The following local ordinances apply in Williamsburg City:
- Sec. 4-10. - City designated as bird sanctuary; killing birds prohibited. (reference)
The area within the corporate limits of the city hereby is designated as a bird sanctuary. It shall be unlawful for any person to kill or attempt to kill any song bird or game bird within the corporate limits of the city with any gun, pistol or other firearm, air rifle, BB gun, gravel shooter, bow and arrow or sling shot. Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished in accordance with section 1-15 of this Code.
(Ord. No. 15-26, 12-10-15)
- Sec. 10-123. - Discharging firearms. (reference)
(a) Any person who shall fire any gun, pistol or other firearm within the limits of the city, except in case of urgent necessity, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished in accordance with section 1-15.
(b) This section shall not preclude the firing of guns, pistols or other firearms: (1) within the bounds of the historic area as defined in the zoning regulations, provided that any such gun, pistol or firearm contains no projectile and is fired by a duly authorized agent or employee of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation as part of such foundation's educational and cultural activities, or (2) when firing occurs on a firing range located in the Museum Support District and for which a special use permit has been approved, in which case only such gun, pistol or firearm may contain a projectile(s), provided the firing of such firearm is conducted by or supervised by an authorized agent or employee of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. This section shall further not apply to an honor guard composed of members of the United States Armed Forces, provided that the rifles or other firearms used by such honor guard are loaded with blank ammunition. This section shall further not apply to the discharge of any gun, pistol or other firearm on the campus of the College of William and Mary, provided that such gun, pistol or other firearm is loaded with blank ammunition, or contains no projectile should such firearm not use cartridge ammunition, and further on the condition that the firing of such firearm has been approved in advance by the president or other duly authorized administrative official of the College of William and Mary. The city manager shall have authority to issue permits allowing discharge of firearms within the city by persons not exempted hereinabove, provided that such firearms shall fire blank ammunition or contain no projectile should such firearms not use cartridge ammunition, and further provided that the city manager is satisfied that the firing of such firearm will not constitute a disturbance of the peace, a nuisance, or in any way endanger the life or well-being of any person or constitute a hazard to any property.
(c) This section shall further not preclude the hunting of deer on designated tracts within the city if authorized by the city manager on the recommendation of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries in order to maintain the health of the deer herds and prevent their overpopulation. The city manager may impose such regulations and limitations on the hunting of deer as he deems necessary to preserve the public safety and welfare.
(Code 1975, § 21-29; Ord. No. 20-93, 7-8-93; Ord. No. 15-18, 8-13-15)
State Law reference— Authority of city to adopt this section, Code of Virginia, § 15.1-865.
- Sec. 10-126. - Transporting a loaded rifle or shotgun. (reference)
(a) No person shall transport, possess or carry a loaded shotgun or loaded rifle in any vehicle on any public street, road or highway within the city. Any person violating this section shall upon conviction be fined not more than $100.00.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
(1) Duly authorized law enforcement officers or military personnel in the performance of their lawful duties; and
(2) 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.(Code 1975, § 21-33)
State Law reference— Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 18.2-287.1.