Sidewalks??

[jimzz977]

I wondering if sidewalks the part between street and sidewalk would be ok to detect or or is it private property?? . I was driving around a historical part of my city with old house were and our train station was. Thanks

 

[Jay In NewKen]

Where i'm from, residual sidewalks are the responsibility of the homeowner so i would imagine they would be considered private property. Depends on the town, i suppose.

 

[mercury1]

Where i'm from, residual sidewalks are the responsibility of the homeowner so i would imagine they would be considered private property. Depends on the town, i suppose.

Same where I live. There would be issues if I spotted someone detecting in my front yard, uninvited. And there will be no invitations granted as my new (and first) detector will arrive this week.

 

[BadM0nkey]

I think "it depends". If the sidewalk is directly in front of a house then I would stay away. There are a lot of sidewalks however outside of public buildings, parks, athletic fields, train stations, etc... that I consider fair game.

Just watch out for the grounds keeper and the dog poop.

 

[dholland02]

Where I'm from its township property but land owner maintains it. I hunt them early mornings so I don't have to deal with people. I told one person to take it up with the township out they had s problem with it.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Where I'm at (and I believe in all states as well), the "parking strip" (the zone between the sidewalk and the street) belongs to the city. This is so that the city has road right-of-way, and can run utilities down that length. However, as was pointed out, the homeowner mows it, waters it, etc.... Thus technically, yes you can walk there, detect there, etc... (so long as you're doing no damage). However, that's not to say that someone might get a bee-in-their-bonnet, since they maintain it. So do as dholland02 says: If/when you hit those, do so @ odd-hours. Like at dawn/sun-up on a Saturday, etc... Or mid-day when everyone's at work, etc... Don't be in the middle of deep retrievals when lookie-lou curious folk are watching, etc...

 

[Ism]

What would you wish someone to do if you were responsible for the property (even though the city owns it)?
After all, its the homeowner that is responsible for the sidewalk repairs, mow the grass, the taxes, etc.
So really, would you want some interloper sneaking in to dig while you were away from home or knocking on the door and asking if you would mind?

The one time I asked, I was invited to detect the yard also.

 

[cudamark]

Some people think the parks and schools belong to them too but it won't keep me from hunting them as long as there is no official prohibition against it. I have hunted parking strips for many years with good success. You will run across the "land barons" who think they own that strip so just smile, tell them to have a good day, and move on down the road. No point in getting the police involved even if you're in the right.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

What would you wish someone to do if you were responsible for the property (even though the city owns it)?
After all, its the homeowner that is responsible for the sidewalk repairs, mow the grass, the taxes, etc.
So really, would you want some interloper sneaking in to dig while you were away from home or knocking on the door and asking if you would mind?

The one time I asked, I was invited to detect the yard also.

Well, if a person left "holes" (which, afterall, in the implied implication of your use of "dig", in your text, right?), then I could understand what you're saying. But if you and I know we'll leave no trace of our presence, then why isn't that good enough. I mean, sure, there's the connotations of our hobby (no escaping that, that we must retrieve the target). So .... just like ANY where I hunt, if I perceive that someone may "take issue" with the temporary evil process of extraction, then I do go out of my way to "stick out like a sore thumb" to them. I mean, just like parks and schools, we ALL have the "presence of mind" not to go there when the lawns are being mowed, or when an archaeologist convention is going on there, etc.... So too is the same "due-discretion" mindset if a person were going to do parking strips.

If someone were sitting on their front porch sipping Ice Tea, and if I were working my way down the street, I would actually alert them, with a big smile, of my intentions So I'm not saying for us all to be rude and demand our rights or anything.

 

[dholland02]

If someone were sitting on their front porch sipping Ice Tea, and if I were working my way down the street, I would actually alert them, with a big smile, of my intentions So I'm not saying for us all to be rude and demand our rights or anything.

Of coarse if there outside ill say something, but most strips in my town are small I'm not wastin my time door knockin when itll take a few mins to go over the strip.

 

[TerryC]

The strip area, which includes the sidewalk itself, is ceded to the city. That is why the municipality can lawfully put in sidewalks. Unless written law prohibits detecting on this strip, it is handled just like any other public areas of that municipality. TTC

 

[Normsel]

The strip between the sidewalk and street can be pretty lucrative but if someone told me not to detect there I would respect their wishes. Like so many have said the people at that address must maintain that strip even though it is technically city property. In many areas when you buy a lot to build on your actually paying for the land to the center of the street but the area from the center of the street to the sidewalk is for fitted to the local municipality. Actually where I live the sidewalk is public property that is required to be maintained by the property owner.

No matter where I hunt I am always very friendly and polite if someone asks me anything about what I am doing. I consider metal detecting to be a privilege whether it be on public or private property. The prairie dog diggers that leaves holes and pock marks wherever they dig hurt all of us. Believe it or not some long time detectorists dig and run without ever filling a hole or pushing the sod back.

As for me i would be cautious about detecting in the area between the sidewalk and street without asking permission. It's not that you need permission it's more about respect of the home owner.

 

[dholland02]

U don't need permission its township property

 

[cudamark]

The strip between the sidewalk and street can be pretty lucrative but if someone told me not to detect there I would respect their wishes. Like so many have said the people at that address must maintain that strip even though it is technically city property. In many areas when you buy a lot to build on your actually paying for the land to the center of the street but the area from the center of the street to the sidewalk is for fitted to the local municipality. Actually where I live the sidewalk is public property that is required to be maintained by the property owner.

No matter where I hunt I am always very friendly and polite if someone asks me anything about what I am doing. I consider metal detecting to be a privilege whether it be on public or private property. The prairie dog diggers that leaves holes and pock marks wherever they dig hurt all of us. Believe it or not some long time detectorists dig and run without ever filling a hole or pushing the sod back.

As for me i would be cautious about detecting in the area between the sidewalk and street without asking permission. It's not that you need permission it's more about respect of the home owner.

What would be the point in asking the homeowner? The ones who would call the police aren't going to give you permission, and the ones who would, don't care anyway. In most cases, you're in and out before they even know you were there.

 

[TerryC]

TIP: I have found the driver's side of a one-way street is THE BEST spot on the sidewalk strips! TTC

 

[cudamark]

Yeah, if you can find any. In our town, by the time they made the street "one way", they had already taken out the parking strip years ago when they widened the road to avoid making it one way.

 

[hunter_46356]

There are huge differences in town, city and township ordinances. Ordinances are generally the rules and regs. that would directly affect the property your are asking about. Not all municipalities are the same. Some have described this property as being city, town or township owned and in some cases this maybe true but not always. Municipalities can and do retain certain utility rights in some cases for obvious reasons but this doesn't mean they own the land or can govern it's use. It merely means they can access it for maintenance or construction of utilities without the consent of the property owner. Unincorporated communities could have a complete other set of rules that may or may not be similar to towns and cities. What ever situation you are in, if it is "owned" by that entity then they govern the rules for that property. There are too many variables to answer your question confidently. My answer is backed with experience in local government as I am a local official in my community, which is a town. I know for fact the townships and cities surrounding mine all have different regulations and rules for use of public lands. This could also vary from state to state. My advice would be to contact a local official or administrator and ask the question. I wouldn't included permission to detect, just whether the property is public or not.Then check the rules for detecting yourself through local ordinances. You may be able to find these online or ask for a hard copy from your particular local government. Good Luck Hunter

 

[jimzz977]

Thanks for your help I'll look in to it

 

[cudamark]

I'd look it all up myself. How can you be sure if the "official" knows the law? No use tipping your hand. They may start asking "why do you want to know?" type questions.

 

[Gold Maven]

Generally speaking property lines run to the middle of the street or road. The government maintains a right of way a measured distance from center line. The public is free to use this area to travel, but it doesn't give you permission to dig it up.

Just use your head, it is so much more enjoyable to detect with permission, than to constantly be looking over your shoulder, and creating conflicts giving all MD'ers a bad name.

I always try to put myself in the other persons place, would I want some one digging for valuables in my front yard without asking permission? Hell no.