BEACH METAL DETECTING RULES / GUIDELINES
Metal Detecting is permitted day or night. This does not include the dunes, always stay off the dunes and do not dig near them. City Parks are also off-limits.
1. Ocean Isle Beach, NC - Metal Detecting is permitted.
2. Sunset Beach/Bird Island, NC - (southern tip in SC) is part of the North Carolina Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve. Metal Detecting is permitted on the beach area only.
3. Cherry Grove Beach, SC - Metal Detecting is permitted.
4. North Myrtle Beach, SC - Metal Detecting is permitted, $100 fine for not filling in any holes left open or digging deeper than two feet on the beach. Smoking is also prohibited.
5. Atlantic Beach, SC - Metal Detecting is permitted.
6. Briarcliffe Acres, SC Beach - Metal Detecting is permitted.
7. Apache Pier, SC Area - Metal Detecting is permitted.
8. Ocean Club Grande Dunes, SC Beach Area (Myrtle Beach) SC access by 82nd Ave North - Metal Detecting is permitted.
9. Myrtle Beach (inside the city limits) Metal Detecting is permitted, $100 fine for not filling in any holes left open or digging deeper than two feet. Metal shovels are now prohibited for general use, but a metal shovel or sand scoop is permitted while metal detecting ONLY.
10. Everything south of 82nd Ave North (Myrtle Beach) all the way down to Myrtle Beach State Park, SC - Metal Detecting is permitted. The State Park will permit metal detecting on the beach only.
11. Pirate Land Campground, SC Beach Area, and Ocean Lakes Campground, SC Beach Areas - Metal Detecting is permitted on the beach, but you will need to be a guest of the said facility for easy access to the beach. If not a guest you still may lawfully access the beach area only by walking up the beach/coastline from the south end or down the beach/coastline from the north end. You will be trespassing if you exit the beach and enter either campground. This can be quite a long walk, be sure to check a map before doing this.
12. Surfside Beach, SC - Metal Detecting is permitted, and there is a no-smoking policy in public areas.
13. Garden City Beach, SC - Metal Detecting is permitted.
14. Huntington Beach State Park, SC - Beach detecting only with special park authorization.
15. Litchfield by the Sea Beach, SC - Metal Detecting is permitted.
16. Pawleys Island, SC - Metal Detecting is permitted. The north end of the Island has a gated community and the beach can be legally accessed by walking up the beach/coastline or if you’re a guest of the community. If you enter the community from the beach you will be trespassing.
Finding available parking at many of these locations can be difficult during peak season. You’ll find early morning and late afternoon will be the best time for finding an open parking place. For more information about public beach accesses, parking locations, restrooms, and a lot more we recommend visiting the HorryCounty.org website. You also might want to see the Dhec website with an interactive map showing each access point. For ALL Beach Rules & Regulations like pets, fireworks, alcohol, etc. please see HorryCounty.org/About-Our-Beaches
As always, be safe and happy hunting!
