🇭🇷 Can I metal detect in Croatia?

Act on the Protection and Preservation of Cultural Goods · Zakon o zaštiti i očuvanju kulturnih dobara (NN 145/24, 151/25)

Verified against the primary source: 2026-07-14

Short answer

In Croatia, searching archaeological zones, sites and areas of individual finds — including underwater ones — with metal detectors without prior approval from the Ministry is prohibited and criminally punishable, with seizure of equipment and finds (Art. 37). Outside those areas you always need the landowner’s permission, and any object presumed to be a cultural good must be reported (Art. 4). Note: the Act was completely replaced in December 2024 (NN 145/24) — older summaries no longer apply.

This is not legal advice and the app is not a permit. What counts is the official text of the law and the competent authority (Ministry of Culture and Media) — both links are below under sources. If you are not sure, do not dig.

What the law says

§Archaeological material older than 100 years has cultural-good status directly by law — no individual designation needed (Art. 13).
§Searching or surveying archaeological zones, archaeological sites and areas of individual archaeological finds — including underwater zones — with metal detectors, side sonars or similar devices in order to find archaeological material is prohibited without prior approval from the Ministry (Art. 37).
§Unauthorized searching with detectors and keeping an archaeological find contrary to the Act are punishable under criminal provisions; equipment used and the finds themselves are seized (Art. 37).
§Everyone is obliged to report to the culture ministry any object that can reasonably be presumed to be cultural property (Art. 4).
§A completely new Act entered into force in December 2024 (NN 145/24), replacing the 1999 law — older summaries of Croatian detecting law circulating in forums may be out of date.

Found something old? The steps under the law

1Stop immediately. If the find surfaced during any surface or below-ground works (on land, in water or at sea), works must be halted (Art. 39).
2Leave the find and its surroundings undisturbed — in DetectMap: GPS pin, photos in situ, depth, notes.
3Notify the Ministry of Culture and Media the SAME DAY or the next working day (Art. 39). Regional conservation departments (konzervatorski odjeli) are listed at min-kulture.gov.hr.
4Follow the conservation department's instructions on protecting the spot until they take over.

✓ Always get landowner permission before detecting — track it in DetectMap Properties.
✓ Check whether a location is a protected archaeological zone or site BEFORE detecting there — Art. 37 approval only exists for professional research.
✓ Report presumed cultural finds to the Ministry immediately — Art. 4 puts that duty on everyone.
✓ Log GPS, depth and photos for every find; context is what makes a find scientifically valuable.

Not recommended

✗ Never use a detector on archaeological zones, sites or individual-find areas (incl. underwater) without Ministry approval — it is a criminal offence, not a mere fine (Art. 37).
✗ Never keep an archaeological find contrary to the Act — the find AND your equipment can be seized (Art. 37).
✗ Never continue working after hitting an archaeological layer — stop and report the same or next working day (Art. 39).
✗ Never rely on pre-2024 summaries of Croatian law — the Act was replaced in December 2024.

Sources

Zakon o zaštiti i očuvanju kulturnih dobara (NN 145/24, 151/25) — full official text Ministarstvo kulture i medija Republike Hrvatske (Ministry of Culture and Media)

DetectMap shows you protected areas right in the field — with the data source and an explanation of what a zone means. Your finds and coordinates stay private.

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