The following local ordinances apply in Richmond City:
- Sec. 19-327. - Willfully discharging firearms. (reference)
If any person willfully discharges or causes to be discharged any firearm anywhere within the City limits, such person shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. However, this section shall not apply to the discharge of firearms:
(1) By any law enforcement officer in the performance of official duties;
(2) By any person whose willful act is otherwise justifiable or excusable at law in the protection of such person's life or is otherwise specifically authorized by law;
(3) By any law enforcement officer or military personnel as part of authorized training, a funeral, a non-holiday salute or in commemoration of any State holiday;
(4) When using blank cartridges as part of a theatrical performance or sporting event; or
(5) For the killing of deer, pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 29.1-529, on land of at least five acres that is zoned for agricultural use.(Code 1993, § 20-147; Code 2004, § 66-342; Code 2015, § 19-327; Ord. No. 2012-55-39, § 1, 4-23-2012)
State Law reference— Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 18.2-280; authority to prohibit discharge of firearms, Code of Virginia, § 15.2-1113.
- Sec. 19-328. - Discharge of bows and arrows; urban archery hunting. (reference)
(a) For the purposes of this section, "bow" includes all compound bows, crossbows, slingbows, longbows, and recurve bows having a peak draw weight of ten pounds or more. The term "bow" does not include bows that have a peak draw weight of less than ten pounds or that are designed or intended to be used principally as toys. The term "arrow" means a shaftlike projectile intended to be shot from a bow.
(b) No person shall discharge an arrow from a bow in a manner that can be reasonably expected to result in the impact of the arrow upon the property of another without the written permission from the owner or tenant of such property. The discharge of an arrow across or over the boundaries of a property for which no permission has been given by the property owner shall create a rebuttable presumption that the use of the bow was not conducted with reasonable care.
(c) No person shall discharge an arrow from a bow from, over, across or into any street, sidewalk, alley, roadway, public land or public place, or towards any building or dwelling in such a manner that the arrow may strike such building or dwelling.
(d) No person shall hunt with a bow within the city, except deer may be hunted with bows within the city in accordance with this subsection. Any such hunting activity shall be subject to the following conditions:
(1) Hunting is permitted only during applicable hunting seasons designated by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
(2) Hunters shall abide by all applicable provisions of state law and state hunting regulations, including but not limited to licensing requirements.
(3) Hunting with bows is permitted only on parcels which are three acres or more of contiguous area. Hunting with bows is prohibited in all other areas within the city.
(4) Property owners must obtain an annual urban archery hunting permit from the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police shall issue annual urban archery hunting permits at no cost to property owners upon application by property owners meeting all requirements of this section.
(5) Property owners shall identify urban archery hunting permit property with signs approved by the Chief of Police.
(6) It is unlawful to hunt except from a stand elevated a minimum of ten feet above the ground.
(7) A hunter must obtain written permission from the owner or tenant of the property on which hunting activity is to take place before hunting and shall carry a copy of the written permission and a copy of the urban archery hunting permit issued to the property owner at all times while hunting.
(8) No person shall discharge an arrow from a bow within 100 yards of a building, dwelling, street, sidewalk, alley, roadway, public land, or public place.
(9) Hunters are responsible for the appropriate disposition of deer carcasses.
(10) If a deer which has been shot with an arrow leaves the property on which the hunter has permission to hunt, the hunter shall obtain permission from any property owner over which he or she must travel to pursue or retrieve the deer.
(11) No person shall hunt deer in the city by use of a dog or dogs.(e)Any violation of this section shall be a Class 3 misdemeanor.
(Ord. No. 2021-230, § 2, 11-8-2021)
Editor's note— Ord. No. 2021-230, § 1, adopted November 8, 2021, repealed the former § 19-328, and § 2 of Ord. No. 2021-230 enacted a new § 19-328 as set out herein. The former § 19-328 pertained to discharging arrows and derived from the Code of 1993, § 20-148; the Code of 2004, § 66-343 and the Code of 2015, § 19-328.
- Sec. 19-334. - Transporting loaded shotgun or rifle. (reference)
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to transport, possess or carry a loaded shotgun or a loaded rifle in any vehicle on any public street, road or highway. Violations of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $100.00.
(b) This section shall not apply to duly authorized law enforcement officers or to military personnel in the performance of their lawful duties nor to any person demonstrating a reasonable belief that a loaded rifle or shotgun is necessary for his or her personal safety in the course of employment or business.
(Code 1993, § 20-160; Code 2004, § 66-353; Code 2015, § 19-334)
State Law reference— Authority for above, Code of Virginia, § 15.2-915.2.