The following local ordinances apply in Henrico County:
- Sec. 13-57. - Discharging pneumatic guns. (reference)
(a) For purposes of this section, the term "pneumatic gun" means any implement, designed as a gun, that will expel a BB or a pellet by action of pneumatic pressure. "Pneumatic gun" includes a paintball gun that expels by action of pneumatic pressure plastic balls filled with paint for the purpose of marking the point of impact.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any pneumatic gun from or across any public street, public sidewalk, public alley or public land or public place in the county.
(c) Nothing in this section is designed to prevent organized groups from erecting, maintaining and using properly constructed rifle or pistol ranges which meet the requirements of chapter 24 and are approved by the chief of police as to safety. Commercial or private areas designated for use of pneumatic paintball guns may be established and operated for recreational use. Equipment designed to protect the face and ears shall be provided to participants at such recreational areas, and signs must be posted to warn against entry into the paintball area by persons who are unprotected or unaware that paintball guns are in use.
(d) Nothing in this section is designed to prohibit the use of pneumatic guns on or within private property with permission of the owner or legal possessor thereof when conducted with reasonable care to prevent a projectile from crossing the bounds of the property.
(e) It shall be unlawful and constitute a class 4 misdemeanor for any person to violate any of the provisions of this section.
(Code 1980, § 15-13; Code 1995, § 13-61; Ord. No. 1160, § 1, 8-9-2011)
State Law reference— Authority to regulate discharge of pneumatic guns, Code of Virginia, § 15.2-915.4; discharging pneumatic guns across street or road, Code of Virginia, § 18.2-286.
- Sec. 13-58. - Discharging weapons near school property. (reference)
(a) As used in this section, the term "school property" includes real property owned by, used by or held for any public or private school.
(b) No person shall discharge any rifle, shotgun, pistol, revolver, pellet gun or other firearm within 100 yards of school property, or use BB guns, crossbows, spearguns or bows and arrows within 300 feet of school property.
(c) No person shall discharge any rifle, shotgun, pistol, revolver, pellet gun, BB gun or other firearm, crossbow, speargun or bow and arrow on school property; except that bows and arrows may be used when part of an organized program under the supervision of an employee of the school or the county.
(d) This section shall not be applicable to law enforcement officials engaged in the discharge of their duties. This section shall not apply in any national or state park or forest, or wildlife management area.
(e) The violation of this section is a class 4 misdemeanor.
(Code 1980, § 15-14.1; Code 1995, § 13-62)
State Law reference— Authority to prohibit such discharge of firearm near school, Code of Virginia, § 29.1-527; authority to regulate discharge of pneumatic guns, Code of Virginia, § 15.2-915.4; penalty for class 4 misdemeanor, Code of Virginia, § 18.2-11.
- Sec. 13-59. - Discharging firearms. (reference)
(a) it shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any firearm from, on or across any street, sidewalk, alley, roadway or public land or public place in the county or upon, from or across any land located within the boundaries of any residential or industrial district as so classified and defined by chapter 24 or any commercial district. This section shall not apply to any law enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties or to any other person whose such willful act is otherwise justifiable or excusable at law in the protection of his life or property, or is otherwise specifically authorized by law. Nothing in this section is designed to prevent organized groups from erecting, maintaining and using properly constructed rifle or pistol ranges which meet the requirements of chapter 24 and are approved by the chief of police as to safety.
(b) This section shall not apply to the killing of deer pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 29.1-529 with firearms. Such exemption shall apply on land of at least five acres that is zoned for agricultural use.
(c) Violation of this section shall constitute a class 4 misdemeanor.
(Code 1980, § 15-14; Code 1995, § 13-63)
State Law reference— Authority to regulate discharge of firearms, etc., Code of Virginia, § 15.2-1209; discharging firearms across street or road, Code of Virginia, § 18.2-286.
- Sec. 13-60. - Hunting with firearms near primary or secondary highway. (reference)
(a) No person shall hunt or attempt to hunt with a firearm any game bird or game animal while such hunting or attempting to hunt is on or within 100 yards of any primary or secondary highway in the county.
(b) For the purpose of this section, the terms "hunt" and "attempt to hunt" shall not include the necessary crossing of such highways for the bona fide purpose of going into or leaving a lawful hunting area.
(c) Violation of this section shall be a class 3 misdemeanor.
(Code 1980, § 15-14.4; Code 1995, § 13-65)
State Law reference— Authority to so provide, Code of Virginia, § 29.1-526.
- Sec. 13-61. - Shooting arrows from bows. (reference)
(a) The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Arrow means a shaft-like projectile intended to be shot from a bow.
Bow includes all compound bows, crossbows, longbows and recurve bows having a peak draw weight of ten pounds or more. The term "bow" does not include bows having a peak draw weight of less than ten pounds or that are designed or intended to be used principally as toys.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to shoot an arrow from a bow from, on or across any street, sidewalk, alley, roadway or public land or public place in the county or outdoors upon, from or across any land located within the boundaries of any residential or industrial district as so classified and defined by chapter 24 or any commercial district.
(c) The following activities shall be permitted:
(1) The shooting of arrows from bows on school property when part of an organized program under the supervision of an employee of the school or the county. As used in this subsection, the term "school" includes real property owned by, used by, or held for any public or private school.
(2) The shooting of arrows from bows in county parks as permitted by section 14-29.
(3) The shooting of arrows from bows at archery ranges which meet the requirements of chapter 24.(d) The exemption in this subsection does not authorize the shooting of an arrow in or across any road, or within the right-of-way thereof. Subsection (b) of this section does not apply to the killing of deer pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 29.1-529 on land of at least two acres that is zoned for agricultural use.
(e) Violation of this section shall constitute a class 4 misdemeanor.
(Code 1995, § 13-67; Ord. No. 1081, § 1, 11-8-2005)
State Law reference— Shooting arrow across road, Code of Virginia, § 18.2-286; authority to prohibit shooting of arrows in certain locations, Code of Virginia, § 15.2-1209; penalty for class 4 misdemeanor, Code of Virginia, § 15.2-11.