<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>79348</law_id><section_number>15.2-915.4</section_number><catch_line>Counties, cities and towns authorized to regulate use of pneumatic guns</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>22.1-277.07</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Powers of Local Government</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="9">General Powers of Local Governments</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Public Health and Safety; Nuisances</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">locality</span> may prohibit, by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>, the shooting of <span class="dictionary">pneumatic guns</span> in any areas of the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> that are in the <span class="dictionary">opinion</span> of the <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">supervisor</span> approved by a parent or guardian of any <span class="dictionary">minor</span> below the age of 16 in all uses of <span class="dictionary">pneumatic guns</span> on private or public property. The <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> may specify that <span class="dictionary">minors</span> above the age of 16 may, with the written consent of a parent or guardian, use a <span class="dictionary">pneumatic gun</span> at any place designated for such use by the local <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> or on private property with the consent of the owner. The <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> may specify that any <span class="dictionary">minor</span>, whether permitted by a parent or guardian to use a <span class="dictionary">pneumatic gun</span> or not, shall be responsible for obeying all <span class="dictionary">laws</span>, regulations and restrictions governing such use. Any <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> for a <span class="dictionary">pneumatic gun</span> <span class="dictionary">offense</span> set forth in such an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall not exceed a Class 3 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-284063" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-915.4/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> No such <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> authorized by subsection A shall prohibit the use of <span class="dictionary">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. <a id="paragraph-284064" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-915.4/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Training of <span class="dictionary">minors</span> in the use of <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">minors</span> above the age of 16 may also be done without direct supervision if approved by the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x2019;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. <a id="paragraph-284065" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-915.4/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">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. <a id="paragraph-284066" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-915.4/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> As used in this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">pneumatic gun</span>&#x201D; means any implement, designed as a gun, that will expel a BB or a pellet by action of pneumatic pressure. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Pneumatic gun</span>&#x201D; 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. <a id="paragraph-284067" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-915.4/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2004, c. 930; 2011, c. 832.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
