Gun Range On My Own Property...

[iMoses14]

Is this legal in PA? And, if so, how many acres do I need to own?

I lived in Florida for all of 2009. They allowed to you shoot on your own property as long as you were outside city limits and had 5 acres of land and were shooting into "no mans land" / a pile of dirt or sand.

Thanks in advance.

[twoeggsup]

Check with your locality.

Preemption keeps localities from making 'gun laws' such as no guns in parks but they can regulate the discharge of firearms.

None where I live and my neighbor is always plinking away.

[dsnover]

At least in my township, the process works like this: Go to the township building, and ask about getting permission to have a private range. The issue is given to the supervisors, who get feedback from the Chief of Police as to whether or not there is adequate backstop, and whether or not the neighbors will get p*ssed about gunfire, or will be joining the fun themselves, and then finally, the supervisors give a thumbs up or down, giving a 'permit' for it. Generally, the biggest issue is a backstop adequate for the intended round, and what lies beyond in case of flyers, more than the neighbor thing.

So far as I have been on the board or attended meetings, we haven't turned anyone down, but obviously, your area may be different, and the politicos could make it a pain.

[Exbiker]

Your best bet is to research all zoning and nuisance ordinances. Then check the layout of your land.
If you are moving any earth or constructing a building you will need permits but if there is nothing in any ordinances and you meet the proper distances then don`t go stirring up trouble.

[djturnz]

This is all I have.

Pennsylvania CONS. STAT. 35 5 450.1 (1985).

All owners of rifle, pistol, silhouette, skeet, trap, blackpowder or other similar ranges in this Commonwealth shall be exempt and immune from any civil action or criminal prosecution in any matter relating to noise or noise pollution resulting from the ranges, provided that the owners of the ranges are in compliance with any applicable noise control laws or ordinances extant at the time construction of the range was initiated.

Section 2. Nuisances and Injunctions

The owners of the ranges shall not be subject to any action for nuisance and no court in this Commonwealth shall enjoin the use or operation of the ranges on the basis of noise.

This won't help you get it, but if someone tries to complain later, it might help you keep it.

[kevindsingleton]

This is all I have.



This won't help you get it, but if someone tries to complain later, it might help you keep it.

What a great piece of legislation! Where are the legislators who enacted this law, today? We need more people like this in Harrisburg!

[Exbiker]

Doesn`t that look like it`s for previously constructed ranges or commercial ranges? Ranges that were there before tighter zoning and urban sprawl.

[West Chester]

Try shooting for 5 minutes straight then hide. See if the police show up.