About this guide

The idea

Beachcombing Rules by State is an independent editorial project published by Atelier Jerz. It answers one practical question — what may I take home from this beach? — for shores across the United States, and it shows where each answer comes from. We are not part of any park service or wildlife agency.

What you will not find here

Nothing is for sale: no shells, no gear, no guided walks, no affiliate links. We do not rank beaches and we do not accept payment for mentions.

How we check facts

• Rules come from the rule-makers. State wildlife and park agencies, the National Park Service and the Code of Federal Regulations.
• Every rule is linked. The source sits next to the rule so you can read the original.
• Silence is not permission. If an agency has published nothing about a kind of find, we leave it out instead of guessing either way.
• Advice is labeled as advice. Where an agency asks rather than requires — as Washington State Parks does — we say so.
• Dated. This edition reflects the agencies’ pages as of October 2026.

Corrections

Know a rule we have missed, or one that has changed? Write to [email protected]. This guide is a summary and not legal advice; the posted rules at the beach always come first.