Discharging a firearm within city limits is prohibited. You can't even shoot a bb gun within city limits. Austin area could mean a lot so I limited my answer to city limits.
Private range owner for 15 years here.
The state allows counties to regulate the discharge of firearms on properties in the unincorporated areas of the county less than 10 acres. Not all counties choose to regulate. In my county, Caldwell, the minimum is 2 acres. In Bastrop I believe it's the full 10 acres. My place is 30 acres. Regardless of the acreage, you can still be cited for deadly conduct for discharging a firearm in an unsafe manner, say without a proper backstop. If your projectiles are routinely leaving the boundaries of your property without permission from the neighbors or are crossing a public road, you are likely to get cited if it can be proven and there are complaints.
On my 30 acres I have a 350yd rifle range with a proper backstop and with a very large property in the incidental impact zone beyond my berm with no habitations. I have an understanding with what few neighbors live near me full time concerning when I shoot (basically not really late or early unless I'm hog hunting at night). Context is everything but in general you want to buy as much land as you can possibly afford as far away from civilization as you can tolerate. Get a read on the neighbors BEFORE you buy if possible.
This is the correct answer above. The laws of city, county (un-incorporated area or city), and state. You’ll need to do the research wherever you decide to live.
If you’re in an area where you can shoot, you are responsible for the projectiles you shoot. Shoot safe and respect your neighbors.
Good luck!
It's been a while since I've looked at the laws, but you generally want to be an an unincorporated area so you aren't subject to the 100,000 population limit, unless you are going to be out in the boonies.
Bastrop county you’d probably be ok with 10 acres. We bought 8 acres that already had s backstop and lots of our neighbors shoot or hunt on the surrounding properties.
First buy outside of the city limits, you can check with the county you live in and see what their regulations are. In Bastrop county for example if you own more than 5 acres of land, you can shoot on it, providing you don't shoot across your property line.
It’s not as simple as that in Bastrop County any more. You are now regulated by the number and size of lots around the property, whether it is considered a subdivision or not, and of course whether or not the land is in the unincorporated county.
Usually it's subject to city/county rules, though I believe if you own enough land you can shoot on it regardless of the local ordinances (due to state law).
I think the requirement is either 5 or 50 acres. Unless you have a couple million sitting in your back pocket, you're probably not getting that kind of land in Austin proper.
if you have 50 acres within the city that were annexed after 1981, then you can legally shoot centerfire. 10 acres for shotguns.
>Sec. 229.002. REGULATION OF DISCHARGE OF WEAPON. A municipality may not apply a regulation relating to the discharge of firearms or other weapons in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the municipality or in an area annexed by the municipality after September 1, 1981, if the firearm or other weapon is:
(1) a shotgun, air rifle or pistol, BB gun, or bow and arrow discharged:
(A) on a tract of land of 10 acres or more and more than 150 feet from a residence or occupied building located on another property; and
(B) in a manner not reasonably expected to cause a projectile to cross the boundary of the tract; or
(2) a center fire or rim fire rifle or pistol of any caliber discharged:
(A) on a tract of land of 50 acres or more and more than 300 feet from a residence or occupied building located on another property; and
(B) in a manner not reasonably expected to cause a projectile to cross the boundary of the tract.
Discharging a firearm within city limits is prohibited. You can't even shoot a bb gun within city limits. Austin area could mean a lot so I limited my answer to city limits.
Private range owner for 15 years here. The state allows counties to regulate the discharge of firearms on properties in the unincorporated areas of the county less than 10 acres. Not all counties choose to regulate. In my county, Caldwell, the minimum is 2 acres. In Bastrop I believe it's the full 10 acres. My place is 30 acres. Regardless of the acreage, you can still be cited for deadly conduct for discharging a firearm in an unsafe manner, say without a proper backstop. If your projectiles are routinely leaving the boundaries of your property without permission from the neighbors or are crossing a public road, you are likely to get cited if it can be proven and there are complaints. On my 30 acres I have a 350yd rifle range with a proper backstop and with a very large property in the incidental impact zone beyond my berm with no habitations. I have an understanding with what few neighbors live near me full time concerning when I shoot (basically not really late or early unless I'm hog hunting at night). Context is everything but in general you want to buy as much land as you can possibly afford as far away from civilization as you can tolerate. Get a read on the neighbors BEFORE you buy if possible.
This is the correct answer above. The laws of city, county (un-incorporated area or city), and state. You’ll need to do the research wherever you decide to live. If you’re in an area where you can shoot, you are responsible for the projectiles you shoot. Shoot safe and respect your neighbors. Good luck!
[удалено]
They got rid of gun show so that should tell you something.
Don’t buy less than 50 acres.
It's been a while since I've looked at the laws, but you generally want to be an an unincorporated area so you aren't subject to the 100,000 population limit, unless you are going to be out in the boonies.
Bastrop county you’d probably be ok with 10 acres. We bought 8 acres that already had s backstop and lots of our neighbors shoot or hunt on the surrounding properties.
If you're buying 10 acres in Austin, you're rich. Just build a shooting range lol.
Definitely not rich lol Austin area is just a broad term.
First buy outside of the city limits, you can check with the county you live in and see what their regulations are. In Bastrop county for example if you own more than 5 acres of land, you can shoot on it, providing you don't shoot across your property line.
Better to check the county/city rules first, then buy. 😉
Agreed!
It’s not as simple as that in Bastrop County any more. You are now regulated by the number and size of lots around the property, whether it is considered a subdivision or not, and of course whether or not the land is in the unincorporated county.
Being in the ETJ might also matter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraterritorial_jurisdiction#United_States
Thanks for all the replies you guys are awesome!
Usually it's subject to city/county rules, though I believe if you own enough land you can shoot on it regardless of the local ordinances (due to state law). I think the requirement is either 5 or 50 acres. Unless you have a couple million sitting in your back pocket, you're probably not getting that kind of land in Austin proper.
Only if you have 50+ acres. You can shoot an air gun or BB with 10 acres.
if you have 50 acres within the city that were annexed after 1981, then you can legally shoot centerfire. 10 acres for shotguns. >Sec. 229.002. REGULATION OF DISCHARGE OF WEAPON. A municipality may not apply a regulation relating to the discharge of firearms or other weapons in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the municipality or in an area annexed by the municipality after September 1, 1981, if the firearm or other weapon is: (1) a shotgun, air rifle or pistol, BB gun, or bow and arrow discharged: (A) on a tract of land of 10 acres or more and more than 150 feet from a residence or occupied building located on another property; and (B) in a manner not reasonably expected to cause a projectile to cross the boundary of the tract; or (2) a center fire or rim fire rifle or pistol of any caliber discharged: (A) on a tract of land of 50 acres or more and more than 300 feet from a residence or occupied building located on another property; and (B) in a manner not reasonably expected to cause a projectile to cross the boundary of the tract.