The following local ordinances apply in Stafford County:
- Sec. 26-2. - Transporting loaded rifle or shotgun on public way. (reference)
(a) 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 county.
(b) Game wardens, sheriffs and all other law-enforcement officers shall enforce the provisions of this section.
(c) 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 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.(d)A violation of this section shall constitute a class 4 misdemeanor.
(Code 1979, § 27-7)
Cross reference— Penalty for class 4 misdemeanor, § 1-11.
State Law reference— Authority for above section, Code of Virginia, § 18.2-287.1.
- Sec. 26-3. - Discharge of firearms in public places. (reference)
(a) No person shall willfully discharge or cause to be discharged any firearm in any street or highway in the county or in any place of public business or place of public gathering in the county.
(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 act is otherwise justifiable or excusable at law in the protection of his life or property, or is otherwise specifically authorized by law.
(c) A violation of any provision of this section shall constitute a class 1 misdemeanor.
(Code 1979, § 27-4)
Cross reference— Penalty for class 1 misdemeanor, § 1-11; discharge of firearms at terminal reservoirs, § 17-28.
State Law reference— Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 18.2-280.
- Sec. 26-4. - Discharging pneumatic guns. (reference)
(a) For purposes of this section, "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, but is not limited to, 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) In the opinion of the board, certain areas of the county are so heavily populated as to make shooting pneumatic guns dangerous to the inhabitants of the areas. It shall be unlawful to shoot pneumatic guns in the areas set forth in County Code section 26-18, except as provided below:(1)At facilities approved for shooting ranges;(2)On property where firearms maybe lawfully discharged; and(3)On 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.
(c) It shall be unlawful in the areas set forth in County Code section 26-18, for any minor below the age of sixteen (16) to use pneumatic guns on private or public property without supervision by a parent, guardian, or other adult supervisor approved by a parent or guardian of any minor. Minors, whether permitted by a parent or guardian to use a pneumatic gun or not, shall be responsible for obeying all laws, regulations and restrictions governing such use.
(d) A violation of this section shall be a class 3 misdemeanor.
(Code 1979, § 27-5; Ord. No. O15-12, 6-2-15)
Cross reference— Penalty for class 2 misdemeanor, § 1-11.
State Law reference— Virginia Code, § 15.2-915.4.
- Sec. 26-5. - Discharging arrows. (reference)
(a) No person shall discharge an arrow from any bow in a manner that can be reasonably expected to result in the impact of the arrow upon the property of another without permission from the owner or tenant of such property.
(b) A violation of this section shall constitute a class 2 misdemeanor.
(Code 1979, § 27-6; Ord. No. O15-12, 6-2-15)
Cross reference— Penalty for class 2 misdemeanor, § 1-11.
State Law reference— Virginia Code, § 15.2-916.
- Sec. 26-7. - Hunting prohibited near primary and secondary highways. (reference)
It shall be unlawful to hunt or attempt to hunt with a firearm any game bird or game animal while the hunting or attempting to hunt is on or within one hundred (100) yards of any primary or secondary highway within Stafford County, Virginia. Any violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor. For the purpose of this section, the term "hunt" or "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.
(Ord. No. 087-103, 12-15-87; Ord. No. 092-24, 4-21-92)
Editor's note— Ord. No. 087-103, adopted Dec. 15, 1987, added provisions to this chapter which have been designated as § 26-7 by the editor.
- Sec. 26-8. - Limitations on firearms. (reference)
It shall be unlawful to shoot within one hundred (100) yards of any regularly occupied structure, which is not the shooters'/hunters' own residence or structure, without written permission of its owner or occupant. The written permission shall contain the following information:
(1)The name of the person granting permission;
(2)The date the permission was granted;
(3)The daytime phone number of the person granting permission;
(4)The name of the person given permission to shoot;
(5)The expiration date of the permission; and
(6)The permission shall be signed by the grantor.(Ord. No. 089-36(R), 8-1-89; Ord. No. O15-12, 6-2-15)
- Sec. 26-9. - One-hundred-yard safety zone, private roads. (reference)
It shall be unlawful to shoot within one hundred (100) yards of any private road located in a subdivision where lots are ten (10) acres or less in size without written permission of the owner or occupant.
(Ord. No. 089-36(R), 8-1-89; Ord. No. O15-12, 6-2-15)
- Sec. 26-10. - Public property. (reference)
It shall be unlawful to shoot or hunt on any public property including, but not limited to, schools, parks, pools, the courthouse and other county offices.
(Ord. No. 089-36(R), 8-1-89)
- Sec. 26-17. - Prohibited shooting. (reference)
In the opinion of the board, certain areas of the county are so heavily populated as to make outdoor shooting with firearms so dangerous to the inhabitants of these areas of the county, that it shall be unlawful for any person willfully to shoot or discharge any firearm within or into any of the shooting-prohibited areas of Stafford County, designated as such in section 26-18, following.
(Ord. No. 085-18, § 27-10, 5-7-85; Ord. No. O15-12, 6-2-15)
State Law reference— Virginia Code, § 15.2-1209.
- Sec. 26-18. - Designation of shooting-prohibited areas. (reference)
(a) Generally. The following areas in Stafford County shall be designated as shooting-prohibited areas, subject to the prohibitions contained in section 26-17:
(1) Lake Arrowhead: Beginning at the intersection of Garrisonville Road (State Route 610) and Lake Arrowhead Drive; thence southerly along Lake Arrowhead Drive to its intersection with Hillcrest Drive; thence southerly along Hillcrest Drive to its intersection with Van Horn Lane; thence easterly along Van Horn Lane to its intersection with Forest Drive; thence southerly along Forest Drive to Beech Drive; thence westerly along Beech Drive to its intersection with Boundry Drive; thence westerly along Boundry Drive to its intersection with Lake View Drive; thence northeasterly along Lake View Drive to its intersection with Arrowhead Drive. This zone includes all roads which are interior to Lake Arrowhead Subdivision.
(2) Garrisonville: Beginning at the intersection of Austin Run and I-95; thence northerly along I-95 to Aquia Creek; thence westerly along Aquia Creek to its intersection with Joshua Road (State Route 643); thence southerly along Joshua Road to its intersection with Garrisonville Road (State Route 610); thence westerly along Garrisonville Road to its intersection with Joshua Road; thence southerly along Joshua Road to its intersection with Saint George's Drive; thence southwesterly along Saint George's Drive crossing an unnamed creek to Choptank Road; thence southerly along Choptank Road to Mountain View Road (State Route 627); thence southeasterly along Mountain View Road to Shelton Shop Road (State Route 648); thence northeasterly to Winding Creek Road (State Route 628); thence southeasterly along Winding Creek Road to Austin Run; thence easterly along Austin Run to I-95.
(3) Aquia: Beginning at I-95 and Aquia Creek; thence easterly along Aquia Creek to its intersection with Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S. Route 1); thence northeasterly along Jefferson Davis Highway to its intersection with Telegraph Road (S.R. 637); thence northeasterly along Telegraph Road until its intersection with an unnamed tributary to Aquia Creek; thence easterly along unnamed tributary to its intersection with a straight line extending in a northwesterly direction from Bosun Cove; then southeasterly along said line and Bosun Cove until its intersection with Harpoon Drive; thence southeasterly along Harpoon Drive to Beacon Cove; thence southerly along Beacon Cove back to its intersection with Harpoon Drive; thence southerly along Harpoon Drive to its intersection with Lighthouse Cove and Bulkhead Cove back to their intersection with Harpoon Drive; thence southwesterly along Harpoon Drive to its intersection with Titanic Drive; thence southeasterly along Titanic Drive to Aquia Creek; thence easterly along Aquia Creek to the RF&P Railroad track; thence southeasterly along the RF&P Railroad track to Courthouse Road (S.R. 630); thence westerly along Courthouse Road to I-95; thence northerly along I-95 to Aquia Creek. This shooting-prohibited area includes all roads interior to Aquia Harbour Subdivision.
(4) South Stafford: Beginning at I-95 and Warrenton Road (State Route 17); thence easterly along Warrenton Road to Musselman Road; thence southerly along Musselman Road to Steely Lane; thence easterly along Steely Lane to Old Forge Drive; thence northerly along Old Forge Drive to Warrenton Road; thence easterly along Warrenton Road to its intersection with Lendall Lane; thence southerly along Lendall Lane to its intersection with Ingleside Drive; thence westerly and easterly along Ingleside Drive; thence easterly along Ingleside Drive to its intersection with Washington Street; thence easterly along Washington Street to River Road; thence easterly along River Road to Kings Highway (State Route 3); thence easterly along Kings Highway to Leonard Street; thence southerly along Leonard Street to Mimosa Street; thence easterly along Mimosa Street to Rumford Road; thence northerly along Rumford Road to Kings Highway; thence easterly along Kings Highway to a stream leading from Lake Carroll; thence northerly along said stream to Lake Shore Drive; thence northerly along Lake Shore Drive to Carroll Circle; thence easterly from Carroll Circle to Ashbury Drive (inclusive of all the streets within Briarwood Estates Subdivision); thence easterly along Ashbury Drive to its intersection with Colebrook Road (State Route 682); thence westerly along Colebrook Road to its intersection with Ferry Road (State Route 606); thence westerly along the south side of Ferry Road to its intersection with Braddock Drive; thence northerly along Braddock Drive to Claiborne Run; thence northeasterly along Claiborne Run to its intersection with Town and Country Drive; thence northerly along Town and Country Drive to its intersection with White Oak Road (State Route 218); thence easterly along White Oak Road to Kendallwood Drive; thence northerly along Kendallwood Drive to its intersection with Karen Terrace; thence westerly along Karen Terrace to its intersection with Sebastian Road; thence northerly and southerly along Sebastian Road (all inclusive of Sebastian Road) to its intersection with Matthew Lane; thence easterly along Matthew Lane to its intersection with Kendallwood Drive; thence southerly along Kendallwood Drive to its intersection with White Oak Road; thence westerly along White Oak Road to its intersection with Little Whim Road (State Route 669); thence northerly along Little Whim Road to its intersection with Roger Street; thence westerly along Roger Street to its intersection with Edwards Drive; thence northerly along Edwards Drive to its intersection with Deacon Road; thence westerly along Deacon Road to its intersection with Leeland Road (State Route 626); thence northerly along Leeland Road to its intersection with Morton Road (State Route 624); thence westerly along Morton Road to its intersection with Forbes Street (State Route 627); thence southerly along Forbes Street to its intersection with Manning Drive (State Route 1005); thence westerly along Manning Drive to its intersection with Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S. Route 1); thence southerly along Jefferson Davis Highway to Warrenton Road; thence westerly along Warrenton Road to its intersection with I-95.
(5) Widewater: Beginning at Aquia Creek and the RF&P Railway; thence northeasterly along the RF&P Railway to railroad Mile Marker 73; thence in an easterly direction to the Potomac River; thence south along the bank of the Potomac River to Brent Point; thence westerly along the bank of the Potomac River to Simms Point; thence north and northwesterly along the bank of Aquia Creek to the RF&P Railway.(b) Contiguous areas. Upon an individual request by the owner(s) of a parcel contiguous to any shooting-prohibited area, or upon a joint request by the owner(s) of all of the parcels which taken as a whole would be contiguous to any shooting-prohibited area, the board of supervisors shall consider the expansion of the shooting-prohibited area to include such land. Such land shall not be included until a public hearing is held.
(c) Neighboring but not contiguous property. Upon petition by the owner or owners of fifty (50) or more parcels of neighboring but not necessarily adjoining land, the board of supervisors shall annually consider the establishment of additional shooting-prohibited areas if the following criteria are met:
(1) The new shooting-prohibited area is favored by fifty-five (55) percent or more of the owners of the individual parcels to be incorporated;
(2) The shooting-prohibited area is favored by the owners of fifty-five (55) percent of more of the total acreage in such area;
(3) The proposed shooting-prohibited area is sufficiently defined by name or boundaries to be identifiable by the public; and
(4) The failure to create a shooting-prohibited area would permit conduct that is dangerous to the inhabitants of the area.No area shall be designated as a shooting-prohibited area under this subsection until a public hearing is held.
(Ord. No. 085-18, § 27-11, 5-7-85; Ord. No. 089-36(R), 8-1-89; Ord. No. 091-77(R), 12-10-91; Ord. No. 095-13, 3-7-95; Ord. No. O04-09, 5-4-04)