Effective May 19, 2026, updated regulations regarding found money and property mandate new return thresholds, specify handling procedures for public transit items, and extend storage periods for lost documents and valuables.
New Thresholds for Found Currency
As of May 19, 2026, the threshold for returning found money has shifted from a fixed 100 PLN to 5 percent of the national minimum wage. Given the current minimum wage of 4,806 PLN gross, the mandatory return threshold is now 240.30 PLN.
This threshold will be subject to annual indexation in line with the minimum wage. These rules apply to both cash and minor items found in public spaces.
Legal Procedures for Property Surrender
Finders are required to surrender money or property to the local district governor (starosta). The finder may notify the authority or physically surrender the item at the district office corresponding to their place of residence or the location where the item was found.
Under the new amendments to the Act on Found Property and the Civil Code, the obligation to locate the owner now rests solely with the starosta of the district where the item was found. If an item is surrendered elsewhere, that office must notify the relevant authority in the jurisdiction where the discovery occurred.
Lost Documents and Public Transit Items
Found documents containing personal data must be handed over immediately to the appropriate starosta, unless the document specifies an alternative protocol. This applies to both paper-based and electronic records.
For items lost in public buildings or transport, the grace period for turning them over to the authorities has been extended from 3 days to 30 days. Claimants now have 6 months to collect items after receiving a notice, or up to one year if the owner is unknown. Unclaimed items subsequently become the property of the finder or the State Treasury.
Claiming a Finder’s Fee
Finders retain the legal right to request a finder’s fee, which is established at one-tenth of the value of the found item.
