Can you keep the fossils you find? On the West Dorset beaches, loose finds are yours to keep; on US Bureau of Land Management land you may keep common invertebrate and plant fossils; in US national parks you may keep nothing. Pick where you are hunting for the official rules, then run through the tide and cliff checklist. This is general information, not legal advice: check the local rules before you go.
Loose fossils on the foreshore are the usual finds. We could not find an official Yorkshire fossil code to cite, so follow the landowner's rules and any signs on the beach.
Do not
Never dig fossils directly out of cliffs: it makes them even more unstable (Natural History Museum).
Do not walk at the foot of cliffs, which are unstable, and beware of being trapped by incoming tides (North Yorkshire Council).
Report or record
If you find something important, report it to a museum (Natural History Museum).
Get the landowner's permission to extract, collect and keep fossils: the Code says removing fossils without permission is illegal, although the Code itself is not law.
Exercise restraint in how much you collect and the tools you use.
Do not
Do not hammer exposed bedrock that is a protected geological feature in an SSSI without consent, which comes through the landowner; if in doubt, don't collect.
If you find an exceptional or unusual fossil, do not try to extract it.
Report or record
Seek advice from an expert: your local or national museum, a university or the British Geological Survey.
US public land: BLM, Forest Service and Bureau of Reclamation
You may
Casual collecting is allowed: a reasonable amount of common invertebrate and plant fossils, for your own non-commercial use, with non-powered hand tools (Paleontological Resources Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 470aaa).
On BLM land, petrified wood is limited to 25 pounds plus one piece a day, and 250 pounds a year.
Do not
Do not sell or barter casually collected fossils, or use power tools or heavy equipment.
Vertebrate fossils (bones, teeth) need a research permit; digging, collecting or casting them without one is illegal.
On Forest Service land, casual collecting is not allowed in National Monuments.
Report or record
If you find a vertebrate fossil on BLM land, leave it in place, photograph it, record where it is and report it to the local BLM office.
Shark and ray teeth, invertebrate fossils and plant fossils may be collected and kept by anyone, with or without a permit.
On private land no permit is needed, but you need the landowner's permission.
Do not
Collecting vertebrate fossils (other than shark and ray teeth) on state lands, including river beds, needs a Florida Fossil Permit: $5 a year, valid for one year, from the Florida Museum (as of 2 November 2026; the museum's page is dated 10 February 2026).
No collecting of any type is allowed inside state parks.
Report or record
Each permit holder must report all the fossils they found when the permit expires.
The West Dorset Fossil Collecting Code says high erosion rates, particularly in winter, keep a plentiful supply of fossils coming onto the beaches, and that storms and landslides are what uncover them. The same storms make the cliffs most dangerous. Go on a falling tide, stay off mudflows and keep away from the base of the cliffs, where falls happen suddenly and without warning.
When to report a find
In West Dorset, record any scientifically important (Category 1) fossil at the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre. In Scotland, leave exceptional fossils in place and ask a museum, a university or the British Geological Survey. On US BLM land, leave a vertebrate fossil where it is, photograph it, note the spot and tell the local BLM office.
Buying fossils safely
The Scottish Fossil Code warns that faking is common in the fossil trade and that fossils are often restored or made up from incomplete specimens, and recommends a reputable dealer. The Florida Museum warns that buying vertebrate fossils collected without a valid permit is the same as knowingly buying stolen property.
Do I need a permit to collect shark teeth in Florida?
No. The Florida Museum says shark and ray teeth, invertebrate and plant fossils may be collected and kept by anyone. Other vertebrate fossils on state lands need the $5 Florida Fossil Permit (as of 2 November 2026).
Can I collect fossils in a US national park?
No. Federal rules for National Park Service areas (36 CFR 2.1) prohibit removing, digging or disturbing fossils.
Can I hammer the cliffs at Charmouth or Lyme Regis?
No. The Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre says never hammer or dig into the cliffs, landslides or mudflows; use a hammer only on loose rocks on the beach.
What number do I call in a coastal emergency?
In the UK, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. In the US, call 911.