Metal Detecting In Michigan?

You Should Know The Law

Metal detecting in Michigan follows the ARPA (Archeological Resources Preservation Act).

Please click on the link below for the ARPA explanation and some of the problems people face who break this law.

ARPA and You

Be sure and read through the entire page at the link above.

Even though ARPA does not specifically mention "metal detecting", you need to understand what ARPA says about digging artifacts.

In addition to the above mentioned ARPA law, if you are detecting in Michigan, you must be aware of another law,

the National Historic Preservation Act.

Please Visit this page for the NHPA law in Michigan.

As confusing as the above laws may seem, if you are metal detecting in Michigan?

Do not dig anything that you believe is an artifact, or anything that is older than 100 years.

Especially if you are on any State Lands.

You should also be aware that in Michigan State Parks there will be signs for designated metal detecting areas.

If you want to detect on private property, then be sure you get written permission from the landowner.

For detecting in Michigan, town, village and city parks, you'll need to check with those local officials.

I cannot be responsible for any outdated laws from the time of this posting.

My home page is all about metal detecting in eastern ghost towns.

Have you tried

metal detecting in Michigan ghost towns? Click here for my homepage.