The following local ordinances apply in King George County:
- Sec. 10-3. - Carrying loaded firearms on public highways.[1] (reference)
(a) This article is adopted in accordance with the legislative authority contained in the Code of Virginia, § 15.2-1209.1.
(b) 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 indicates a different meaning:
(1) Ammunition means any cartridge, pellet, ball, missile or projectile designed or adapted for use in a firearm.
(2) Firearm means any weapon in which ammunition may be used or discharged, by explosion or pneumatic pressure.
(3) Loaded firearm means any firearm having ammunition in its firing chamber or in its magazine or other storage compartment attached therein or thereon which allows the ammunition to be fed into the firearm's firing chamber.(c)It shall be unlawful for any person to carry or have in his possession, while on any part of a public highway within the county, a loaded firearm 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. The provisions of this section shall not apply to persons carrying loaded firearms in moving vehicles, to persons acting at the time in defense of persons or property, nor to duly authorized law-enforcement officers or military personnel in the performance of their lawful duties.(d) A violation of this section shall constitute a Class 4 misdemeanor and a maximum fine of $100.00.
(Min. of 9-2-2008)Footnotes:
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State Law reference— Counties may regulate carrying loaded firearms on public highways, Code of Virginia, § 15.2-1209.1.
- Sec. 10-4. - Transporting loaded rifles or shotguns in vehicles on public highways. (reference)
(a) This section is adopted in accordance with the legislative authority contained in the Code of Virginia, § 15.2-915.2.
(b) 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:
(1) Ammunition means any cartridge, pellet, ball, missile or projectile adapted for use in a firearm.
(2) Loaded rifle and loaded shotgun mean any rifle or shotgun containing ammunition in its firing chamber or in its magazine or other storage compartment attached therein or thereon which allows the ammunition to be fed into the firing chamber of the rifle or shotgun.
(3) Rifle means any weapon, designed as a shoulder weapon which utilizes as ammunition a self-contained cartridge from which a missile, ballshot pellets or projectile may be fired from a rifled bore by a single function of the firing device.
(4) Shotgun means any weapon designed as a shoulder weapon which utilizes as ammunition a self-contained cartridge from which a number of ballshot pellets or projectiles may be fired simultaneously from a smooth bore by a single function of the firing device.(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to transport, possess or carry a loaded shotgun or loaded rifle in any vehicle on any public street, road or highway within the county. However, the provisions of this section shall not apply to duly authorized law-enforcement officers or military personnel in the performance of their lawful duties, nor shall the provisions of this section apply to any person who reasonably believes that a loaded rifle or loaded shotgun is necessary for his personal safety in the course of his employment or business.
(d) The sheriff of the county, game wardens, and all other law-enforcement officers shall enforce the provisions of this section.
(e) A violation of this section shall constitute a Class 4 misdemeanor and a maximum fine of $100.00.
(Min. of 9-2-2008)
- Sec. 10-7. - Hunting with rifles of .23 caliber or larger. (reference)
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of local ordinances to the contrary, a person may use a rifle other than a muzzle-loading rifle to hunt deer during the prescribed open season as follows: (i) the rifle shall be a 0.23 caliber or larger; (ii) the person shall only hunt from an elevated stand at least ten feet above ground level, unless they obtain the disabled hunter exemption as provided by Code of Virginia, § 29.1-528.2 or other applicable state law; (iii) the rifle shall have a round in its chamber only when it is on the top of the elevated stand; and (iv) the person complies with all other applicable state and local laws and regulations.
(b) A landowner or lessee may use a rifle of .23 caliber or larger to hunt the following as allowed by applicable state and local laws and regulations: (i) groundhogs between March 1 and August 31; (ii) coyotes, and (iii) deer, elk, or bear that is damaging fruit trees, crops, livestock, or personal property utilized for commercial agricultural production as prescribed by Code of Virginia, § 29.1-529.
(c) Any person violating any provision of this section shall be guilty of Class 3 misdemeanor, and as allowed by other applicable law shall forfeit the unlawful weapon to the commonwealth.
(Ord. of 10-15-2002; Min. of 9-2-2008; Ord. of 4-5-2022)
State Law reference— Counties or cities may prohibit hunting with certain fire arms, Code of Virginia, § 29.1-528.
Editor's note— An ordinance adopted April 5, 2022, changed the title of § 10-7 from "Hunting with muzzle-loading rifles" to read as herein set out.