West Sussex · beach metal detecting rules
Can you metal detect on Arun beaches?
AllowedNo permit is needed to detect on Arun's beaches, except West Beach, Littlehampton, where it is banned because it is an SSSI. Other council land needs a free one-year permit.
- Covers
- Pagham to Ferring, incl. Bognor Regis, Felpham, Middleton, Littlehampton
- Permission
- Not needed for beaches. A free one-year permit is needed for other council land, and requires membership of a national detecting body (e.g. NCMD).
- Watch out for
- West Beach, Littlehampton (SSSI) - no metal detecting. Bognor Reef and Pagham Harbour are also SSSIs. Most beach areas are Crown Estate foreshore, so Crown Estate terms apply (surface searching only).
- What the source says
"You do not need a permit to detect on our beaches as any damage caused by digging is minimal."
- Source
- arun.gov.uk/metal-detecting
- Checked
- 8 Nov 2026
Detecting somewhere specific?Tap any spot in England on the UK Detector map to check it against scheduled monuments, SSSIs, nature reserves, National Trust land and access land in one go. Free: 3 checks a day.