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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>349373</law_id><section_number>15.2-917</section_number><catch_line>Applicability of local noise ordinances to certain sport shooting ranges</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="46" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="2" 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> No local <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> regulating any noise shall subject a <span class="dictionary">sport shooting range</span> to noise control standards more stringent than those in effect at its <span class="dictionary">effective date</span>. The operation or use of a <span class="dictionary">sport shooting range</span> shall not be enjoined on the basis of noise, nor shall any person be subject to action for nuisance or criminal <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> in any matter relating to noise resulting from the operation of the range, if the range is in compliance with all <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span> relating to noise in effect at the time construction or operation of the range was approved, or at the time any application was submitted for the construction or operation of the range. <a id="paragraph-1302058" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-917/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">sport shooting range</span> operating or approved for construction within the Commonwealth, which has been condemned through an eminent domain proceeding by any condemning entity, and which relocates to another site within the same <span class="dictionary">locality</span> within two years of the final condemnation <span class="dictionary">order</span>, shall not be subjected to any noise control standard more stringent than those in effect at the <span class="dictionary">effective date</span> of such <span class="dictionary">sport shooting range</span>. <a id="paragraph-1302059" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-917/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> For purposes of this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">sport shooting range</span>&#x201D; means an area or structure designed for the use of rifles, shotguns, pistols, silhouettes, skeet, trap, black powder, or any other similar sport shooting.
			For purposes of this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">effective date</span>&#x201D; means the time the construction or operation of the sports shooting range initially was approved, or at the time any application was submitted for the construction or operation of the sports shooting range, whichever is earliest. <a id="paragraph-1302060" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-917/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1990, cc. 541, 577, &#xA7; 15.1-29.20; 1997, c. 587; 2005, c. 544; 2006, c. 704.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
