Hi

Welcome from New Mexico. I know Virgina is a bit persnickety on detectors but there has to be a pile of places you can go.

City of Alexandria

Sec. 13-1-40 Metal detecting and digging on city property.
(a) Except as provided in subsections (b), (c) and (d), it shall be unlawful for any person, while located on city property, to:
(1) possess or use a mineral or metal detector or any other device or probe to search for objects in, on or below the surface of the soil;
(2) dig, excavate or in any other way disturb the surface of the soil;
(3) remove any object found in, on or below the surface of the soil.
(b) Notwithstanding the prohibitions in subsections (a)(1) and (a)(3), permission may be obtained from the director of the department of recreation, parks and cultural activities, or his designee, to use a metal detector on city property to locate and recover a specific item of personal property which has been lost by the person requesting such permission.
(c) Notwithstanding the prohibitions in subsection (a)(2), permission to dig on or excavate specific city property may be granted by the city manager, after review of and favorable recommendation on the request by the city archaeologist. Any objects found as a result of such permitted digging or excavation shall remain the property of the city. Any person receiving permission under this subsection shall, at the completion of the work, restore the city property to its previous condition.
(d) This section shall not apply to activities conducted by city employees during the course of their duties.
(e) Any person violating this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a class three misdemeanor. Each day that a violation continues or occurs shall constitute a separate offense. (Ord. No. 3355, 1/14/89, Sec. 1)

City of Fredericksburg

Except as may be contained on a permit issued under this section, no person shall possess or use a mineral or metal detector, magnetometer, side scan sonar or other metal detecting device or sub-bottom profiler on city property within the boundaries of the city or on property owned by the city located outside the city boundaries. This section shall not apply to a device broken down and stored or packed to prevent its use while on city property or to electronic equipment used for the navigation and safe operation of boats.
(f) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.

Glouchester County

Chapter 13.5 PUBLIC PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES
Public parks and recreation facilities means any and all buildings, lands and waters, including roadways, recreation equipment, structures and the flora and fauna therein, owned, leased or operated under the jurisdiction of the county as a park or recreation area and open to the general public for park or recreation purposes. This definition includes, but is not limited to, Abingdon Park, Ark Park, Beaverdam Park, Tyndall's Point Park, Woodville Plantation Park, Gloucester Point Beach and Cedar Bush Creek Public Landing.
Sec. 13.5-23. Use of electronic metal-detecting devices.
No person shall utilize any type of electronic metal-detecting device prohibited in any recreational facility.
City of Hopewell

Sec. 25-61. Preservation of natural, cultural and archaeological resources.
(a) Prohibited. The following is prohibited on public streets, roads, sidewalk areas, alleys, parks, rights-of-way, and other municipally owned lands;
(1) Possessing, destroying, injuring, defacing, removing, digging or disturbing paleontological specimens, cultural, historical or archaeological resources, or parts thereof, residing on said public or municipally owned lands.
(2) Using a mineral or metal detector, magnetometer, side scan sonar, other metal detecting device, or subbottom profiler, unless such a device is utilized by city personnel, or by a utility company to locate underground pipes, lines, cables or other conduit.
(b) Penalty. Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section without permission of the city shall, upon conviction, be fined a sum of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or be imprisoned for a period of not more than ninety (90) days, or shall suffer both fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.

City of Manassas

Sec. 78-80. Hunting for relics on public property.
It shall be unlawful for any person, without authority of the city council, to hunt, search out for, attempt to find or seek relics, or to use or be in possession of a metal detector on public grounds or property.
(Code 1978, ? 21-37.1)
Cross references: Streets, sidewalks and other public places, ch. 102.

City of Newport News

Sec. 29-20. Application of article; definitions.
(a) The rules and regulations embodied in this article shall apply to all park lands and waters, roadways therein, recreation facilities, structures, monuments and fountains, bathing beaches, golf courses and the flora and fauna located on park or recreation property and in waters owned by or under the jurisdiction of the city.
(b) As used in this article, the term "director" means the director of parks and recreation or his duly authorized representative.
(c) As used in this article, the term "recreational facility" shall be construed to mean and include all areas named in section 29-20(a).
(d) As used in this article, the term "member" means those individuals with permanent addresses in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Sec. 29-49. Use of electronic metal-detecting devices.
No person shall utilize any type of electronic metal-detecting device in any recreational facility without first obtaining written approval from the director.

City of Petersburg

(d) It shall be unlawful for any person, without authority of the city council, to hunt, search out for, attempt to find or seek relics, or to use or be in possession of a mineral or metal detector, magnetometer, side scan sonar or other metal detecting device or sub-bottom profiler on city-owned property within the boundaries of the city or on property owned by the city located outside the city boundaries.
(e) Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor; provided, however, that the approval of the owner, his agent, tenant or lessee, or the superintendent or custodian of such park or sanctuary afterwards given in writing or in open court shall be a bar to further prosecution or suit.

City of Williamsburg

(f) No person shall appropriate, excavate, injure, search for, remove or destroy any historical ruin, monument or area or any object of antiquity situated in any recreational facility, nor shall any person operate on park premises any type of electronic metal detecting device without first obtaining written approval from the director of parks and recreation. Upon conviction, such locating devices shall be forfeited to the city and may be seized by an officer as forfeited, and as may be needed for historical purposes, such devices shall be devoted to that purpose.

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