WEAPONS

Richmond, Va., City Code ch. 19, art. VII, div. 2

in effect

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-326 Definitions.

Sec. 19-326. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Ammunition means a cartridge, pellet, ball, missile or projectile adapted for use in a firearm, toy pistol or toy rifle. Firearm means a weapon in which ammunition may be used or discharged by explosion, pneumatic pressure or mechanical contrivance, but does not mean a toy pistol or toy rifle. Minor means a person under the age of 18 years. Public place means a street, alley, road, highway, bridge, viaduct, subway, underpass, park, parkway, playfield or playground in the City. A public school and the grounds appurtenant thereto and a public building (municipally owned or occupied) and the grounds appurtenant thereto, whether wholly or partially within the City limits, shall be deemed a public place. (Code 1993, § 20-146; Code 2004, § 66-341; Code 2015, § 19-326; Code 2020, § 19-326)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-327 Willfully discharging firearms.

Sec. 19-327. - Willfully discharging firearms. If any person willfully discharges or causes to be discharged any firearm anywhere within the City limits, such person shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. However, this section shall not apply to the discharge of firearms: (1) By any law enforcement officer in the performance of official duties; (2) By any person whose willful act is otherwise justifiable or excusable at law in the protection of such person's life or is otherwise specifically authorized by law; (3) By any law enforcement officer or military personnel as part of authorized training, a funeral, a non-holiday salute or in commemoration of any State holiday; (4) When using blank cartridges as part of a theatrical performance or sporting event; or (5) For the killing of deer, pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 29.1-529, on land of at least five acres that is zoned for agricultural use. (Code 1993, § 20-147; Code 2004, § 66-342; Code 2015, § 19-327; Code 2020, § 19-327; Ord. No. 2012-55-39, § 1, 4-23-2012)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-328 Discharge of bows and arrows; urban archery hunting.

Sec. 19-328. - Discharge of bows and arrows; urban archery hunting. (a) For the purposes of this section, the term "bow" includes all compound bows, crossbows, slingbows, longbows, and recurve bows having a peak draw weight of ten pounds or more. The term "bow" does not include bows that have a peak draw weight of less than ten pounds or that are designed or intended to be used principally as toys. The term "arrow" means a shaftlike projectile intended to be shot from a bow. (b) No person shall discharge an arrow from a bow in a manner that can be reasonably expected to result in the impact of the arrow upon the property of another without the written permission from the owner or tenant of such property. The discharge of an arrow across or over the boundaries of a property for which no permission has been given by the property owner shall create a rebuttable presumption that the use of the bow was not conducted with reasonable care. (c) No person shall discharge an arrow from a bow from, over, across or into any street, sidewalk, alley, roadway, public land or public place, or towards any building or dwelling in such a manner that the arrow may strike such building or dwelling. (d) No person shall hunt with a bow within the city, except deer may be hunted with bows within the city in accordance with this subsection. Any such hunting activity shall be subject to the following conditions: (1) Hunting is permitted only during applicable hunting seasons designated by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. (2) Hunters shall abide by all applicable provisions of State law and State hunting regulations, including, but not limited to, licensing requirements. (3) Hunting with bows is permitted only on parcels which are three acres or more of contiguous area. Hunting with bows is prohibited in all other areas within the city. (4) Property owners must obtain an annual urban archery hunting permit from the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police shall issue annual urban archery hunting permits at no cost to property owners upon application by property owners meeting all requirements of this section. (5) Property owners shall identify urban archery hunting permit property with signs approved by the Chief of Police. (6) It is unlawful to hunt except from a stand elevated a minimum of ten feet above the ground. (7) A hunter must obtain written permission from the owner or tenant of the property on which hunting activity is to take place before hunting and shall carry a copy of the written permission and a copy of the urban archery hunting permit issued to the property owner at all times while hunting. (8) No person shall discharge an arrow from a bow within 100 yards of a building, dwelling, street, sidewalk, alley, roadway, public land, or public place. (9) Hunters are responsible for the appropriate disposition of deer carcasses. (10) If a deer which has been shot with an arrow leaves the property on which the hunter has permission to hunt, the hunter shall obtain permission from any property owner over which he or she must travel to pursue or retrieve the deer. (11) No person shall hunt deer in the city by use of dogs. (e) Any violation of this section shall be a Class 3 misdemeanor. (Code 2020, § 19-328; Ord. No. 2021-230, § 2, 11-8-2021)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-329 Clasp knives.

Sec. 19-329. - Clasp knives. It shall be unlawful for any person to have in such person's possession or to offer or sell or to sell a clasp knife having a blade more than 3¼ inches in length. (Code 1993, § 20-154; Code 2004, § 66-347; Code 2015, § 19-330; Code 2020, § 19-330)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-330 Disposition of certain unclaimed weapons.

Sec. 19-330. - Disposition of certain unclaimed weapons. The Chief of Police is hereby authorized to dispose of all unclaimed firearms and other weapons held by and coming into the possession of the Department of Police, which have been in the possession of the Department of Police for a period of more than 120 days, either through public sale through the Department of Procurement Services or by consigning to any agency of the City for use of the unclaimed property as a whole or to be condemned and dismantled for the usable parts. For the purposes of this section, the term "unclaimed firearms and other weapons" means any firearm or other weapon belonging to another which has been acquired by a law enforcement officer pursuant to his duties, which is not needed in any criminal prosecution, which has not been claimed by its rightful owner and which the State Treasurer has indicated will be declined if remitted under the Virginia Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act (Code of Virginia, § 55.1-2500 et seq.). At the discretion of the Chief of Police, or the Chief's duly authorized agents, unclaimed firearms and other weapons may be destroyed by any means which renders the firearms and other weapons permanently inoperable. Prior to the destruction of such firearms and other weapons, the Chief of Police, Sheriff, or their duly authorized agents shall comply with the notice provision contained in Section 19-294. In lieu of destroying any such unclaimed firearm, the Chief may donate the firearm to the Department of Forensic Science, upon agreement of the Department. (Code 1993, § 20-155; Code 2004, § 66-348; Code 2015, § 19-331; Code 2020, § 19-331; Ord. No. 2010-21-67, § 2, 4-26-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-331 Carrying concealed weapons.

Sec. 19-331. - Carrying concealed weapons. (a) The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Ballistic knife means any knife with a detachable blade that is propelled by a spring-operated mechanism. Handgun means any pistol or revolver or other firearm, except a machine gun, originally designed, made and intended to fire a projectile by means of an explosion of a combustible material from one or more barrels when held in one hand. Spring stick means a spring-loaded metal stick activated by pushing a button which rapidly and forcefully telescopes the weapon to several times its original length. (b) If any person carries about his person, hidden from common observation: (1) Any pistol, revolver, or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind by action of an explosion of any combustible material; (2) Any dirk, bowie knife, stiletto knife, ballistic knife, machete, razor, sling bow, spring stick, metal knucks, or blackjack; (3) Any flailing instrument consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such a manner as to allow them to swing freely, which may be known as a nun chahka, nun chuck, nunchaku, shuriken, or fighting chain; (4) Any disc, of whatever configuration, having at least two points or pointed blades which is designed to be thrown or propelled and which may be known as a throwing star or oriental dart; or (5) Any weapon of like kind as those enumerated in this subsection, he is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For the purpose of this section, a weapon shall be deemed to be hidden from common observation when it is observable but is of such deceptive appearance as to disguise the weapon's true nature. It shall be an affirmative defense to a violation of Subsection (b)(1) of this section regarding a handgun, that a person had been issued, at the time of the offense, a valid concealed handgun permit. A second violation of this section or a conviction under this section subsequent to any conviction under any substantially similar ordinance of any county, city, or town shall be punishable as a Class 6 felony, and a third or subsequent such violation shall be punishable as a Class 5 felony. (c) The exemptions in Code of Virginia, § 18.2-308 apply to this section. (d) Fees for processing of an application or issuance of a permit for a concealed handgun and to cover the cost of conducting an investigation for a concealed handgun permit shall be paid to the City. The application processing fee shall be $10.00, and the investigation fee shall be $35.00. (Code 1993, § 20-156; Code 2004, § 66-349; Code 2015, § 19-332; Code 2020, § 19-332; Ord. No. 2012-105-90, § 1, 6-25-2012)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-332 Furnishing certain weapons to minors.

Sec. 19-332. - Furnishing certain weapons to minors. If any person sells, barters, gives or furnishes or causes to be sold, bartered, given or furnished to any minor a dirk, switchblade knife or Bowie knife, having good cause to believe such individual to be a minor, such person shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (Code 1993, § 20-158; Code 2004, § 66-351; Code 2015, § 19-333; Code 2020, § 19-333)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-333 Transporting loaded shotgun or rifle.

Sec. 19-333. - Transporting loaded shotgun or rifle. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to transport, possess or carry a loaded shotgun or a loaded rifle in any vehicle on any public street, road or highway. Violations of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $100.00. (b) This section shall not apply to duly authorized law enforcement officers or to military personnel in the performance of their lawful duties nor to any person demonstrating a reasonable belief that a loaded rifle or shotgun is necessary for his or her personal safety in the course of employment or business. (Code 1993, § 20-160; Code 2004, § 66-353; Code 2015, § 19-334; Code 2020, § 19-334)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-334 Carrying firearms in certain places.

Sec. 19-334. - Carrying firearms in certain places. (a) No person shall possess, carry, or transport any firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof: (1) In any building or part thereof, owned or used by the City, or by any authority or local government entity created or controlled by the City, for governmental purposes; (2) In any public park owned or operated by the City, or by any authority or local government entity created or controlled by the City; (3) In any recreation or community center facility operated by the City, or by any authority or local government entity created or controlled by the City; or (4) 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. (b) In buildings that are not owned by the City, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the City, this section 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. This prohibition shall not apply to any activities to which Code of Virginia, § 15.2-915 provides that this section shall not apply or to any duly authorized military personnel in the performance of their lawful duties, law enforcement officer, or security guard contracted or employed by the City. Notice of this section shall be posted as required by Code of Virginia, § 15.2-915. (Code 2015, § 19-334.1; Code 2020, § 19-335; Ord. No. 2019-165, § 1, 7-1-2019; Ord. No. 2020-184, § 1, 9-8-2020)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-335 Reporting lost or stolen firearms.

Sec. 19-335. - Reporting lost or stolen firearms. (a) Any person who loses a firearm or from whom a firearm is stolen shall report the loss or theft to the Department of Police within 24 hours after such person discovers the loss or theft or is informed by a person with personal knowledge of the loss or theft. The Department of Police shall enter such report information into the National Crime Information Center maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the loss or theft of an antique firearm as defined in Code of Virginia, § 18.2-308.2:2. (b) A violation of this section is punishable, for a first offense, by a civil penalty of $125.00 and, for any subsequent offense, by a civil penalty of $250.00, which shall be paid to the City treasury. (Code 2015, § 19-334.2; Code 2020, § 19-336; Ord. No. 2019-289, § 1(19-334.2), 11-12-2019)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-336 Penalties.

Sec. 19-336. - Penalties. Any person violating this division shall, except as otherwise provided, be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (Code 1993, § 20-161; Code 2004, § 66-354; Code 2015, § 19-335; Code 2020, § 19-337)

Source: City of Richmond, Virginia, Code (2026 recodification) and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/va/richmond/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICICO_CH19OFMIPR_ARTVIIOFAGPUHESA_DIV2WEFetched: 11/8/2026