How to Get Permission to Dig on Private Land

Most of the best fossil collecting in the world happens on private land. The commercial fossil trade depends on it. The landowner owns whatever is in the ground, and getting access is a matter of asking directly, explaining what you're looking for, and making clear you'll respect the property. Farmers who own fossil-rich land are often approached by collectors; many are happy to grant access if the request is made respectfully.

The process is simpler than most collectors assume, but there are things to get right.

Finding out who owns the land

In the US, county assessor records identify the property owner of any parcel. Most county assessor offices are online and searchable by address or parcel number. The USGS's National Map and state geological survey maps will show you which formations underlie specific parcels, which tells you whether the geology is worth pursuing before you contact anyone.

In England and Wales, the Land Registry holds title records and is searchable online for a small fee (gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry). Ordnance Survey maps combined with British Geological Survey data (bgs.ac.uk) will show what rocks underlie farmland across the UK.

Identifying the right person matters. Large farms may have a land agent or estate manager handling access requests; small holdings typically go direct to the farmer.

Making the approach

Contact directly — in person if you can, by letter or email if not. Phone calls work but leave no record. The approach should be brief: explain that you're a fossil collector, that you've identified the area as geologically interesting, and that you'd like permission to surface collect. Most experienced landowners know what fossil collectors look for and are not alarmed by a polite approach.

What helps: being specific about which part of the property you're interested in, being clear that you will not damage crops, fencing, or drainage, and offering to share photographs of anything you find. Some farmers are interested in what comes from their land. Offering a small nominal payment or a share of the finds is sometimes appropriate, though many landowners are content with a phone number and a handshake.

What to avoid: vague requests ("can I look around?"), turning up unannounced, or mentioning money too early. Most access refusals happen because the collector seemed untrustworthy rather than because the landowner had a principled objection to fossil collecting.

What to agree in writing

A brief written agreement protects both parties. It doesn't need to be a formal legal document — a short letter or email exchange that both parties keep is sufficient. It should cover:

• Which areas of the property access is granted to
• What dates and times are permitted
• Whether you may use tools (and what kind)
• What you may remove (surface material only, specific size limits, specific types)
• Who owns exceptional finds — some landowners will want to keep anything scientifically significant

In the US, if you intend to sell anything found on the property, clarify this with the landowner and get explicit written permission. Their ownership of the material means their consent to sell is legally important.

Etiquette on private land

Fill any holes you open. Pack out all your waste. Shut gates. Do not bring additional people without asking. Do not park across farm tracks. Take photographs of your finds in situ before you collect them and share these with the landowner afterwards — it builds goodwill for future visits. If something goes wrong — a fence damaged, livestock disturbed — contact the landowner immediately and offer to make it right.

Access granted informally can be withdrawn at any time. Treating it as a privilege rather than a right, and making each visit something the landowner is glad permitted, is the only long-term strategy that works. Some of the most productive long-term collecting relationships in the UK and US started with one polite letter and continued for years because the collector was reliably considerate and communicative.

Where to go next

For the sites with established public access — where no individual negotiation is needed — the beginners guide on GFH covers the best UK and US beach and quarry sites open to the public. The pay-to-dig fossil parks guide lists commercial sites where access is formalized and all finds are yours to keep.