NC Laws Governing Metal Detecting

You cannot hunt any N.C. state lands without first obtaining a permit. Be very weary of detecting on privet property near and around state and national parks also, so as not to inadvertently stray into forbid Metal detecting in North Carolina follows the Archaeological Resources Preservation Act of 1906. Here is the law you need to know. It is not the whole thing, just the meat of it.


Code Book: General Statutes of North Carolina Citation: § 70-15 through § 70-17 Section Title:

ArArchaeological Resources Protection Act: prohibited acts and criminal penalties; civil penalties; forfeiture

Summary:Prohibits a person from excavating, removing, damaging or otherwise altering or defacing an archeological resource located on state lands, unless acting pursuant to a permit issued under § 70-13. Prohibits a person from selling, purchasing, exchanging, transporting or receiving such archeological resources, or from offering to do so. Declares that a person who violates the above provisions, or employs another person to do so, shall be fined, upon conviction, not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both, for each day of continued violation. Authorizes the Department of Administration, in consultation with the Department of Cultural Resources, to assess a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 against any person who violates such provisions. Directs the Department of Administration, in determining the amount of the penalty, to consider the extent of the harm caused by the violation and the cost of rectifying the damage. Directs the department to send notice by registered or certified mail of such an assessment to the person being assessed and authorizes the department to institute a civil action in the Superior Court of Wake County if the person being assessed fails to pay the assessment. Authorizes the department to use the assessed funds to rectify the damage to archeological resources or to otherwise effectuate the purposes of this article. Declares that all archeological resources with respect to which a criminal violation has occurred, and all vehicles and equipment used in connection with such violation, shall be subject to forfeiture to the state.

I live near the Kings Mountain Battle ground in NC I know if you get caught on any of that land they will arrest you. I have family that owns quite a bit of surrounding property and its common place to find those civil war bullets and stuff when digging on their land so I bet there is allot on the battleground itself. I have heard stories of people finding quite a few things inside the battleground itself but it all has gotten turned into the park itself when found

Kenscott, I've heard different about the Outer Banks. I've heard you can detect north of Nags Head to the Va line but south of Nags Head is a no no. Can you fill me in, I'd like to retire there and that would kill me if I couldn't detect at all there.Thanks, Brian