California

Rockhounding Regulations

General Rules

  • • BLM lands: 25 pounds per day plus one piece, 250 pounds per year limit
  • • State Parks: Maximum 15 pounds per day where permitted
  • • No tools allowed in state parks except gold pans
  • • Hand tools only on BLM and National Forest lands
  • • Materials must be for personal use only, no commercial collecting

Permits & Licenses

  • • No permits required for casual collecting on most BLM lands
  • • National Forest permits generally not required for personal use
  • • State Parks: Check specific parks for rockhounding permission
  • • Commercial collecting requires special permits

Restrictions

  • • Prohibited in all National Parks
  • • No collecting in wilderness areas (surface collection only)
  • • State Parks limited to beaches and wave action zones in recreation areas
  • • No collecting at Glass Beach or other protected sites
  • • Cannot sell materials collected from state parks

Contacts

  • • BLM California: (916) 978-4400
  • • US Forest Service Pacific Southwest: (707) 562-8737
  • • California Department of Parks and Recreation: (916) 653-6995