Ventura County Municipal Code Art. 1 Discharge

Except as otherwise provided in this Article, it is unlawful to shoot, fire, or discharge any firearm, bow and arrow, or any air, gas or spring weapon in the unincorporated area of Ventura County within three hundred (300) yards of any dwelling, house, residence or other building used in connection therewith without the express permission of the owner or person in possession of the dwelling, house, residence, or any other building.

"Firearm" as used herein, includes rifle, shotgun, pistol, or revolver or other device from which any shot, bullet or projectile is discharged by force of gunpowder or other explosive, including projectiles which carry or contain their own fuel and are propelled by reaction.

Sec. 5211 does not apply to any peace officer acting in his official line of duty.

Sec. 5211 does not prohibit the discharge of any firearm when necessary so to do, to protect life or property, or to destroy or kill any predatory or dangerous animal.

Sec. 5211 shall not be construed to prohibit the establishment or maintenance of any pistol, rifle, or target range approved by the Board of Supervisors, nor to prohibit the discharge at any target thereon, by any person using such range, of any firearm in or on such range, in the event that such range is so installed, constructed, safeguarded, equipped and used as to adequately prevent any bullet, shot or missile from being projected beyond the confines of such range.

No range for the shooting of any firearm may be established or maintained without a permit issued by the Board of Supervisors.

It is unlawful for any person under eighteen (18) years of age to possess in a public place in the unincorporated area of Ventura County any firearm, bow and arrow, or any air, gas, or spring weapon, except in the following cases:

When such person is in the immediate charge of a parent, guardian or adult person having responsibility for the conduct of said person under eighteen (18) years of age.

When such person is lawfully hunting pursuant to the provisions of the California Fish and Game Code.

When such person is engaged in marksmanship training or firearm safety training at an established range or shooting area under the supervision of a competent adult instructor.

When such person is carrying a firearm unloaded and either in a dismantled or "take-down" condition, or completely wrapped or in a carrying case made for the purpose of carrying such firearm.

No person shall possess a firearm with a live or blank cartridge in a portion of the mechanism in a highly restricted area hereinafter described, nor shall any person discharge across, in, or into any portion of highly restricted area hereinafter described, a firearm, bow and arrow, air, gas, or spring weapon or any device capable of injuring or killing any animal or damaging or destroying any public or private property. The provisions of this Section shall not apply in the following situations: a peace officer acting in his official line of duty; owners or residents using said weapons on their land to protect life and property or to destroy injured animals or to slaughter animals or to destroy or kill any predatory or dangerous animal; owners or residents or persons acting under their authority discharging blank cartridges while training dogs on their land; persons using said weapons at a target range which has been approved in writing by the Board of Supervisors.

All unincorporated area lying within the property described as follows:

Beginning at the intersection of the easterly line of Victoria Avenue with the northerly line of Wooley Road; thence along said northerly line of Wooley Road

Easterly to the center line of Ventura Road; thence along said center line

Northerly to the center line of Gonzales Road; thence along said center line of Gonzales Road

Easterly to the easterly boundary of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company right-of-way; thence along said railroad right-of-way

Northerly and northwesterly to a point in the northeasterly line of the Ventura Freeway (U.S. Highway 101); thence

Northwesterly along said northeasterly line of said highway to the city limits line of the City of Ventura; thence

Westerly along said city boundary line to an angle point therein, same being a point in the easterly boundary of the Ventura Industrial Park; thence

Southwesterly along said boundary line to the northeasterly line of the Southern Pacific Railroad right-of-way; thence

Northwesterly along said railroad right-of-way and said city limits line to an angle point in the city boundary; thence along said city boundary

Southwesterly, northwesterly, southwesterly, northwesterly and southwesterly to the mean high tide line of the Pacific Ocean, being an angle point in the city boundary; thence

Southeasterly along said mean high tide line to an intersection with the city limits line of the city of Port Hueneme as it extends southwesterly along the southwesterly line of Sawtelle Avenue; thence along said city limits line

Northeasterly to an angle point in said city boundary; thence

Northwesterly along said city boundary as it runs along the northeasterly line of Island View Avenue, to an angle point in said city boundary; thence

Easterly and northwesterly along said city boundary and along the southerly and northeasterly line of Hollywood-by-the-Sea Tract to the northerly line of Lake Shore Drive; thence

Westerly along said northerly line of Lake Shore Drive to the easterly line of Victoria Avenue; thence

Northerly along said easterly line of Victoria Avenue to the point of beginning.

Except as otherwise provided herein, it is unlawful to shoot, fire, or discharge, or permit or cause to be shot, fired or discharged, any firearm, airgun, or spring gun in or into any areas of the Los Padres National Forest in Ventura County which are posted against shooting by the authorities of the National Forest, or in or into any inhabited area or established camp in Los Padres National Forest in Ventura County.

"Firearm" as used herein, includes rifle, shotgun, pistol, or revolver or other device from which any shot, bullet or projectile is discharged by force of gunpowder or other explosive, including projectiles which carry or contain their own fuel and are propelled by reaction.

"Airgun" as used herein, includes any B-B gun, pellet gun or any other gun operated by compressed air or compressed gas, and shall include both rifles and pistols.

"Spring Gun" as used herein, includes any gun, rifle or pistol in which a spring or springs furnishes the power to propel the pellet, B-B, bullet or other projectile.

"Posting" as used herein, is defined as the placing of signs prohibiting shooting at intervals not less than three to the mile along all exterior boundaries and at all roads and trails entering such area where shooting is prohibited.

The signs shall not be less than one square foot in area and shall show that shooting is prohibited by law by lettering not less than two inches in height.

Section 5214 does not apply to any peace officer or public officer acting in his official line of duty.

Section 5214 except as otherwise provided, does not prohibit the discharge of any firearm, airgun or spring gun or shooting of any other missile when necessary so to do, to protect life or property, or to destroy or kill any predatory or dangerous animal.

Section 5214 shall not be deemed or construed to prohibit the establishment or maintenance of any pistol, rifle or target range approved by the National Forest, by the Forest Supervisor, nor to prohibit the discharge at any target thereon, by any person using such range, of any firearm, airgun or spring gun in or on such range, in the event that such range is so installed, constructed, safeguarded, equipped and used as to adequately prevent any bullet, shot or missile from being projected beyond the confines of such range.

No range for the shooting of any firearm, airgun or spring gun, or other similar weapon, may be established or maintained without a permit issued by the Forest Supervisor.

The District Ranger, Officers and Foresters of the U.S. Government, the State Forester, the State Game Warden, the County Director of Parks and any of their agents or deputies are hereby designated as peace officers pursuant to the provisions of Penal Code Section 817. In addition to the above-designated peace officers, any peace officer is hereby empowered to enforce the provisions of Section 5214 and any subsection thereof.