§ 12-11.1. Discharging firearms.

(a)

No person shall discharge any firearm within the county within one thousand feet of a (i) platted subdivision; (ii) business establishment; (iii) public building; (iv) public gathering; or (v) public meeting place, unless engaged in lawful hunting. For purposes of this subsection (a), a "platted subdivision" shall mean a single-family residential subdivision of more than five lots platted at the same time.

(b)

Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.

(c)

This section shall not apply to a (i) law-enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties; (ii) any person whose discharge of a firearm is justifiable or excusable at law in the protection of life or property; (iii) the discharge, on land zoned for agricultural use, of a firearm for the killing of deer pursuant to Section 29.1-529 of the Code of Virginia (1950, as amended); (iv) the discharge of a firearm that is otherwise specifically authorized by law; (v) the discharge of black powder firearms using blanks as part of historical re-enactments, historical living history programs and historical demonstrations; (vi) the discharge of starter blank weapons to initiate athletic competitions; or (vii) ceremonial and patriotic displays. (10-2-08.)

For state law as to authority of the county to regulate the discharge of firearms, see Code of Va., §§ 15.2-1209, 18.2-280 and 29.1-527.