{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-1209.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-1209.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-1209.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-1209.html"}],"law_id":86923,"edition_id":1,"section_id":86923,"structure_id":13987,"section_number":"15.2-1209","catch_line":"Prohibiting outdoor shooting of firearms or arrows from bows or arrowguns in certain areas","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-20.3; 1954, c. 223; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-518; 1968, c. 294; 1992, c. 600; 1993, c. 367; 1995, c. 284; 1997, c. 587; 2000, c. 229; 2004, c. 930; 2005, c. 564; 2017, c. 530; 2018, cc. 557, 558.","full_text":"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.\n\t\tFor 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.\n\t\tAny 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 \u00a7 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.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":311215,"text":"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.\n\t\tFor 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.\n\t\tAny 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 \u00a7 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.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13987,"edition_id":1,"name":"Miscellaneous Powers","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13986,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:31","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:31","permalink":{"id":152535,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13987,"identifier":"1","token":"15.2\/II\/12\/1","url":"\/15.2\/II\/12\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13986,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Powers and Procedures of Counties","identifier":"12","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:31","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:31","permalink":{"id":152533,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13986,"identifier":"12","token":"15.2\/II\/12","url":"\/15.2\/II\/12\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12733,"edition_id":1,"name":"Powers of Local Government","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":152369,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12733,"identifier":"II","token":"15.2\/II","url":"\/15.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12720,"edition_id":1,"name":"Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"15.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":151279,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12720,"identifier":"15.2","token":"15.2","url":"\/15.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":64928,"structure_id":13987,"section_number":"15.2-1200","catch_line":"General powers of counties","url":"\/15.2-1200\/","token":"15.2\/II\/12\/1\/15.2-1200","metadata":false},{"id":67531,"structure_id":13987,"section_number":"15.2-1201","catch_line":"County boards of supervisors vested with powers and authority of councils of cities and towns; exceptions","url":"\/15.2-1201\/","token":"15.2\/II\/12\/1\/15.2-1201","metadata":false},{"id":61801,"structure_id":13987,"section_number":"15.2-1201.1","catch_line":"Discharging employee for service on board prohibited; civil penalty","url":"\/15.2-1201.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/12\/1\/15.2-1201.1","metadata":false},{"id":78605,"structure_id":13987,"section_number":"15.2-1201.2","catch_line":"Discount for early payment of taxes","url":"\/15.2-1201.2\/","token":"15.2\/II\/12\/1\/15.2-1201.2","metadata":false},{"id":60420,"structure_id":13987,"section_number":"15.2-1202","catch_line":"Appropriation of money to incorporated towns","url":"\/15.2-1202\/","token":"15.2\/II\/12\/1\/15.2-1202","metadata":false},{"id":72803,"structure_id":13987,"section_number":"15.2-1203","catch_line":"Governing body may require treasurer to pay claims","url":"\/15.2-1203\/","token":"15.2\/II\/12\/1\/15.2-1203","metadata":false},{"id":57530,"structure_id":13987,"section_number":"15.2-1204","catch_line":"Appropriations for advertising resources, etc., by counties","url":"\/15.2-1204\/","token":"15.2\/II\/12\/1\/15.2-1204","metadata":false},{"id":85957,"structure_id":13987,"section_number":"15.2-1205","catch_line":"Allocation of county funds or property to authorities created by county","url":"\/15.2-1205\/","token":"15.2\/II\/12\/1\/15.2-1205","metadata":false},{"id":75578,"structure_id":13987,"section_number":"15.2-1206","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/15.2-1206\/","token":"15.2\/II\/12\/1\/15.2-1206","metadata":false},{"id":70512,"structure_id":13987,"section_number":"15.2-1207","catch_line":"Pistols and revolvers; 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pawnshops; secondhand dealers; peddling; fraud and deceit in sales; weights and measures","url":"\/15.2-1232.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/12\/1\/15.2-1232.1","metadata":false},{"id":59310,"structure_id":13987,"section_number":"15.2-1232.2","catch_line":"Creation of local economic revitalization zones","url":"\/15.2-1232.2\/","token":"15.2\/II\/12\/1\/15.2-1232.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":55059,"structure_id":13987,"section_number":"15.2-1208","catch_line":"Same; in certain counties","url":"\/15.2-1208\/","token":"15.2\/II\/12\/1\/15.2-1208","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":74296,"structure_id":13987,"section_number":"15.2-1209.1","catch_line":"Counties may regulate carrying of loaded firearms on public highways","url":"\/15.2-1209.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/12\/1\/15.2-1209.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1209\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 12 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1954, chapter 223; in 1962, chapter 623; in 1968, chapter 294; in 1992, chapter 600; in 1993, chapter 367; in 1995, chapter 284<\/a>; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>; in 2000, chapter 229<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 930<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 564<\/a>; in 2017, chapter 530<\/a>; in 2018, chapters 557<\/a> and 558<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":76194,"section_number":"29.1-529","catch_line":"Killing of deer, elk or bear damaging fruit trees, crops, livestock, or personal property; wildlife creating a hazard to aircraft or motor vehicles","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-529\/"}],"permalink":{"id":152581,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86923,"identifier":"15.2-1209","token":"15.2\/II\/12\/1\/15.2-1209","url":"\/15.2-1209\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1209\/","token":"15.2\/II\/12\/1\/15.2-1209","dublin_core":{"Title":"Prohibiting outdoor shooting of firearms or arrows from bows or arrowguns in certain areas","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1209","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Any county<\/span> may prohibit the outdoor shooting of firearms or arrows<\/span> from bows<\/span> or arrowguns in any areas of the county<\/span> which are in the opinion<\/span> of the governing body<\/span> so heavily populated as to make such conduct dangerous to the inhabitants thereof.\n\t\tFor purposes of this section, “bow<\/span>” includes all compound bows<\/span>, crossbows, slingbows, longbows, and recurve bows<\/span> having a peak draw weight of 10 pounds or more. The term “bow<\/span>” does not include bows<\/span> 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<\/span>” means a shaft-like projectile intended to be shot from a bow<\/span>.\n\t\tAny county<\/span> that prohibits the outdoor shooting of firearms or arrows<\/span> from bows<\/span> or arrowguns shall provide an exemption for the killing of deer pursuant to \u00a7 29.1-529<\/a>. 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<\/span> from bows<\/span> shall apply on land of at least two acres that is zoned for agricultural use.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROHIBITING OUTDOOR SHOOTING OF FIREARMS OR ARROWS FROM BOWS OR ARROWGUNS IN\nCERTAIN AREAS (\u00a7 15.2-1209)\n\nAny county may prohibit the outdoor shooting of firearms or arrows from bows or\narrowguns in any areas of the county which are in the opinion of the governing\nbody so heavily populated as to make such conduct dangerous to the inhabitants\nthereof.\n\t\tFor purposes of this section, “bow” includes all compound bows,\ncrossbows, slingbows, longbows, and recurve bows having a peak draw weight of 10\npounds or more. The term “bow” does not include bows that have a\npeak draw weight of less than 10 pounds or that are designed or intended to be\nused principally as toys. The term “arrow” means a shaft-like\nprojectile intended to be shot from a bow.\n\t\tAny county that prohibits the outdoor shooting of firearms or arrows from bows\nor arrowguns shall provide an exemption for the killing of deer pursuant to \u00a7\n29.1-529. Such exemption for the shooting of firearms or arrowguns shall apply\non land of at least five acres that is zoned for agricultural use. Such\nexemption for the shooting of arrows from bows shall apply on land of at least\ntwo acres that is zoned for agricultural use.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-20.3; 1954, c. 223; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-518; 1968,\nc. 294; 1992, c. 600; 1993, c. 367; 1995, c. 284; 1997, c. 587; 2000, c. 229;\n2004, c. 930; 2005, c. 564; 2017, c. 530; 2018, cc. 557, 558.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}