Bill Text: VA SB509 | 2020 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Hunting and firearms; local regulation.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-28 - Passed by indefinitely in Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (11-Y 1-N) [SB509 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-SB509-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§15.2-1113.1, 15.2-1209, 15.2-1210, and 29.1-345 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§15.2-1113.1. Prohibiting hunting in certain areas.
Any municipal corporation may by ordinance prohibit all hunting with firearms or other weapons in, or within one-half mile of, any subdivision or other area of such municipal corporation which, in the opinion of the governing body, is so heavily populated as to make such hunting dangerous to the inhabitants thereof. Any such ordinance shall clearly describe each area in which hunting is prohibited and shall further provide that appropriate signs shall be erected designating the boundaries of such area.
Nothing in this section shall authorize a municipal corporation located east of the Interstate 95 corridor to prohibit otherwise lawful hunting of migratory game birds in the jurisdictional waters of the Commonwealth, as defined in §29.1-700.
§15.2-1209. Prohibiting outdoor shooting of firearms or arrows from bows or arrowguns in certain areas.
A. Any county may prohibit the outdoor shooting of firearms or arrows from bows or arrowguns in any areas of the county which are in the opinion of the governing body so heavily populated as to make such conduct dangerous to the inhabitants thereof.
B. For purposes of this section, "bow" includes all compound bows, crossbows, slingbows, longbows, and recurve bows having a peak draw weight of 10 pounds or more. The term "bow" does not include bows that have a peak draw weight of less than 10 pounds or that are designed or intended to be used principally as toys. The term "arrow" means a shaft-like projectile intended to be shot from a bow.
C. Any county that prohibits the outdoor shooting of firearms or arrows from bows or arrowguns shall provide an exemption for the killing of deer pursuant to § 29.1-529. Such exemption for the shooting of firearms or arrowguns shall apply on land of at least five acres that is zoned for agricultural use. Such exemption for the shooting of arrows from bows shall apply on land of at least two acres that is zoned for agricultural use.
D. Nothing in this section shall authorize a county located east of the Interstate 95 corridor to prohibit otherwise lawful hunting of migratory game birds in the jurisdictional waters of the Commonwealth, as defined in § 29.1-700.
§15.2-1210. Prohibiting hunting in certain areas.
Any county may by ordinance prohibit all hunting with firearms or other weapons in, or within one-half mile of, any subdivision or other area of such county which, in the opinion of the governing body, is so heavily populated as to make such hunting dangerous to the inhabitants thereof. Any such ordinance shall clearly describe each area in which hunting is prohibited, and shall further provide that appropriate signs shall be erected designating the boundaries of such area.
Nothing in this section shall authorize a county located east of the Interstate 95 corridor to prohibit otherwise lawful hunting of migratory game birds in the jurisdictional waters of the Commonwealth, as defined in §29.1-700.
§29.1-345. Stationary blinds in the public waters for nonriparian owners.
Unless a license has been obtained pursuant to §29.1-344, and
a stake or a blind has been erected and marked within the time stated as
specified in §29.1-344, in any year,
the owners of riparian rights, or their lessees or permittees
shall forfeit the privilege of licensing blinds on their shores and also lose
priority for licensing stationary blinds in the public waters adjoining such
shores. Any locations remaining in the public waters shall belong to whoever
first obtains a license and erects a stake or a blind. The blind shall not be
located in a marked navigation channel on the site selected. In the
waters of any locality east of the Interstate 95 corridor, the
blind or stake shall not be located less than 150 yards from any
occupied residence, church, or commercial building,
unless the owner gives written permission to locate the blind or stake closer
to the residence, church, or commercial building.
In addition, the blind must shall be at least 500 yards
from any other stationary blind, and the license for that season must
shall be properly affixed to the structure. When licensing
a stationary blind, the location of each blind licensed shall be provided as
latitude and longitude coordinates.
