Bill Text: VA SB353 | 2021 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

Virginia Senate Bill 353 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Outdoor shooting ranges; prohibited adjacent to residential areas, exceptions, civil penalty.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-12-04 - Left in Judiciary [SB353 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2021-SB353-Comm_Sub.html

20106330D
SENATE BILL NO. 353 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on January 22, 2020) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Bell) A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 3 of Chapter 12 of Title 18.2 a section numbered 18.2-511.2, relating to outdoor shooting ranges; prohibited adjacent to residential areas; exceptions; civil penalty.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 3 of Chapter 12 of Title 18.2 a section numbered 18.2-511.2 as follows:

§18.2-511.2. Outdoor shooting ranges; prohibited adjacent to residential areas; exceptions; civil penalty.

A. As used in this section, "outdoor shooting range" means any partially enclosed or unenclosed outdoor area or outdoor facility designed for the use of rifles, shotguns, pistols, silhouettes, skeet, trap, black powder, or any other similar sport shooting.

B. It is unlawful to operate an outdoor shooting range within 500 yards of any property zoned for residential use unless the range design criteria pertaining to backstops and berms developed by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Health, Safety and Security; the National Rifle Association; the National Shooting Sports Foundation; or other similar company, organization, or association have been met.

C. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any (i) commercial outdoor shooting range, gun club, or sportsmen's club where someone pays a fee, or retains a membership, to use such facilities; (ii) outdoor shooting range within 500 yards of any property zoned for residential use if the outdoor shooting range owner has written permission from the residential use zone owner to operate such a shooting range, or if the property zoned residential is also owned by the same operator of the outdoor shooting range; (iii) outdoor shooting range located in a locality with a population of less than 300,000; (iv) outdoor shooting range that is used exclusively for shotgun shooting sports; or (v) outdoor shooting range located on a piece or parcel of property that consists of a minimum of 20 acres.

D. Any person who violates the provisions of this section is subject to a civil penalty of no more than $1,000 for the initial violation and $5,000 per day for each day of violation thereafter.