A. A locality may prohibit, by ordinance, the shooting of pneumatic guns in any areas of the locality that are in the opinion of the governing body so heavily populated as to make such conduct dangerous to the inhabitants thereof, and may require supervision by a parent, guardian, or other adult supervisor approved by a parent or guardian of any minor below the age of 16 in all uses of pneumatic guns on private or public property. The ordinance may specify that minors above the age of 16 may, with the written consent of a parent or guardian, use a pneumatic gun at any place designated for such use by the local governing body or on private property with the consent of the owner. The ordinance may specify that any minor, 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. Any penalty for a pneumatic gun offense set forth in such an ordinance shall not exceed a Class 3 misdemeanor.
B. No such ordinance authorized by subsection A shall prohibit the use of pneumatic guns at facilities approved for shooting ranges, on other property where firearms may be discharged, or on or within 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. Training of minors in the use of pneumatic guns shall be done only under direct supervision of a parent, guardian, Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps instructor, or a certified instructor. Training of minors above the age of 16 may also be done without direct supervision if approved by the minor's instructor, with the permission of and under the responsibility of a parent or guardian, and in compliance with all requirements of this section. Ranges and instructors may be certified by the National Rifle Association, a state or federal agency that has developed a certification program, any service of the Department of Defense, or any person authorized by these authorities to certify ranges and instructors.
D. Commercial or private areas designated for use of pneumatic paintball guns may be established and operated for recreational use. Equipment designed to protect the face and ears shall be provided to participants at such recreational areas, and signs must be posted to warn against entry into the paintball area by persons who are unprotected or unaware that paintball guns are in use.
E. As used in 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 a paintball gun that expels by action of pneumatic pressure plastic balls filled with paint for the purpose of marking the point of impact.
2004, c. 930; 2011, c. 832.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns
Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments
§ 15.2-900. Abatement or removal of nuisances by localities; recovery of costs
§ 15.2-901.1. Locality may provide for control of running bamboo; civil penalty
§ 15.2-902. Authority of locality to control certain noxious weeds
§ 15.2-906. Authority to require removal, repair, etc., of buildings and other structures
§ 15.2-910. Ordinance certifying boiler and pressure vessel operators; penalty
§ 15.2-911. Regulation of alarm company operators
§ 15.2-912. Regulation of tattoo parlors and body-piercing salons; definition; exception
§ 15.2-912.1. Regulation of martial arts instruction
§ 15.2-912.2. Proceeds exempt from local taxation
§ 15.2-912.3. Regulation of dance halls by counties, cities, and towns
§ 15.2-913. Ordinances regulating certain vendors
§ 15.2-914. Regulation of child-care services and facilities in cities and certain counties
§ 15.2-915. Control of firearms; applicability to authorities and local governmental agencies
§ 15.2-915.2. Regulation of transportation of a loaded rifle or shotgun
§ 15.2-915.4. Counties, cities and towns authorized to regulate use of pneumatic guns
§ 15.2-915.5. Disposition of firearms acquired by localities
§ 15.2-917. Applicability of local noise ordinances to certain sport shooting ranges
§ 15.2-918. Locality may prohibit or regulate use of air cannons
§ 15.2-920. Regulation of outdoor lighting near certain facilities
§ 15.2-921. Ordinances requiring fencing of swimming pools
§ 15.2-922. Smoke alarms in certain buildings
§ 15.2-922.1. Regulating or prohibiting the making of fires
§ 15.2-922.2. Special fee for emergency services in certain counties
§ 15.2-923. Local water-saving ordinances
§ 15.2-924. Water supply emergency ordinances
§ 15.2-925.1. Local notifications
§ 15.2-926. Prohibiting loitering; frequenting amusements and curfew for minors; penalty
§ 15.2-926.1. Bounties for coyotes
§ 15.2-926.2. Adoption of ordinances prohibiting obscenity
§ 15.2-926.3. Local regulation of certain aircraft
§ 15.2-926.4. Regulation of smoking in outdoor amphitheater or concert venue; civil penalty
§ 15.2-927. Garbage and refuse disposal
§ 15.2-928. Local recycling and waste disposal; powers; penalties
§ 15.2-929. Solid waste management facility siting approval
§ 15.2-934. Displacement of private waste companies
§ 15.2-935. Authority to prohibit placement of leaves or grass clippings in landfills
§ 15.2-936. Garbage and refuse disposal; fee exemption
§ 15.2-937. Separation of solid waste
§ 15.2-938. Preference for purchase of recycled paper and paper products
§ 15.2-939. Ordinances requiring recycling reports
§ 15.2-940. Expenditures for promoting resources and advantages of locality
§ 15.2-941. Participation by local government in certain loan programs
§ 15.2-941.1. Creation of abandoned school revitalization zones
§ 15.2-942. Local government participation in certain events
§ 15.2-943. Operation and maintenance of living historical farm museums
§ 15.2-943.1. Creation of arts and cultural districts
§ 15.2-944. Authority to acquire and preserve places and things of historical interest
§ 15.2-944.1. Notification prior to sale or transfer of ownership of certain historic properties
§ 15.2-945. Acquisition and housing of relics, paintings, carvings, sculpture and other works of art
§ 15.2-946. Regulation of tour guides and tourist guides
§ 15.2-947. Systems of public transportation for certain counties or cities
§ 15.2-948. Locality may designate continuing source of revenue for mass transit
§ 15.2-949. Shared ride taxi systems, etc.; nonprofit vanpools
§ 15.2-951. Acquisition, disposition and use of personal property by localities generally
§ 15.2-952. Political subdivisions may acquire property from United States
§ 15.2-954. Loans to volunteer firefighting and rescue organizations
§ 15.2-956. Participation in certain federal development programs
§ 15.2-957. Participation by localities in certain leasing programs
§ 15.2-958.1. Sale of certain property in certain cities
§ 15.2-958.2. Grants for homeownership; workforce housing
§ 15.2-958.2:01. Grants for certain corporations and pass-through entities
§ 15.2-958.3. Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing programs
§ 15.2-958.3:1. Local green banks
§ 15.2-958.4. Waiver of certain fees for affordable housing
§ 15.2-958.5. Local funding for community revitalization
§ 15.2-958.6. Financing the repair of failed septic systems
§ 15.2-960. Planting of trees destroyed during construction
§ 15.2-961. Replacement of trees during development process in certain localities
§ 15.2-961.2. Conservation of trees; notice of infill lot grading plan
§ 15.2-961.3. Replacement of trees during development process in localities
§ 15.2-962. Authority to require a unified geographic information system for a locality
§ 15.2-963. Local offices of consumer affairs; establishment; powers and duties
§ 15.2-965. Human rights ordinances and commissions
§ 15.2-965.1. Participation of small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses
§ 15.2-965.2. Enhancement of micro-business participation in local procurement
§ 15.2-966. Establishment and operation of educational television stations
§ 15.2-966.1. Establishment of primary health care facility for employees of locality
§ 15.2-967. Parking facilities
§ 15.2-967.1. Regulation of certain transportation services
§ 15.2-967.2. Electric vehicle charging stations
§ 15.2-968. Regulation of parking of vehicles within boundaries of state-supported institutions
§ 15.2-968.01. Parking in certain residential areas
§ 15.2-968.1. Use of photo-monitoring systems to enforce traffic light signals
§ 15.2-969. Ordinances prohibiting resale of tickets to certain public events; penalty
§ 15.2-970. Construction of dams, levees, seawalls, etc.; certain proceedings prohibited
§ 15.2-971. Armories and markets; assistance to National Guard
§ 15.2-972. Appropriations for the upkeep of certain cemeteries
§ 15.2-973. Ordinances imposing license taxes on owners of certain motor vehicles
§ 15.2-974. Permits for display of fireworks; use and exhibitions
§ 15.2-975. Use of cash proffers
§ 15.2-977. Green Roof Incentive Programs
§ 15.2-979. Notice of sale under deed of trust
§ 15.2-980. Civil penalties for violations of noise ordinances
§ 15.2-981. Authority to sell dogs trained for police work
§ 15.2-982. Designation of tourism activity zones
§ 15.2-983. Creation of registry for short-term rental of property
§ 15.2-984. Adoption of flood plain ordinances
§ 15.2-985. Disposition of abandoned shopping carts; unauthorized possession; penalties