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East Sussex · beach metal detecting rules

Can you metal detect on Brighton and Hove beaches?

No published rule found

No official council statement on metal detecting on the beach was found. The council's 2010 byelaw summary lists seashore and beach byelaws (shows, games, fires, dogs etc.) but none mentions metal detecting; the only detector byelaw listed is for Hove Museum Gardens.

Covers
Portslade/Hove to Saltdean (Brighton seafront)
Watch out for
Hove Museum Gardens (New Church Road): 1996 byelaw prohibits metal detectors (inland, not beach).
Source
democracy.brighton-hove.gov.uk/documents/s17055/Item%2063%20Appendix%201.pdf · 2010-01 (committee appendix; byelaw dates 1983-2005)
Checked
8 Nov 2026 · confidence: low

We couldn't find a published rule. Foreshore owned by the Crown Estate follows the Crown Estate's terms; for council-owned beaches, ask the council before you dig. We emailed them on 9 Nov 2026 and will update this page if they reply.

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