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Home , Caliber, Rifle, Rim (firearms), Shotgun

LOCAL ORDINANCES

The following counties and cities have regulations concerning the residences, or buildings, and age limitations for possession of loaded use and transportation of firearms. The number or numbers follow- firearms on public roads. Before in a county or city, hunters ing that county name indicate the regulations listed below for that should become familiar with all ordinances particular to that county particular county. In addition, certain counties have ordinances other or city by contacting the county or city directly. If a locality is not than those listed, primarily pertaining to possession of firearms near listed, state firearms restrictions apply (see Legal Use of Firearms and parks or schools, hunting or discharging firearms near populated areas, Tackle on page 22).

Local firearms ordinances are established by individual counties/cities. Please contact the appropriate locality for more information.

COUNTY # COUNTY # COUNTY # Accomack 43 Goochland 9, 10, 23, 33, 77 Orange 18, 22, 34 Albemarle 16, 54 Greensville 15, 22 Petersburg 54 Alexandria 1, 54 Halifax (county) 33, 61, 75 Pittsylvania 26 Amherst 18 Halifax (town) 89, 90 Poquoson (city) 22, 69, 71, 72 Arlington 59 Hampton (city) 31, 45 Prince George 4, 7, 32, 43 Buckingham 12, 60 Hanover 20, 53, 85 Prince William 2, 12, 20 Caroline 17, 83, 87, 88 Isle of Wight 8, 12, 35 Rappahannock 18 Campbell 11 James City 40, 54 Richmond 7, 66, 67, 68 Charles City 7, 33, 42 King and Queen 49, 68 Richmond (city) 1, 54 Chesapeake 46 King George 6, 17, 22, 26, 54 Roanoke 25, 54, 64, 77, 79 Chesterfield 7, 14, 21, 22, 37, 54, 70 King William 17, 18, 28 Southampton 3, 8, 19, 41, 80 Clarke 25, 54 Lancaster 6, 12, 26 Stafford 81, 82 Culpeper 18, 22, 54 Loudoun 18, 54, 62, 64, 65 Suffolk 44, 52, 76 Cumberland 5, 17, 27, 74 Louisa 17, 27 Surry 7, 53, 54 Danville 54 Lunenburg 17 Sussex 7, 48, 73 Dinwiddie 12, 13, 38, 84 Madison 22, 25, 54 Virginia Beach 2, 7, 54, 56, 57, 58 Essex 86 Mecklenburg 27 Warren 54 Fairfax 2, 22, 25, 45, 51, 54 Middlesex 26 Westmoreland 50 Fauquier 14, 18, 22, 36, 54 Nelson 22 Williamsburg 1, 54 Franklin 26 New Kent 8, 12, 25, 54 York 47 Fredericksburg (city) 2, 18, 30, 51, 54, 64 Newport News 1 Gate City 55 Northampton 7, 53 Gloucester 14 Northumberland 17, 26, 42, 54

Permanently disabled hunters possessing a valid , hunters holding a lifetime disabled hunting license, and hunters holding a lifetime disabled veterans hunting license are exempt from any local ordinance requiring hunting from an elevated platform or tree stand.

1. No discharge of firearms except on approved slugs, except that of a larger , 18. It is unlawful to hunt with a within ranges. loaded with slugs and pistols or 100 yards of a road. 2. No rifles larger than .22 for hunting. firing cartridges rated in manu- 19. It is unlawful to transport, possess or carry a 3. It is unlawful to hunt with a muzzleloading facturers’ tables at 350 foot pounds of energy loaded in any vehicle while on the road loaded with slugs or slugs. or greater may be used to hunt from a stand from October 1 through February 15. 4. Deer hunting with a rifle of a caliber larger elevated at least 10 feet from the ground, 20. It shall be unlawful to discharge or shoot any than .22 rimfire is prohibited in the county. provided that no shall be used with firearm or other weapon in or along any public However, hunting of groundhogs with a rifle a of less than .23 caliber. road or street or within 100 yards thereof or of a caliber larger than a .22 rimfire between 10. It shall be unlawful to have in immediate posses- within 100 yards of any building occupied or March 1 and August 31 is permitted, and a sion any hunting firearm other than a muzzle- used as a dwelling or place where the public rifle of a caliber larger than a .22 rimfire may loading rifle while hunting with a muzzleloading gathers, not his own dwelling or residence. be used for hunting all other , bird, and rifle during the early season. 21. Except for target , no person shall varmint species as allowed by state law and 11. It shall be unlawful to hunt with a firearm shoot an arrow from a bow with a peak draw regulations. Deer hunting with a shotgun on or within the ditch line of any primary or weight of 10 pounds or more within 150 feet of loaded with slugs is permitted so long as such secondary highway. a business, public building, public gathering, hunting is conducted from a stand located at 12. It is lawful to use muzzleloading rifles for game public meeting place, or dwelling of another least ten feet in elevation above the ground. animals in the regular hunting season. unless they have the permission of the dwelling 5. It is lawful to hunt groundhogs with rifles of 13. It is lawful to hunt deer with muzzleloading owner or occupant. a caliber larger than .22 rimfire during the rifles only from stands elevated 10 feet. 22. It is unlawful to possess a loaded firearm on season between March 1 and August 31. 14. It is unlawful to hunt from the road with the road except when permission to hunt is 6. No rifles larger than .22 for hunting except firearms. obtained from landowners on each side. groundhogs outside of the regular hunting 15. It is unlawful to hunt with firearms from the 23. It is unlawful to transport, possess, or carry a season. road and within 10 feet of the ditch bank. loaded shotgun or loaded rifle in any vehicle 7. No rifles for deer hunting. 16. It is unlawful to hunt within 100 feet of the on any public street, road, or highway within 8. No rifles for big game hunting. road. the county during the time between sunset 9. It shall be unlawful to hunt in the county with 17. Muzzleloading rifles are permitted during and sunrise. a rifle, pistol, or of a caliber larger any authorized deer season where firearms 24. No rifles over .22 caliber for hunting except for than .22 caliber or with a shotgun loaded with are permitted. groundhogs between March 1 and August 31.

WWW.VIRGINIAWILDLIFE.GOV 2021–2022 VIRGINIA HUNTING & TRAPPING REGULATIONS 23 LOCAL FIREARMS ORDINANCES

25. No hunting with firearms of game species 43. It shall be unlawful to hunt with a firearm on during the firearms deer season. from within 100 yards of a road. or within 50 feet of the center of any primary 58. Shotguns firing pellets are lawful on certain 26. No hunting with firearms of any game animal and secondary highway. agricultural lands of 50 contiguous acres or from the road right-of-way. 44. Rifles are permitted for bear and deer hunting more, and on certain lands south of a line from 27. No hunting with firearms from the road in- when used from stands elevated at least 15 the Chesapeake-Virginia Beach boundary, cluding ditch to ditch. feet above the ground (except legally handi- thence northeastwardly along Elbow Road; 28. No hunting with a rifle larger than .22 caliber capped hunters are exempt from tree stand thence southeastwardly along Salem Road; during the deer season. requirements). thence northeastwardly along North Land- 30. It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt any 45. The discharge or use of a rifle, pistol, muzzle- stown Road; thence southeastwardly along bird or game animal using a muzzleloading loader, or shotgun loaded with slugs is pro- Princess Anne Road; thence eastwardly along rifle or a shotgun loaded with slugs, except hibited. Sandbridge Road to the Atlantic Ocean. The from a stand elevated at least 10 feet above 46. It is unlawful to discharge any firearms, spring property must be permitted by the City Man- the ground. propelled rifle or pistol, or air- propelled rifle ager for this purpose. 31. All hunting within the City of Hampton is or pistol from, on, across or within 150 yards 59. It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge prohibited, with the exception of waterfowl of any city building, dwelling, street, sidewalk, or shoot off a firearm in the county. It shall be blinds licensed by the Commonwealth where alley, roadway or public place within the city unlawful for any person to discharge or shoot or no firearm other than shotguns loaded with limits: check local county/city ordinances. throw any dangerous missiles by mechanical, not heavier than double ought buck- 47. No discharge of rifles larger than .22 except , air- or gas-propelled means, or simi- shot shall be discharged and no shot shall as specifically approved by local County or- lar method or device onto or across any public be discharged landward within 500 feet of dinance. sidewalk, path, or roadway, at any public struc- the shoreline. 48. Muzzleloading rifles are permitted during ture or building, or at or onto the property of 32. It is lawful to hunt deer with muzzleloading the special muzzleloading season. another. It is unlawful for any person to shoot a rifles only from stands elevated at least 10 feet 49. Muzzleloading rifles are permitted during any compound bow, crossbow, longbow, or recurve above the ground; however, this requirement authorized firearms season for the hunting of bow at or upon the property of another without shall be expressly inapplicable to all legally game animals except for the hunting of turkeys permission. It shall be unlawful to discharge handicapped persons. during the spring gobbler season. a from any of the aforementioned 33. The use of a muzzleloading rifle shall be per- 50. It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt in bows within 100 yards of any public road, pub- mitted during the early muzzleloading season the county with a shotgun loaded with slugs lic building or structure, private residence or and during the entire regular firearms season or a muzzleloading rifle other than during the structure, or property of another. Nothing in for deer hunting. prescribed open season for the hunting of big this ordinance shall be construed to prohibit 34. It is unlawful to transport or possess a loaded game species or with a rifle of a caliber larger the use of firearms or other instruments or mis- shotgun or rifle in a vehicle on a road during than .22 caliber. siles or compound bows, crossbows, longbows, open deer season. 51. It shall be unlawful to shoot an arrow in a or recurve bows in lawful self defense or in the 35. It shall be unlawful to possess outside of a manner that can be reasonably expected to lawful defense of property, or to prohibit the vehicle, or shoot or hunt with a rifle, muzzle- result in the impact of the arrow upon the use of firearms or other missiles or compound loader, pistol, or shotgun loaded with slugs, property of another without permission from bows, crossbows, longbows, or recurve bows or to possess shotgun slugs on Ragged Island the owner or tenant of such property. in supervised sport, recreation, or training Wildlife Management Area in Isle of Wight 52. It shall be unlawful to discharge a firearm conducted on safety-inspected and approved County. In addition, it shall be unlawful to within any densely populated area: within ranges and courses, provided the same is not discharge any firearm within 100 yards of the 200 yards from any structure or within 100 contrary to existing law. boardwalk or nature trail on Ragged Island yards from any public street, secondary road, 60. It shall be lawful to hunt deer and bear from a Wildlife Management Area. or highway within the city, except on a permit- stand elevated at least 10 feet from the ground 36. It is unlawful to discharge a firearm from or ted firing range or at or upon the property of or within a ten (10) foot perimeter from a sta- across any sidewalk, highway or on public land. another without permission. tionary, pre-identified and marked point, such 37. It is unlawful for minors to carry firearms 53. It is lawful to hunt deer with muzzleloading point having been established by an easily vis- on public highways or public lands unless rifles. ible fixed marker, with a .23 or larger caliber. accompanied by certain adults. 54. It is unlawful to transport, possess, or carry a However such rifles can only be loaded while 38. It shall be unlawful to use a rifle of a caliber loaded rifle or shotgun in any vehicle on any the hunter is in the elevated tree stand, within larger than .22 rimfire except that ground- public street, road or highway. the 10 feet of the stationary pre-identified and hogs may be hunted with a rifle of a caliber 55. It shall be unlawful for any person in the town, marked point, if ground hunting, or while larger than .22 rimfire between March 1 and except a duly authorized officer in the course attempting to recover wounded game within August 31 and coyotes may be hunted for the of his duty, to fire or discharge any , pistol, a 300-yard perimeter of the elevated stand entire year. or other firearms of any kind. or the pre-identified and marked point from 39. It shall be lawful to use muzzleloading rifles for 56. No discharge of firearms across or within 150 which the game was shot. deer and squirrels during the regular seasons. yards of any building, dwelling, street, side- 61. It is unlawful to hunt or attempt to hunt on a pri- 40. It shall be unlawful to discharge a rifle larger walk, alley, roadway, public land, or public mary or secondary state maintained highway, than .22 caliber, a muzzleloader larger than .36 place. and within the side ditches of such highways. caliber, or a shotgun loaded with slugs except 57. No discharge of firearms north or west of 62. Discharging firearms is prohibited within from stands elevated at least 10 feet above the a line from the Chesapeake-Virginia Beach certain areas (check local county ordinance ground, except for groundhogs in certain areas boundary; thence northwardly along North for area description), except deer hunting is between March 1 and September 1. Landing Road; thence eastwardly along Indian permitted with , shotguns, or muz- 41. It shall be unlawful to hunt with a muzzleload- River Road; thence northeastwardly along New zleloading rifles using a single projectile and ing rifle at any time. Bridge Road; thence eastwardly along Sand- all other hunting is allowed with rifles of .22 42. It shall be unlawful to use a rifle of a caliber bridge Road to the Atlantic Ocean, or across caliber rimfire or less, handguns, shotguns, larger than .22 rimfire except that ground- any land north of False Cape Park and east of and muzzleloading rifles using single or mul- hogs may be hunted with a rifle of a caliber Shipps Bay and Point Creek. No discharge of tiple . larger than .22 rimfire between March 1 and rifles larger than .22 south of this line except 64. Discharge of firearms is prohibited within 100 August 31. muzzleloading rifles may be used to hunt deer yards of any public park or school.

24 2021–2022 VIRGINIA HUNTING & TRAPPING REGULATIONS WWW.VIRGINIAWILDLIFE.GOV 65. Discharge of firearms is prohibited within 100 or occupied building not his or her own. composed of 25 or more contiguous acres yards of a building with a current occupancy 79. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage when the landowner has applied for and re- permit unless the owner or authorized agent in hunting with a bow or to discharge arrows ceived a permit from the town manager or has given permission. from bows within 100 yards of a dwelling manager’s designee. Persons discharging a 66. shall be legal firearms during house or occupied building not his or her shotgun must have written permission from any firearms season. own. A “bow” includes all compound bows, the landowner in possession to discharge 67. Shotgun slugs shall be permitted for deer crossbows, longbows, and recurves that have such weapon. 000 and #4 buckshot may be hunting. a peak draw weight of 10 pounds or more. The discharged only when hunting deer from a 68. It shall be unlawful to hunt with a rifle larger term “arrow” means a shaft-like projectile platform at least 12 feet above the ground. than .22 caliber, except rifles of a larger caliber intended to be shot from a bow. Shotguns may not be discharged within 100 may be used for hunting groundhogs and coy- 80. It shall be unlawful to hunt with a rifle larger yards of a property line building, dwelling, otes outside the general firearms deer season. than .22 caliber rimfire, except rifles of a larger street, sidewalk, alley, roadway, public land, 69. It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge caliber may be used for hunting groundhogs or public place within the town limits. an , spring gun, or firearm from, along, and coyotes between March 1 and August 31. 90. Bow hunting for deer during any archery across or toward, or within 300 yards of any 81. It shall be unlawful to shoot or hunt with a season and the general firearms deer season paved public street, highway or road, or any firearm within 100 yards of any regularly oc- is allowed within the town limits when the building in the city. cupied structure without written permission landowner has applied for and received a 70. It shall be lawful to hunt game species with of its owner or occupant or within 100 yards permit from the town manager or manager’s a muzzleloading rifle during the prescribed of any private road located in a subdivision designee. Hunters must have written per- open seasons. where lots are 10 acres or less in size without mission from the landowner in possession 71. The discharge or use of a rifle, except for a written permission of the owner or occupant. while hunting and may only discharge a .22 caliber rim fire is prohibited within the 82. It shall be unlawful to shoot or hunt on any bow when elevated at least 12 feet above the city limits. county property including, but not limited ground. Arrows shall not be discharged over 72. The use of muzzleloading rifles during the to, schools, parks, pools, the courthouse and or across any street, sidewalk, alley, road- prescribed open seasons for the hunting of other county offices. way, public land, or public place within the game species is permitted in the city; provided, 83. Rifle larger than .22 rimfire may be town limits, toward any building or dwell- however, that the use of such muzzleloading used for hunting groundhogs, coyotes, and ing in a manner that an arrow may strike it, rifle shall be only from a stand located at least feral hogs during any respective season as nor over or across the private property of 10 feet above the ground. permitted by state law or permitted under another without written permission. 73. No rifles for turkey hunting. state law for the control of destructive animals. 74. It is unlawful to hunt deer during the regular 84. It shall be lawful to hunt with rifles larger hunting season with a rifle of .23 caliber or than .22 caliber only from stands elevated at larger either on public lands or in the area of least 10 feet. the county bordered to the north by the James 85. Rifles, .23 caliber or larger, may be used to River, to the west by Route 602 from the Willis hunt deer during the firearms deer season River, and to the south by Route 45 and Route provided the hunter is in an elevated stand at 684 to the county line (generally known as least 10 feet above ground level. The rifle may SOUTHERN Cartersville Historic District); except from only have a round in its when it is on a tree stand elevated at least 10 feet above the elevated stand. SPORTSMAN the ground. It shall be lawful to hunt with a 86. It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt in the muzzleloading rifle from the ground or from county with a rifle or pistol of a caliber higher Hunting Lodge, Inc. a tree stand elevated to any height. than .22 rimfire except as provided hereafter. 75. No person shall hunt using a rifle larger than a. Rifles and pistols greater than .23 caliber • Father/Son Hunts a .22 caliber rimfire within 100 yards of any shall be permitted for hunting of deer • Corporate Discounts for 6 residence or occupied building without the when hunting from an elevated platform or more written approval of the owner or lessee of the at least 8 feet above ground level. property. It shall be unlawful to discharge a b. Turkey shall not be hunted with a rifle • Great Prices! rifle larger than .22 caliber rimfire from an greater than. 22 caliber. (No Trophy Fees) elevated stand within 100 yards of an ad- c. Muzzleloading rifles may be used during • joining property line without first obtaining the prescribed open season. Great Lodging With written permission of the owner or, if dif- d. Rifles with caliber larger than .22 rimfire Excellent ferent than the owner, the occupant of the may be used for hunting of groundhogs, adjoining property or within 100 yards of coyotes, bears, bobcats, feral hogs, and Meals! any public street or primary or secondary beavers during any respective season as state-maintained highway. permitted by state law and/or permit- 76. Muzzleloading rifles are permitted during ted under state law for the control of the open seasons for hunting game species destructive animals. from stands elevated at least 10 feet above the 87. Turkeys shall not be hunted with a rifle greater ground (except legally handicapped hunters than .22 caliber. are exempt from tree stand requirements). No 88. Rifles and pistols greater then .22 caliber may early muzzleloader season east of the Dismal be used for hunting deer during the prescribed Swamp Line. open season only when hunting from an el- 77. It shall be unlawful to engage in hunting with a evated platform at least eight (8) feet above the Book Your Lifetime Memory Now! firearm within the right-of-way of any primary ground, except such weapon may be discharged www.southernhunting.com or secondary highway. on the ground when necessary to dispatch deer 78. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage wounded from the elevated platform. William Lyon 334-467-1830 in hunting with a firearm or to discharge a 89. Shotguns discharging number 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 Dave Lyon 334-412-3368 firearm within 100 yards of a dwelling house shot may be used for hunting on properties — Alabama’s Black — WWW.VIRGINIAWILDLIFE.GOV 25