Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
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  1. #1
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    Default Townships in southeast PA where legal to shoot on own property?

    A friend who's a major gun guy is thinking of moving into southeast PA for work and is wondering if it's possible to buy someplace where he can shoot on his own residential property. He's interested ideally in Delaware, Chester, or Montgomery counties, but might consider Berks or Lancaster.

    I only know my township has an ordinance prohibiting shooting regardless of the size of one's property. Is this true in general of this part of the state? Or is it easier to list townships where shooting is restricted, because generally it's not?

  2. #2
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    Birchrunville, Pennsylvania
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    Default Re: Townships in southeast PA where legal to shoot on own property?

    I hear shooting sometimes out where I live in West Vincent. Not sure where it's coming from but lots of farms out here. Pretty sure the popo at the twp bldg can here it if I can.

  3. #3
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    Douglassville, Pennsylvania
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    Default Re: Townships in southeast PA where legal to shoot on own property?

    I think that this is a hard one to answer. Where it's legal to shoot and where you can get away with it could be two different things. I called my twp office when I moved here and asked them what the laws were here (not that I would take that for granted but it's a good place to start). They told me that they leave it up to the hunting laws to govern what one can shoot and where. I don't hunt but I am pretty sure that I am in shotgun territory but there is a family on the hill nearby that shoots rifles periodically and nobody says anything about it.
    Gender confusion is a mental illness

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Townships in southeast PA where legal to shoot on own property?

    Right: I assume that even where nominally forbidden by ordinance one can often get away with it ... until someone complains and the police or township decide it will help to keep the peace if they enforce the ordinance.

    So the goal here is to find places where there is no ordinance that can be used if a cop or administrator is having a bad day.

    Anyone here know any gun-savvy realtors I might refer my friend to?

    Also, this seems like a useful project: to catalog and track municipal shooting ordinances in PA. Is there an obvious existing PA organization or group that might be doing this, or want to host it?

  5. #5
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    Chester County, Pennsylvania
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    Default Re: Townships in southeast PA where legal to shoot on own property?

    I would pretty much forget Delco, and look in some of the more northern townships of Chester County that are less populated. East Nantmeal, Warwick, South Coventry, West Vincent, etc.

    http://usgwarchives.net/maps/pa/county/chester/usgs/

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Townships in southeast PA where legal to shoot on own property?

    I would start by looking at the hunting regs and see where shotgun is required and rifle is forbidden. Then see if the location has the required set backs, then look at that twp's. ordinance and see if it's addressed.

    ETA: When I was just a little nipper the divisor around here was Route 100 (IIRC), east of it was shotgun only, west of it was rifle permitted, that line has definitely moved west since then.
    Gender confusion is a mental illness

  7. #7
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    Westtown, Pennsylvania
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    Default Re: Townships in southeast PA where legal to shoot on own property?

    Quote Originally Posted by dbooksta View Post

    Anyone here know any gun-savvy realtors I might refer my friend to?
    Yep. Me! Sending you a PM 👍

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Townships in southeast PA where legal to shoot on own property?

    Always thought all of Chester County was shotgun only for hunting but as far as handgun on own or permitted property for recreational shooting would like to know myself if it's allowed. Probably farther out from West Chester the looser the rules.

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    Default Re: Townships in southeast PA where legal to shoot on own property?

    Quote Originally Posted by Knightshift View Post
    Always thought all of Chester County was shotgun only for hunting but as far as handgun on own or permitted property for recreational shooting would like to know myself if it's allowed. Probably farther out from West Chester the looser the rules.
    Shotgun only for hunting, but not range/target shooting, or they'd be arresting everyone at the multiple gun clubs, and ranges we have.

  10. #10
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    Default Re: Townships in southeast PA where legal to shoot on own property?

    Quote Originally Posted by Pilot321 View Post
    Shotgun only for hunting, but not range/target shooting, or they'd be arresting everyone at the multiple gun clubs, and ranges we have.
    This is a good point and one that I was pondering as well. Imma have to ask the guys next time I'm at work day or meeting night but I know that the club that I belong to was there long before the current rules went into effect.
    Gender confusion is a mental illness

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