The following local ordinances apply in Fairfax County:
- Section 6-1-2. - Hunting or discharge of firearms in certain places prohibited; exceptions. (reference)
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot any firearm in any areas of the County that are so heavily populated as to make such conduct dangerous to the inhabitants thereof, which areas are designated in Appendix J to the Fairfax County Code. Firearms may lawfully be discharged in those areas that are exempted in Appendix J to the Fairfax County Code so long as the firearms are discharged on a Parcel of Land that is posted with signs giving reasonable notice that firearms are in use on that Parcel of Land and that no trespassing is allowed. Such signs shall be placed where they can reasonably be seen. However, if firearms are in use on only a portion of any Parcel of Land which meets the acreage and other requirements of the term "Parcel of Land," as defined by Section 6-1-1, then only that portion of that Parcel of Land on which firearms are used shall be posted with signs.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt with a firearm any bird or game animal on or within 100 yards from any primary or secondary highway. A violation of this Subsection shall be punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot or hunt with a firearm on any public school ground or any public park or on any area within 100 yards of any public school ground or public park. It shall be unlawful for any person who is hunting with a loaded firearm to traverse any public school ground or public park or to be within 100 yards from any such school ground or park. A violation of this Subsection shall be punishable as a Class 4 misdemeanor. This Subsection shall not prohibit either (i) the lawful possession of a firearm when such firearm is carried for purposes of personal safety or (ii) the lawful possession of a firearm on a public highway within 100 yards of any public school ground or public park. Nothing in this Subsection shall apply to: (i) recreational shooting on gun ranges at any public school operated by or with the approval of that school; (ii) recreational shooting on gun ranges at any public park operated by or with the approval of the owner of the park; (iii) shooting of a starting pistol at an athletic event on any public school grounds or public park and which is conducted with the approval granted by the owner of that school or park property; or (iv) lands within a national or state park or forest, or wildlife management area.
(d) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt with a shotgun loaded with slugs. A violation of this Subsection shall be punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor.
(e) Except for those persons who are on a Parcel of Land that is exempted in Appendix J and who hunt with shotguns loaded with multiple ball shot, it shall be unlawful for any person to hunt with a firearm which has a barrel caliber larger than a nominal 0.224 inches or to hunt with a firearm and ammunition combination having a muzzle energy greater than a .22 caliber rimfire cartridge. A violation of this Subsection shall be punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor.
(f) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any firearm from or across any highway, sidewalk or any public land except on a properly constructed target range.
(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections (a) through (f) of this Section, the following acts shall not be violations of this Section:
(1) (Reserved.)
(2) (Reserved.)
(3) (Reserved.)
(4) Shooting or discharge of any firearm by any law enforcement officer acting in the performance of the duties of a law enforcement agency. For the purposes
of this Section the term "law enforcement officer" includes any person defined as a law enforcement officer pursuant to Virginia Code § 9.1-101 and any
animal control officer acting in the performance of his or her duty.
(5) Discharge of any firearm in an entirely indoor target range, provided that adequate provisions are made to retain within the structure all projectiles
discharged.
(6) Discharge of any firearm for the purpose of protecting any person from death or great bodily harm.
(7) Discharge of any firearm or starting pistol loaded with a blank cartridge, or other ammunition, not resulting in the expulsion of a projectile or projectiles
(8) Discharge of any firearm (i) pursuant to a permit issued in accordance with Virginia Code § 29.1-529, if the discharge is on land that contains at least five acres
and is zoned for agricultural use; or (ii) pursuant to authorization issued in accordance with 4 VAC 15-40-240 by the Director of the Department of Game and
Inland Fisheries.
(9) Shooting or discharge of a firearm by any representative of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries in the performance of duty for scientific
collection or wildlife management purposes. (5-19-60, § 2; 9-14-60; 9-5-62; 9-7-66; 10-26-66; 6-25-69; 8-4-71; 1961 Code, § 28-2; 2-74-28; 8-83-6; 43-93-6, § 1; 21-94-6; 39-96-6, § 1; 24-04-6; 20-11-6.)
- Section 6-1-2.1. - Discharge of pneumatic guns in certain places prohibited; exceptions. (reference)
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot a pneumatic gun in any areas of the County that are so heavily populated as to make such conduct dangerous to the inhabitants thereof, which areas are designated in Appendix J to the Fairfax County Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following acts are not prohibited by this Section:
(1) Use of pneumatic guns at facilities approved for shooting ranges;
(2) Use of pneumatic guns on other property where firearms may be discharged;
(3) Use of pneumatic guns on or within private property with the permission of the owner or legal possessor thereof when conducted with reasonable care to
prevent a projectile from crossing the bounds of the property;
(4) Shooting or discharge of a pneumatic gun by any law enforcement officer acting in the performance of the duties of a law enforcement agency. For the
purposes of this Section the term "law enforcement officer" includes any person defined as a law enforcement officer pursuant to Virginia Code § 9.1-101 and
any animal control officer acting in the performance of his or her duty; and
(5) Shooting or discharge of a pneumatic gun by any representative of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries in the performance of duty for
scientific collection or wildlife management purposes.(b) Whenever any minor below the age of 16 uses any pneumatic gun, the minor must be supervised by a parent, guardian, or other adult supervisor approved by the minor's parent or guardian. Any minor using any pneumatic gun shall be responsible for obeying all laws, regulations and restrictions governing such use at all times. Violation of this Section shall constitute a Class 3 misdemeanor. (21-94-6; 39-96-6, § 1; 24-04-6; 20-11-6; 31-11-6.)
- Section 6-1-2.2. - Transporting loaded rifle or shotgun. (reference)
(a) No person shall transport, possess or carry a loaded shotgun or loaded rifle in any vehicle on any public street, road or highway within the county. Any violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $100.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to duly authorized law enforcement officers or military personnel in the performance of their lawful duties, to any person who reasonably believes that a loaded rifle or shotgun is necessary for his personal safety in the course of his employment or business, nor to any person transporting a malfunctioning rifle or shotgun for the purpose of having it repaired or otherwise rendered safe. (31-18-6.)
- Section 6-1-2.3. - Carrying of loaded firearms on public highways. (reference)
(a) No person shall carry or have a loaded firearm in his possession, for the purpose of hunting, while standing or walking on any part of a public highway within the county when such person is not authorized to hunt on the private property on both sides of the highway along which he is standing or walking. Any violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $100.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to persons carrying loaded firearms in moving vehicles or for purposes other than hunting, or to persons acting at the time in defense of persons or property. (31-18-6.)
- Section 6-2-1. - Firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof prohibited in certain areas. (reference)
A. The possession, carrying, or transportation of any firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof is prohibited in the following areas:
1. In any building, or part thereof, owned or used by the County, or by any authority or local government entity created or controlled by the County, for
governmental purposes.
2. In any public park owned or operated by the County, or by any authority or local government entity created or controlled by the County.
3. In any recreation or community center facility operated by the County, or by any authority or local government entity created or controlled by the County.
4. In any public street, road, alley, or sidewalk or public right-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is
adjacent to a County-permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a County permit. For the purposes of this Section, County-permitted event and
event that would otherwise require a County permit include events permitted by an authority or local government entity created or controlled by the County in
whole or in part.
5. In buildings not owned by the County, or by any authority or local government entity created or controlled by the County, this Section shall apply only to the
part of the building used for a governmental purpose and when such building, or part thereof, is being used for a governmental purpose.
6. In parks located in the County that are owned or operated by a park authority that was created or is controlled by the County in conjunction with one or more
other localities, provided that all participating localities enact an ordinance containing a prohibition substantially similar to that imposed by Paragraph A(2)
above and the governing body of the park authority passes a resolution or other measure agreeing to the application of each such ordinance within the parks
located in each such locality.B. Pursuant to this Section, the County may implement security measures that are designed to reasonably prevent the unauthorized access of such buildings, parks, recreation or community center facilities, or public streets, roads, alleys, or sidewalks or public rights-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit by a person with any firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof, such as the use of metal detectors and increased use of security personnel.
C. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to the following:
1. The activities of (i) a Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program operated at a public or private institution of higher education in accordance with the
provisions of 10 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq., or (ii) any intercollegiate athletics program operated by a public or private institution of higher education and governed
by the National Collegiate Athletic Association or any club sports team recognized by a public or private institution of higher education where the sport
engaged in by such program or team involves the use of a firearm. Such activities shall follow strict guidelines developed by such institutions for these
activities and shall be conducted under the supervision of staff officials of such institutions.
2. Sworn law enforcement personnel.
3. Security personnel hired as employees or contracted by the County, or an authority or other local government entity created or controlled by the County in
whole or in part, when such personnel are present and working in any building or other location set forth in Paragraph A and who are authorized to carry
firearms as part of their duties.
4. The activities of educational programs and events, including static displays and historical reenactments, conducted or permitted by the County or any
authority or local government entity created or controlled by the County, when such educational programs and events involve the use or display of firearms
that are not loaded with projectiles.
5. The activities of the County's Deer Management Program and other wildlife management events conducted by the County, by any authority or local
government entity created or controlled by the County in whole or in part, by the Commonwealth of Virginia, or by the federal government.
6. The Bull Run Public Shooting Center.
7. Individuals who are authorized to carry a concealed firearm pursuant to the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 926B and 926C, as amended.
8. Active duty military personnel acting within the scope of their official duties.
9. The possession and carrying of weapons in the courthouse shall be governed by the provisions of Virginia Code § 18.2-283.1, as amended.
10. An otherwise lawfully possessed firearm, ammunition, components or combination thereof that is stored out of sight in a locked private motor vehicle that is
lawfully parked on County property or a public street.
11. Private security officers licensed by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services providing security for a County-permitted event.D. Notice of ordinance.
1. Notice of this ordinance shall be posted (i) at all entrances of any building, or part thereof, owned or used by the County, or by any authority or local
governmental entity created or controlled by the County, for governmental purposes; (ii) at all entrances of any public park owned or operated by the County,
or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the County; (iii) at all entrances of any recreation or community center facilities
operated by the County, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the County; and (iv) at all entrances or other appropriate
places of ingress and egress to any public street, road, alley, or sidewalk or public right-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public
and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit.
2. Notice of this ordinance shall be posted at all entrances of any public park owned or operated by a park authority that was created or is controlled by the
County in conjunction with one or more other localities, provided that all participating localities have enacted an ordinance containing a prohibition
substantially similar to that imposed by Paragraph A(2) above and the governing body of the park authority has passed a resolution or other measure
agreeing to the application of each such ordinance within the parks located in each such locality.E. Violations of Section 6-2-1(A) shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor. (23-20-6)