{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-915.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-915.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-915.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-915.html"}],"law_id":84864,"edition_id":1,"section_id":84864,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-915","catch_line":"Control of firearms; applicability to authorities and local governmental agencies","history":"1987, c. 629, \u00a7 15.1-29.15; 1988, c. 392; 1997, cc. 550, 587; 2002, c. 484; 2003, c. 943; 2004, cc. 837, 923; 2009, cc. 735, 772; 2012, c. 757; 2020, cc. 1205, 1247.","full_text":"A\n\nNo locality shall adopt or enforce any ordinance, resolution, or motion, as permitted by § 15.2-1425, and no agent of such locality shall take any administrative action, governing the purchase, possession, transfer, ownership, carrying, storage, or transporting of firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof other than those expressly authorized by statute. For purposes of this section, a statute that does not refer to firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof shall not be construed to provide express authorization.\n\t\t\tNothing in this section shall prohibit a locality from adopting workplace rules relating to terms and conditions of employment of the workforce. However, no locality shall adopt any workplace rule, other than for the purposes of a community services board or behavioral health authority as defined in § 37.2-100, that prevents an employee of that locality from storing at that locality’s workplace a lawfully possessed firearm and ammunition in a locked private motor vehicle. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a law-enforcement officer, as defined in § 9.1-101, from acting within the scope of his duties.\n\t\t\tThe provisions of this section applicable to a locality shall also apply to any authority or to a local governmental entity, including a department or agency, but not including any local or regional jail, juvenile detention facility, or state-governed entity, department, or agency.B\n\nAny local ordinance, resolution, or motion adopted prior to July 1, 2004, governing the purchase, possession, transfer, ownership, carrying, or transporting of firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof, other than those expressly authorized by statute, is invalid.C\n\nIn addition to any other relief provided, the court may award reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and court costs to any person, group, or entity that prevails in an action challenging (i) an ordinance, resolution, or motion as being in conflict with this section or (ii) an administrative action taken in bad faith as being in conflict with this section.D\n\nFor purposes of this section, “workplace” means “workplace of the locality.”E\n\nNotwithstanding the provisions of this section, a locality may adopt an ordinance that prohibits the possession, carrying, or transportation of any firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof (i) in any building, or part thereof, owned or used by such locality, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality, for governmental purposes; (ii) in any public park owned or operated by the locality, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality; (iii) in any recreation or community center facility operated by the locality, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality; or (iv) in any public street, road, alley, or sidewalk or public right-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit. In buildings that are not owned by a locality, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality, such ordinance shall apply only to the part of the building that is being used for a governmental purpose and when such building, or part thereof, is being used for a governmental purpose.\n\t\t\tAny such ordinance may include security measures that are designed to reasonably prevent the unauthorized access of such buildings, parks, recreation or community center facilities, or public streets, roads, alleys, or sidewalks or public rights-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit by a person with any firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof, such as the use of metal detectors and increased use of security personnel.\n\t\t\tThe provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the activities of (i) a Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program operated at a public or private institution of higher education in accordance with the provisions of 10 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq. or (ii) any intercollegiate athletics program operated by a public or private institution of higher education and governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association or any club sports team recognized by a public or private institution of higher education where the sport engaged in by such program or team involves the use of a firearm. Such activities shall follow strict guidelines developed by such institutions for these activities and shall be conducted under the supervision of staff officials of such institutions.F\n\nNotice of any ordinance adopted pursuant to subsection E shall be posted (i) at all entrances of any building, or part thereof, owned or used by the locality, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality, for governmental purposes; (ii) at all entrances of any public park owned or operated by the locality, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality; (iii) at all entrances of any recreation or community center facilities operated by the locality, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality; and (iv) at all entrances or other appropriate places of ingress and egress to any public street, road, alley, or sidewalk or public right-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":304036,"text":"No locality shall adopt or enforce any ordinance, resolution, or motion, as permitted by § 15.2-1425, and no agent of such locality shall take any administrative action, governing the purchase, possession, transfer, ownership, carrying, storage, or transporting of firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof other than those expressly authorized by statute. For purposes of this section, a statute that does not refer to firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof shall not be construed to provide express authorization.\n\t\t\tNothing in this section shall prohibit a locality from adopting workplace rules relating to terms and conditions of employment of the workforce. However, no locality shall adopt any workplace rule, other than for the purposes of a community services board or behavioral health authority as defined in § 37.2-100, that prevents an employee of that locality from storing at that locality’s workplace a lawfully possessed firearm and ammunition in a locked private motor vehicle. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a law-enforcement officer, as defined in § 9.1-101, from acting within the scope of his duties.\n\t\t\tThe provisions of this section applicable to a locality shall also apply to any authority or to a local governmental entity, including a department or agency, but not including any local or regional jail, juvenile detention facility, or state-governed entity, department, or agency.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":304037,"text":"Any local ordinance, resolution, or motion adopted prior to July 1, 2004, governing the purchase, possession, transfer, ownership, carrying, or transporting of firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof, other than those expressly authorized by statute, is invalid.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":304038,"text":"In addition to any other relief provided, the court may award reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and court costs to any person, group, or entity that prevails in an action challenging (i) an ordinance, resolution, or motion as being in conflict with this section or (ii) an administrative action taken in bad faith as being in conflict with this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":304039,"text":"For purposes of this section, “workplace” means “workplace of the locality.”","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":304040,"text":"Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a locality may adopt an ordinance that prohibits the possession, carrying, or transportation of any firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof (i) in any building, or part thereof, owned or used by such locality, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality, for governmental purposes; (ii) in any public park owned or operated by the locality, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality; (iii) in any recreation or community center facility operated by the locality, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality; or (iv) in any public street, road, alley, or sidewalk or public right-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit. In buildings that are not owned by a locality, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality, such ordinance shall apply only to the part of the building that is being used for a governmental purpose and when such building, or part thereof, is being used for a governmental purpose.\n\t\t\tAny such ordinance may include security measures that are designed to reasonably prevent the unauthorized access of such buildings, parks, recreation or community center facilities, or public streets, roads, alleys, or sidewalks or public rights-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit by a person with any firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof, such as the use of metal detectors and increased use of security personnel.\n\t\t\tThe provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the activities of (i) a Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program operated at a public or private institution of higher education in accordance with the provisions of 10 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq. or (ii) any intercollegiate athletics program operated by a public or private institution of higher education and governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association or any club sports team recognized by a public or private institution of higher education where the sport engaged in by such program or team involves the use of a firearm. Such activities shall follow strict guidelines developed by such institutions for these activities and shall be conducted under the supervision of staff officials of such institutions.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":304041,"text":"Notice of any ordinance adopted pursuant to subsection E shall be posted (i) at all entrances of any building, or part thereof, owned or used by the locality, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality, for governmental purposes; (ii) at all entrances of any public park owned or operated by the locality, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality; (iii) at all entrances of any recreation or community center facilities operated by the locality, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality; and (iv) at all entrances or other appropriate places of ingress and egress to any public street, road, alley, or sidewalk or public right-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13288,"edition_id":1,"name":"Public Health and Safety; 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civil penalty","url":"\/15.2-926.4\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-926.4","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":57565,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-914","catch_line":"Regulation of child-care services and facilities in cities and certain counties","url":"\/15.2-914\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-914","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":80158,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-915.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/15.2-915.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-915.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-915\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1987. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 629 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. Unfortunately, the 1987 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 8 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 1988, chapter 392; in 1997, chapters 550<\/a> and 587<\/a>; in 2002, chapter 484<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 943<\/a>; in 2004, chapters 837<\/a> and 923<\/a>; in 2009, chapters 735<\/a> and 772<\/a>; in 2012, chapter 757<\/a>; in 2020, chapters 1205<\/a> and 1247<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":65830,"section_number":"22.1-131.1","catch_line":"Certain school board property; establishment of gun-free zone permitted","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-131.1\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":70056,"section_number":"15.2-1425","catch_line":"Actions by localities","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1425\/"},{"id":76036,"section_number":"37.2-100","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/37.2-100\/"},{"id":73488,"section_number":"9.1-101","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-101\/"}],"permalink":{"id":156457,"object_type":"law","relational_id":84864,"identifier":"15.2-915","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-915","url":"\/15.2-915\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-915\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-915","dublin_core":{"Title":"Control of firearms; applicability to authorities and local governmental agencies","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-915","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> No locality<\/span> shall adopt or enforce any ordinance<\/span>, resolution, or motion<\/span>, as permitted by § 15.2-1425<\/a>, and no agent of such locality<\/span> shall take any administrative action, governing the purchase, possession<\/span>, transfer, ownership, carrying, storage, or transporting of firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof other than those expressly authorized by statute<\/span>. For purposes of this section, a statute<\/span> that does not refer to firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof shall not be construed to provide express authorization.\n\t\t\tNothing in this section shall prohibit a locality<\/span> from adopting workplace<\/span> rules relating to terms and conditions of employment of the workforce. However, no locality<\/span> shall adopt any workplace<\/span> rule, other than for the purposes of a community services<\/span> board or behavioral health authority as defined in § 37.2-100<\/a>, that prevents an employee of that locality<\/span> from storing at that locality<\/span>’s workplace<\/span> a lawfully possessed firearm and ammunition in a locked private motor vehicle. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a law<\/span>-enforcement officer, as defined in § 9.1-101<\/a>, from acting within the scope of his duties.\n\t\t\tThe provisions of this section applicable to a locality<\/span> shall also apply to any authority or to a local governmental entity, including a department or agency, but not including any local or regional jail, juvenile detention facility, or state-governed entity, department, or agency. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any local ordinance<\/span>, resolution, or motion<\/span> adopted prior to July 1, 2004, governing the purchase, possession<\/span>, transfer, ownership, carrying, or transporting of firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof, other than those expressly authorized by statute<\/span>, is invalid. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> In addition to any other relief provided, the court<\/span> may award reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and court<\/span> costs to any person, group, or entity that prevails in an action challenging (i) an ordinance<\/span>, resolution, or motion<\/span> as being in conflict with this section or (ii) an administrative action taken in bad faith as being in conflict with this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> For purposes of this section, “workplace<\/span>” means “workplace<\/span> of the locality<\/span>.” <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a locality<\/span> may adopt an ordinance<\/span> that prohibits the possession<\/span>, carrying, or transportation of any firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof (i) in any building, or part thereof, owned or used by such locality<\/span>, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality<\/span>, for governmental purposes; (ii) in any public park owned or operated by the locality<\/span>, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality<\/span>; (iii) in any recreation or community center facility operated by the locality<\/span>, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality<\/span>; or (iv) in any public street, road, alley, or sidewalk or public right-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit. In buildings that are not owned by a locality<\/span>, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality<\/span>, such ordinance<\/span> shall apply only to the part of the building that is being used for a governmental purpose and when such building, or part thereof, is being used for a governmental purpose.\n\t\t\tAny such ordinance<\/span> may include security measures that are designed to reasonably prevent the unauthorized access of such buildings, parks, recreation or community center facilities, or public streets, roads, alleys, or sidewalks or public rights-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit by a person with any firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof, such as the use of metal detectors and increased use of security personnel.\n\t\t\tThe provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the activities of (i) a Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program operated at a public or private institution of higher education in accordance with the provisions of 10 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq. or (ii) any intercollegiate athletics program operated by a public or private institution of higher education and governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association or any club sports team recognized by a public or private institution of higher education where the sport engaged in by such program or team involves the use of a firearm. Such activities shall follow strict guidelines developed by such institutions for these activities and shall be conducted under the supervision of staff officials of such institutions. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> Notice of any ordinance<\/span> adopted pursuant to subsection E shall be posted (i) at all entrances of any building, or part thereof, owned or used by the locality<\/span>, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality<\/span>, for governmental purposes; (ii) at all entrances of any public park owned or operated by the locality<\/span>, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality<\/span>; (iii) at all entrances of any recreation or community center facilities operated by the locality<\/span>, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality<\/span>; and (iv) at all entrances or other appropriate places of ingress and egress to any public street, road, alley, or sidewalk or public right-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCONTROL OF FIREARMS; APPLICABILITY TO AUTHORITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL\nAGENCIES (\u00a7 15.2-915)\n\nA. No locality shall adopt or enforce any ordinance, resolution, or motion, as\npermitted by § 15.2-1425, and no agent of such locality shall take any\nadministrative action, governing the purchase, possession, transfer, ownership,\ncarrying, storage, or transporting of firearms, ammunition, or components or\ncombination thereof other than those expressly authorized by statute. For\npurposes of this section, a statute that does not refer to firearms, ammunition,\nor components or combination thereof shall not be construed to provide express\nauthorization.\n\t\t\tNothing in this section shall prohibit a locality from adopting workplace\nrules relating to terms and conditions of employment of the workforce. However,\nno locality shall adopt any workplace rule, other than for the purposes of a\ncommunity services board or behavioral health authority as defined in §\n37.2-100, that prevents an employee of that locality from storing at that\nlocality’s workplace a lawfully possessed firearm and ammunition in a\nlocked private motor vehicle. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a\nlaw-enforcement officer, as defined in § 9.1-101, from acting within the\nscope of his duties.\n\t\t\tThe provisions of this section applicable to a locality shall also apply to\nany authority or to a local governmental entity, including a department or\nagency, but not including any local or regional jail, juvenile detention\nfacility, or state-governed entity, department, or agency.\n\nB. Any local ordinance, resolution, or motion adopted prior to July 1, 2004,\ngoverning the purchase, possession, transfer, ownership, carrying, or\ntransporting of firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof,\nother than those expressly authorized by statute, is invalid.\n\nC. In addition to any other relief provided, the court may award reasonable\nattorney fees, expenses, and court costs to any person, group, or entity that\nprevails in an action challenging (i) an ordinance, resolution, or motion as\nbeing in conflict with this section or (ii) an administrative action taken in\nbad faith as being in conflict with this section.\n\nD. For purposes of this section, “workplace” means “workplace\nof the locality.”\n\nE. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a locality may adopt an\nordinance that prohibits the possession, carrying, or transportation of any\nfirearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof (i) in any building,\nor part thereof, owned or used by such locality, or by any authority or local\ngovernmental entity created or controlled by the locality, for governmental\npurposes; (ii) in any public park owned or operated by the locality, or by any\nauthority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the locality;\n(iii) in any recreation or community center facility operated by the locality,\nor by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the\nlocality; or (iv) in any public street, road, alley, or sidewalk or public\nright-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public\nand is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would\notherwise require a permit. In buildings that are not owned by a locality, or by\nany authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the\nlocality, such ordinance shall apply only to the part of the building that is\nbeing used for a governmental purpose and when such building, or part thereof,\nis being used for a governmental purpose.\n\t\t\tAny such ordinance may include security measures that are designed to\nreasonably prevent the unauthorized access of such buildings, parks, recreation\nor community center facilities, or public streets, roads, alleys, or sidewalks\nor public rights-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to\nthe public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event\nthat would otherwise require a permit by a person with any firearms, ammunition,\nor components or combination thereof, such as the use of metal detectors and\nincreased use of security personnel.\n\t\t\tThe provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the activities of (i) a\nSenior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program operated at a public or\nprivate institution of higher education in accordance with the provisions of 10\nU.S.C. § 2101 et seq. or (ii) any intercollegiate athletics program\noperated by a public or private institution of higher education and governed by\nthe National Collegiate Athletic Association or any club sports team recognized\nby a public or private institution of higher education where the sport engaged\nin by such program or team involves the use of a firearm. Such activities shall\nfollow strict guidelines developed by such institutions for these activities and\nshall be conducted under the supervision of staff officials of such\ninstitutions.\n\nF. Notice of any ordinance adopted pursuant to subsection E shall be posted (i)\nat all entrances of any building, or part thereof, owned or used by the\nlocality, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled\nby the locality, for governmental purposes; (ii) at all entrances of any public\npark owned or operated by the locality, or by any authority or local\ngovernmental entity created or controlled by the locality; (iii) at all\nentrances of any recreation or community center facilities operated by the\nlocality, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled\nby the locality; and (iv) at all entrances or other appropriate places of\ningress and egress to any public street, road, alley, or sidewalk or public\nright-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public\nand is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would\notherwise require a permit.\n\nHISTORY: 1987, c. 629, \u00a7 15.1-29.15; 1988, c. 392; 1997, cc. 550, 587; 2002, c.\n484; 2003, c. 943; 2004, cc. 837, 923; 2009, cc. 735, 772; 2012, c. 757; 2020,\ncc. 1205, 1247.","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}}