{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-915.4.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-915.4.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-915.4.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-915.4.html"}],"law_id":79348,"edition_id":1,"section_id":79348,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-915.4","catch_line":"Counties, cities and towns authorized to regulate use of pneumatic guns","history":"2004, c. 930; 2011, c. 832.","full_text":"A\n\nA 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\n\nNo 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\n\nTraining 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\n\nCommercial 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\n\nAs 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.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":284063,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":284064,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":284065,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":284066,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":284067,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13288,"edition_id":1,"name":"Public Health and Safety; Nuisances","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13058,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:34","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:34","permalink":{"id":156359,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13288,"identifier":"1","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1","url":"\/15.2\/II\/9\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13058,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Powers of Local Governments","identifier":"9","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:11","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:11","permalink":{"id":156357,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13058,"identifier":"9","token":"15.2\/II\/9","url":"\/15.2\/II\/9\/","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":81812,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-900","catch_line":"Abatement or removal of nuisances by localities; 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This law was first created in 2004. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 930<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 2011, chapter 832<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":67657,"section_number":"22.1-277.07","catch_line":"Expulsion of students under certain circumstances; exceptions","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-277.07\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":156473,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79348,"identifier":"15.2-915.4","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-915.4","url":"\/15.2-915.4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-915.4\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-915.4","dublin_core":{"Title":"Counties, cities and towns authorized to regulate use of pneumatic guns","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-915.4","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A locality<\/span> may prohibit, by ordinance<\/span>, the shooting of pneumatic guns<\/span> in any areas of the locality<\/span> that are in the opinion<\/span> of the governing body<\/span> 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<\/span> approved by a parent or guardian of any minor<\/span> below the age of 16 in all uses of pneumatic guns<\/span> on private or public property. The ordinance<\/span> may specify that minors<\/span> above the age of 16 may, with the written consent of a parent or guardian, use a pneumatic gun<\/span> at any place designated for such use by the local governing body<\/span> or on private property with the consent of the owner. The ordinance<\/span> may specify that any minor<\/span>, whether permitted by a parent or guardian to use a pneumatic gun<\/span> or not, shall be responsible for obeying all laws<\/span>, regulations and restrictions governing such use. Any penalty<\/span> for a pneumatic gun<\/span> offense<\/span> set forth in such an ordinance<\/span> shall not exceed a Class 3 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> No such ordinance<\/span> authorized by subsection A shall prohibit the use of pneumatic guns<\/span> 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. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Training of minors<\/span> in the use of pneumatic guns<\/span> shall be done only under direct supervision of a parent, guardian, Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps instructor, or a certified instructor. Training of minors<\/span> above the age of 16 may also be done without direct supervision if approved by the minor<\/span>’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. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> 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. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> As used in this section, “pneumatic gun<\/span>” means any implement, designed as a gun, that will expel a BB or a pellet by action of pneumatic pressure. “Pneumatic gun<\/span>” 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. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCOUNTIES, CITIES AND TOWNS AUTHORIZED TO REGULATE USE OF PNEUMATIC GUNS (\u00a7\n15.2-915.4)\n\nA. A locality may prohibit, by ordinance, the shooting of pneumatic guns in any\nareas of the locality that are in the opinion of the governing body so heavily\npopulated as to make such conduct dangerous to the inhabitants thereof, and may\nrequire supervision by a parent, guardian, or other adult supervisor approved by\na parent or guardian of any minor below the age of 16 in all uses of pneumatic\nguns on private or public property. The ordinance may specify that minors above\nthe age of 16 may, with the written consent of a parent or guardian, use a\npneumatic gun at any place designated for such use by the local governing body\nor on private property with the consent of the owner. The ordinance may specify\nthat any minor, whether permitted by a parent or guardian to use a pneumatic gun\nor not, shall be responsible for obeying all laws, regulations and restrictions\ngoverning such use. Any penalty for a pneumatic gun offense set forth in such an\nordinance shall not exceed a Class 3 misdemeanor.\n\nB. No such ordinance authorized by subsection A shall prohibit the use of\npneumatic guns at facilities approved for shooting ranges, on other property\nwhere firearms may be discharged, or on or within private property with\npermission of the owner or legal possessor thereof when conducted with\nreasonable care to prevent a projectile from crossing the bounds of the\nproperty.\n\nC. Training of minors in the use of pneumatic guns shall be done only under\ndirect supervision of a parent, guardian, Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps\ninstructor, or a certified instructor. Training of minors above the age of 16\nmay also be done without direct supervision if approved by the minor’s\ninstructor, with the permission of and under the responsibility of a parent or\nguardian, and in compliance with all requirements of this section. Ranges and\ninstructors may be certified by the National Rifle Association, a state or\nfederal agency that has developed a certification program, any service of the\nDepartment of Defense, or any person authorized by these authorities to certify\nranges and instructors.\n\nD. Commercial or private areas designated for use of pneumatic paintball guns\nmay be established and operated for recreational use. Equipment designed to\nprotect the face and ears shall be provided to participants at such recreational\nareas, and signs must be posted to warn against entry into the paintball area by\npersons who are unprotected or unaware that paintball guns are in use.\n\nE. As used in this section, “pneumatic gun” means any implement,\ndesigned as a gun, that will expel a BB or a pellet by action of pneumatic\npressure. “Pneumatic gun” includes a paintball gun that expels by\naction of pneumatic pressure plastic balls filled with paint for the purpose of\nmarking the point of impact.\n\nHISTORY: 2004, c. 930; 2011, c. 832.","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}}