The following local ordinances apply in Prince William County:
- Sec. 31-3. - Discharging firearms—Prohibited in street or other public place. (reference)
(a) If any person shall willfully discharge or cause to be discharged any firearm in any street in the county or in any place of public business or place of public gathering, he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. If the firearm is discharged from a vehicle, then the operator of that vehicle shall also be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(b) This section shall not apply to any law enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties nor to any other person whose willful discharge of a firearm is otherwise justifiable or excusable at law in the protection of his life or property, or is otherwise specifically authorized by law.
(Code 1965, § 13.1-63; Ord. No. 96-55, 6-25-96, effective 7-1-96)
State Law reference— Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 18.2-280.
- Sec. 31-22. - Limitation on firearms used for hunting; exemption for muzzle-loading weapons used during prescribed season. (reference)
It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt any game or fowl anywhere within the county using any rifle of a caliber larger than 0.22. The use of muzzle-loading rifles for the hunting of game species is permissible only during the prescribed open seasons. Hunting with muzzleloaders requires a separate license, which shall be in addition to the license required to hunt small game.
(Ord. No. 81-28-34, § 19A-5, 10-6-81; Ord. No. 91-52A, 5-7-91; Ord. No. 92-61, 6-23-92; Ord. No. 07-02, 1-23-07)
State Law reference— Code of Virginia, § 29.1-528.
- Sec. 31-23. - One hundred-yard safety zone. (reference)
It shall be unlawful to shoot a firearm within 100 yards of any regularly occupied structure without advance permission of the owner or occupant, subject to the exceptions below.
(Ord. No. 81-28-34, § 19A-9, 10-6-81; Ord. No. 12-27, Attch., 6-5-12, effective 7-1-12; Ord. No. 15-01, Attch., 1-13-15)
- Sec. 31-24. - Proscription against use of firearms—On or near public rights-of-way. (reference)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, it shall be unlawful for any person willfully to discharge a firearm on or within 100 yards of any public right-of- way, or any public street or highway, subject to the exceptions below.
(Ord. No. 81-28-34, § 19A-3, 10-6-81; Ord. No. 92-61, 6-23-92; Ord. No. 12-27, Attch., 6-5-12, effective 7-1-12)
- Sec. 31-26. - Same—In restricted areas. (reference)
It shall be unlawful for any person willfully to discharge a firearm within any area designated in this article as a restricted area, subject to the exceptions below.
(Ord. No. 81-28-34, § 19A-2, 10-6-81; Ord. No. 00-58, 8-1-00)
- Sec. 31-27. - Same—Exceptions. (reference)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, firearms may be used in any restricted area in the following circumstances, provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit hunting with a firearm other than one authorized by law:
(1) The discharge of guns on any target, trap or skeet range or hunting preserve lawfully existing upon the date of adoption of this article or hereafter established in compliance with all other provisions of this Code or other county ordinances or state law;
(2) The discharge of guns on any target or rifle established and operated by the police or law enforcement department;
(3) The discharge of guns in a private basement or cellar target range;
(4) The discharge of guns in defense of one's life or to kill any dangerous or destructive wild animal;
(5) The discharge of guns by any duly authorized peace officer or law enforcement official acting in the proper performance of his duties;
(6) The discharge of blank cartridges in theatrical performances, sporting events, or the firing of salutes at military funerals or other military affairs;
(7) The discharge of legal firearms while hunting fowl, in the Potomac River or any tributary stream thereof; provided that in the Dumfries/Triangle prohibited area no such discharge shall be permitted in that portion of Quantico Creek which is included within the prohibited area;
(8) The discharge of firearms by the owner, or any member of his immediate family, or any permittee of the owner, on one or more contiguous tracts of land, located within the prohibited area, having total area of five acres or more; and
(9) The discharge of firearms for the killing of deer pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 29-529, provided that the discharge occurs on a parcel of land that is at least five acres in area, and which is zoned for agricultural use.
(10) The provisions of §§ 31-23, 31-24 and 31-26 shall not be applicable to the use and discharge of pneumatic guns when used (1) on or within private property, with the permission of the owner or legal possessor; and (2) when conducted with reasonable care to prevent a projectile from crossing the bounds of the property.
(Ord. No. 81-28-34, § 19A-6, 10-6-81; Ord. No. 00-42, 6-27-00, effective 7-1-00; Ord. No. 12-27, Attch., 6-5-12, effective 7-1-12)
- Sec. 31-28. - Restricted areas described. (reference)
The following areas constitute restricted areas subject to the provisions of this article:
(1) (Dumfries/Triangle) Beginning at the location where Dewey Creek is crossed by Va. Rt. 234 (Dumfries Rd.), thence southerly along Rt. 234 to its junction with Interstate 95, thence southerly along I-95 to Rt. 619 (Joplin Rd.); thence easterly along Little Creek to the point where Little Creek meets the Marine Corps base boundary line; thence northerly along the Marine Corps base boundary line to a point in a line with the Virginia Power line pole approximately 100 yards off the south shore of Quantico Creek; thence westerly and subsequently easterly 100 yards from the shore line (at mean high tide) of Quantico Creek to the Virginia Power pole on the north side of Quantico Creek; thence inland to Rt. 633 (Possum Point Rd.); thence westerly along Rt. 633 to Dewey Creek; thence northwesterly along Dewey Creek to the place of beginning (excluding that area embraced within the corporate limits of the Town of Dumfries).
(2) (Woodbridge/Lake Ridge/Dale City/Montclair) Beginning at a location known as Deephole point, the southern shore of the Occoquan River where it meets Occoquan Bay on the Potomac River; thence along the shoreline of Occoquan Bay to a location where it meets an imaginary line extended due east from the intersection of Rt. 636 (Featherstone Rd.) and the CSX Railroad right-of-way; thence westerly along said imaginary line to the intersection of Rt. 636 and the CSX Railroad right-of-way; thence south along the CSX Railroad right of way to Neabsco Creek; thence due west along an imaginary line drawn east from the terminus of Rt. 610 (Neabsco Rd.) to the terminus of Rt. 610; thence along Rt. 610 to an imaginary line 2,000 feet west of the CSX Railroad right-of-way; thence south along such imaginary line to Powells Creek; thence west along Powells Creek south to a point 2,500 feet east of U. S. Rt. 1 (Jefferson Davis Hwy.); thence southerly along an imaginary line drawn parallel to U. S. Rt. 1 to Rt. 635 (Cherry Hill Rd.); thence westerly along Rt. 635 to U. S. Rt. 1; thence south along U. S. Rt. 1 to Dewey Creek; thence westerly along Dewey Creek to Va. Rt. 234 (Dumfries Rd.); thence northerly along Rt. 234 to Rt. 643 (Spriggs Rd.); thence northeasterly along Rt. 643 to Rt. 640 (Minnieville Rd.); thence southwesterly along Rt. 640 to Rt. 234; thence northwesterly along Rt. 234 to Rt. 642 (Hoadly Rd.); thence northerly along Rt. 642 to Rt. 3000 (Prince William Pkwy.); thence northwesterly along Rt. 3000 to the intersection with Rt. 663 (Davis Ford Rd.); thence northeasterly along Rt. 663 to Rt. 896 (Bacon Race Rd.); thence northerly along Rt. 896 to its terminus; thence due north along an imaginary line extended to the Occoquan River; thence along the southern shore of the Occoquan River to the place of beginning (excluding that area embraced within the corporate limits of the Town of Occoquan).
(3) (Lake Jackson) Beginning at the intersection of Va. Rt. 234 (Dumfries Rd.) and Rt. 649 (Brentsville Rd.); thence southerly along Rt. 649 to Broad Run; thence southeasterly in a straight imaginary line from Broad Run to the intersection of Rt. 746 (Smithfield Rd.) and Rt. 650 (Doves Ln.); thence southeasterly along the right of way of Rt. 650 to Lake Jackson(on the Occoquan River); thence easterly along Lake Jackson to and a point at the end of Cobb Rd.; thence easterly on Cobb Rd. to Rt. 234; thence along Rt. 234 to the place of beginning.
(4) (Ridgewood Estates) Beginning at the north side of Rt. 646 (Aden Rd.) and following an imaginary line northeasterly along the boundary of the Ridgewood Estates subdivision 1,000 feet; thence in a westerly direction to Felkins Branch; thence in a westerly direction following Felkins Branch to the western boundary of the Ridgewood Estates subdivision; thence south to Rt. 646; thence easterly along the north side of Rt. 646 to the place of beginning.
(5) (Woodbine Woods) Beginning at the intersection of Va. Rt. 234 (Dumfries Rd.) and Rt. 642 (Hoadly Rd.); thence northerly along Rt. 234 to the intersection with Rt. 766 (Stillbrooke Rd.); thence due west along an imaginary line to a distance of 2,500 feet; thence southward along an imaginary line parallel to Rt. 234 approximately 2,500 feet; thence northward along an imaginary line extended from the end of Rt. 642 at its terminus with Rt. 234 to the place of beginning.
(6) (Occoquan Forest) Beginning at the intersection of Rt. 663 (Davis Ford Rd.) and Rt. 770 (Occoquan Forest Dr.); thence westerly along Rt. 663 to the Occoquan River; thence along the Occoquan River in its direction north, east, and south around the area known as the Occoquan Forest subdivision to the point where the Occoquan River and Bull Run meet; thence along an imaginary line southwesterly to the place of beginning.
(7) (Manassas north area) Beginning at the point where Interstate 66 crosses Bull Run; thence westerly along I-66 to Business Rt. 234 (Sudley Rd.); thence along Business Rt. 234 to Rt. 621 (Balls Ford Rd.); thence along Rt. 621 to Rt. 821 (Bethlehem Rd.); thence along Rt. 821 to Rt. 674 (Wellington Rd.); thence along Rt. 674 to the corporate limits of Manassas; thence following the corporate limits of Manassas north and east to the corporate limits of Manassas Park; thence following the corporate limits of Manassas Park north, east, and south to the point where the Manassas Park corporate limits meet Bull Run near the mouth of Russia Branch; thence along Bull Run as it meanders northward to the place of beginning.
(8) (Manassas south area) Beginning at the intersection of Rt. 661 (Godwin Dr.) and Clover Hill Road (at the corporate limits of Manassas); thence southeasterly along Rt. 661 to Business Rt. 234 (Dumfries Rd.); thence north along Rt. 234 to Rt. 720 (Old Dominion Dr.); thence along Rt. 720 to Rt. 702 (S. Grant Ave.); thence northward to the corporate limits of Manassas; thence following the corporate limits of Manassas west and north to the place of beginning.
(9) (Osbourn Park/Parkside/Central Library Zone) That area embraced between Russia Branch to the east, the corporate limits of Manassas Park to the north, and the corporate limits of Manassas to the south and west.
(10) (Courthouse complex) That portion of the County of Prince William situated wholly within the City of Manassas, known as the "Courthouse Complex", and generally bounded by Peabody Street, Center Street, Lee Avenue, and Grant Avenue.
(11) (Gainesville area) Beginning at the intersection of Rt. 619 (Linton Hall Rd.) and Rt. 675 (Glenkirk Rd.); thence northeasterly along North Fork of Rocky Branch as it meanders to the junction of U. S. Rt. 29 (Lee Hwy.) and Interstate 66; thence westerly along an imaginary line to the intersection of Va. Rt. 55 (John Marshall Hwy.) and Rt. 676 (Catharpin Rd.); thence along Rt. 55 to the intersection with U. S. Rt. 29; thence southerly along U. S. Rt. 29 to the Norfolk-Southern Railroad right-of-way; thence westerly along the Norfolk-Southern Railroad right-of-way 18,401+/- feet to the point the railroad right-of-way crosses North Fork; thence south along North Fork as it meanders to the shoreline of Lake Manassas; thence easterly along an imaginary line to the place of beginning.
(12) (Bull Run Mountain Estates) The area bounded on the west by the Prince William/Fauquier County line, on the east by Rt. 600 (Mountain Rd.), on the north by Warburton Street and an imaginary line drawn due west from the terminus of Warburton Street to the Prince William/Fauquier County line, and on the south by an imaginary line drawn due west from the intersection of Rt. 1732 (Hunton Ln.) and Rt. 600 to the Prince William/Fauquier County line.(Ord. No. 81-28-34, § 19A-8, 10-6-81; Ord. No. 84-613, 7-17-84; Ord. No. 00-58, 9-1-00)
- Sec. 31-41. - Limitations on use of bows. (reference)
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge an arrow from a bow across or which lands on the property of another without permission of the owner or occupant of such property.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge an arrow from a bow across or which may land upon any public right-of-way, or any public street or highway.
(c) It shall be unlawful to discharge an arrow from a bow within 100 feet of any regularly occupied structure without advance permission of the owner or occupant.
(d) A violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500.00.
(Ord. No. 92-88, 12-8-92; Ord. No. 07-02, 1-23-07; Ord. No. 15-01, Attch., 1-13-15)
State Law reference— Code of Virginia, § 29.1-528.