Local Ordinances: Arlington County

The following local ordinances apply in Arlington County:

• Sec. 13-9. Discharging across Highways, Sidewalks, Etc. (reference)

  • It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any air gun across any street, sidewalk, alley or public road or within one hundred (100) yards of any such street, alley, sidewalk or public road, or public building, private residence or property of another, or on or across any public land except as provided in § 17-5 of this Code.
    (6-27-51)

• Sec. 17-5. Firearms, Missiles, Etc. (reference)

  • A. It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or shoot off a firearm in the County.

    B. It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or shoot or throw any dangerous missiles by mechanical, explosive, air-or gas-propelled means, or similar method or device onto or across any public sidewalk, path, or roadway, at any public structure or building, or at or onto the property of another.

    C. It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot a compound bow, crossbow, longbow, or recurve bow at or upon the property of another without permission. It shall be unlawful to discharge a projectile from any of the aforementioned bows within one hundred (100) yards of any public road, public building or structure, private
    residence or structure, or property of another.

    Any violation of subsection A, B, or C shall constitute a Class 2 misdemeanor.

    D. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the use of firearms or other instruments or missiles or compound bows, crossbows, longbows, or recurve bows in lawful self defense or in the lawful defense of property, or to prohibit the use of firearms or other missiles or compound bows, crossbows, longbows, or recurve bows in supervised sport, recreation, or training conducted on safety-inspected and approved ranges and courses, provided the same is not contrary to existing law, or to prohibit the discharge of firearms in County supervised deer management activities.
    (7-14-24; Ord. No. 91-26, 7-30-91; Ord. No. 92-40, 8-8-92; Ord. No. 93-10, 7-1-93; Ord. No. 24-15, 11-16-2024;)
    Cross References: Missiles generally, Ch. 13.

    § 17-5.1. Reserved
    (Ord. No. 97-19, 7-19-97; Ord. No. 21-10, 6-12-21)

• Sec. 2-21. Trapping and/or Poisoning of Animals Prohibited. (reference)

  • It shall be unlawful for any person to set or bait any trap or other contrivance for the catching of game or tame animals, or to knowingly permit any such trap to be set or baited on his premises or property or to set out any poisoned bait with the intent of poisoning any game or tame animal except by the consent of the Animal Control Officer or Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Only box traps may be used for the purposes of trapping a game or domestic animal.
    (11-14-81; Ord. No. 17-12, 9-19-17)