Shooting on your own land

[mikej]

Does anyone know where I can find a summary of the laws covering when I can shoot on my own land? I'm looking to move and I want to get enough land to where I can shoot on my property without being hassled. My google-fu is failing me and all I'm getting is results highlighting the potential coming gun control laws or other irrelevant stuff. This is Bell county, if that matters any.

 

[deemus]

As long as it not in some city limits you should be good to go. Safety is key. Be careful you are not in a area that could be sucked into some local township. I've seen that happen. Place at the edge of town, then suddenly its in the city limits.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

How many acres?

 

[Texastransplant]

I know it's posted here somewhere as I have posted but from memory. Be outside the city limits, have more then 10 acres, less then 10 and their could be problems. If you land gets within the city limits you have to have at least 10 acres to even shoot a bb gun or shotgun. You have to have 50 within city limits to shoot a rifle and even some cities or counties may deny that. I know where I moved here 3 years ago, it was the reason I wanted more then 10 acres away from city limits and in questioning the seller and neighbors of any problems. Make sure you are not inside of a subdivison they may have their own rule which will effect you. I will look and see if I can find the info on this. Next county over here in Coryell.

 

[Charlie]

Check with county ordinances also (as well as city ordinances). Some cities do not have an ordinance against the discharging of a firearm within the city limits (believe it or not).

 

[General Zod]

On rural land - not within city limits - your primary concern is that your bullets cannot cross a property line. Within city limits or annexed areas, acreage restrictions come into play.

Correct me if I'm wrong, folks, but this is what I've been able to find out.

 

[Charlie]

Many are similar but it depends entirely on the particular city or county as to the ordinances.

 

[General Zod]

The county does matter - I'm familiar mostly with Hays County, and they don't care about acreage, they care about bullets crossing property lines or public roads. Bell County could have a 10 acre requirement or somesuch.

 

[Charlie]

The county does matter - I'm familiar mostly with Hays County, and they don't care about acreage, they care about bullets crossing property lines or public roads. Bell County could have a 10 acre requirement or somesuch.

I don't understand your statement? If a different county doesn't care then how can Bell County have a 10 acre requirement and Hays County doesn't care. I was only stating that different counties have different ordinances. Maybe I'm misreading your post.

 

[General Zod]

Some counties put acreage restrictions on whether you can shoot on private property. Hays doesn't.

 

[General Zod]

More to the point, I have no idea if Bell County does or doesn't have a minimum acreage requirement. Most counties in Texas apparently don't.

 

[Charlie]

Right. I misread your statement and thought you indicated the county "doesn't" matter! Sorry (old eyes). You can legally discharge a firearm on any size lot in the city of Kerrville as long as it is not done in a reckless/dangerous manner and projectiles don't leave your property.

 

[Charlie]

Who wins when the county and city have conflicting ordinances? As in the county says it's OK but the property is also in the city limits and it has an ordinance against it?

 

[General Zod]

I have a feeling that, if you're inside an incorporated area or city limits, the city ordnance applies.

 

[Charlie]

I have a feeling that, if you're inside an incorporated area or city limits, the city ordnance applies.

I have that "feeling" also but no actual verification. If the county says you can't do something but the city says it's OK, what then? All cities are in a county??

 

[General Zod]

If county laws had precedence, then why would there be city laws? Wouldn't make sense.

 

[Charlie]

You're trying to infer logic into county and city ordinances? Good luck around here!

 

[TXARGUY]

Who wins when the county and city have conflicting ordinances? As in the county says it's OK but the property is also in the city limits and it has an ordinance against it?

The city ordinance takes precedence.

 

[pvtsnowball82]

Cities have more authority to regulate activity on private property, such as zoning laws, firearms discharge restrictions, etc. Counties generally are not granted such authority by the state.

 

[ScorpionHunter]

On rural land - not within city limits - your primary concern is that your bullets cannot cross a property line. Within city limits or annexed areas, acreage restrictions come into play.

Correct me if I'm wrong, folks, but this is what I've been able to find out.

I think the bullets not crossing the property line is the most consistent law outside of city ordinances. We had that issue where I'm in Hays County a couple weeks ago where a guy was teaching his daughter to shoot. The problem was he was shooting into trees. The .357 rounds went through about 100 yards of cedar trees and across my friend's neighboring property. The rounds were whizzing just over his head. He had to duck and get in the house where he called the sheriff. They didn't press charges, although they could have. My friend said the guy was extremely embarrassed and apologetic (my friend's wife reamed him a new one). I was told the only charge the sheriff would have brought was the rounds crossing the property lines.