law enforcement personnel. Use of a metal detector to find a lost item may be allowed under the direct supervision of park staff. Any person who violates this subsection is guilty of a class 1 noncriminal offense."

Scope, 58-02-08-01 (Authority):

"These state park use rules apply to all those areas which are under the control of or operated by the North Dakota parks and recreation department."

Authority: NDCC 55-08-01.3 and 55-08-05.

Determination: parks and recreation department land only. Does NOT reach municipal parks.

One of the cleanest scope statements found in the whole pass – the rule says outright which lands it governs, in its own authority section.

My citation was wrong first time. I searched NDAC Title 63; that is the Board of Podiatric Medicine. Parks rules are Title 58.

Source: ndlegis.gov acdata 58-02-08.pdf, parsed locally. Checked 19 Sep 2026.


2. Cities in North Dakota 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.

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