Is shooting your airsoft gun in your backyard legal?
 

I plan on purchasing an airsoft gun soon, and I was wondering if it's legal to shoot it in your backyard. I live in the suburbs and there are homes all around me, I'm paranoid they'll call the police for the stupidest reason and I'll get into something. I plan on using the airsoft for shooting targets and cans, small figurines, etc. My backyard is medium sized, about the same size as 4 minivans. Thank you for your time.

You should consider an air rifle instead of an airsoft. Airsoft is not meant for target shooting, they are not as accurate as bb guns.

if u want to shoot targets or cans get a pellet gun, and yes shooting an airsoft gun or any kinda of realistic airgun is a bad idea, don't do it.

I've also been planning on purchasing an air rifle or an airsoft. Well, if I do go with the bb gun, is it legal to shoot in your backyard?

Generally no. Not to mention how stupid of an idea it is to bring something that looks nearly identical to a firearm into full view of the public.

Well, depending on where you live you can be seriously screwed over by the local authorities. Check with your local By-Law enforcement office and ask what the By-Law regulations are for discharging an air gun.
For example, anyone with in the GTA (Toronto, Scarbarough, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Brampton, etc) will want to avoid shooting an airsoft gun in their back yard, because there is an existing By-Law stating that it is unlawful to discharge any air gun (paint ball, airsoft, BB gun, etc) with in city limits in the GTA area. So if your neighbours call in and complain, the locals police will have grounds to seize your toys, and possibly charge you with disturbing the peace. If on the other hand you are lucky enought to live in the country, you should be golden.

SHA DO

Ok then. So where am I able to use a bb gun legally?

Private property with no public throughput and no public view. Airsoft is also used with permission at paintball facilities.

Are there any ranges in the GTA area where I am able to play with bb guns? I don't plan on playing an all out game (yet), just want to shoot targets for now.

for more information regarding airguns, checkout airgunforum.ca, for airsoft games check out the events section.

If you think it's stupid, it probably is.

With that said, shooting ANY air gun or real gun within city limits (unless at a prescribed location) is illegal and can land you a criminal charge under the Criminal Code of Canada and the Firearms Act.

If you are over 18yrs old...consider coming out to one of these:

CQB - Aug 31st
CQB - Sept 27th

They'll be suitable for guys who are new to airsoft. It's more geared around playing...but you'll get to see all types of stuff and be able to ask any/all questions you might have in person.

I wrote this earlier today...sorry, doesn't answer your specific question...but there might be something helpful in there as you look into airsoft.

New Players - Hints & Notes & Navigating ASC

If you're in public view...I'd highly recommend against shooting anything. All it'll take is one pissed off neighbour and the cops will be at your door. Legal or not...it's going to be headaches you don't want.

Tys

Ditto for Halifax. Same municipal law.

...However, if you have an airsoft gun and don't mind stepping on bbs, then the basement is your best bet for an urban area. Outside is where phone calls will be made to police and -worse- 911. Not good for airsoft or airguns , whichever you choose. At least in your basement you can have some privacy.

As Sha Do says, though, rural is golden for this activity.

Ok thanks a lot guys, you've been a lot of help :)

How old are you exactly? If you're under 18 (preferably under 16) consider joining Cadets. I kind of think it's a waste of time, you'll be able to at least shoot something. Although there's asinine rules and such and you're probably better off waiting it out than wasting your time there.

If you're over 18 then consider getting AV'ed and playing.

NOTE: Although it's illegal to discharge an airgun within city limits you can usually get away with it if it's not in public view and you're shooting in a garage or basement. However be prepared to face the consequences of a by-law violation if a neighbour calls to complain ("I'm uhhh... renovating and that's my brad nailer you're hearing").

Yep, bang on. Most bylaws do not differentiate between firearms / pellet / airsoft.
Bylaw... don't do it.

you have to be careful
 

about "rural" areas as well... most areas are amalgamated to regional municipalities where the "urban" bylaws still apply.

it comes down to zoning then.. if an area is zoned agricultural or recreational you are good to discharge firearms.. if it is zoned residential or commercial you are not.

again a call to your local bylaw enforcement officer will clarify where you can and can't shoot things

Depending where you live in Cambridge, Ontario you might be ok. Or maybe not.

This was in today's Waterloo Region Record:

City fixes old bylaw that allows gunfire only in urban areas

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/583511

Most cities have bylaws in place against discharging any gun, air or real, within city limits. This means the only place you can shoot is indoors at your house or at a prescribed location. So no, shooting in your back hard is NOT legal and will get you into serious trouble with the authorities.

Sha Do is right though. Asking about municipal or local police about the airsoft/paintball laws is a good idea, we all know all cities operate differently. If they say no you can't ... then whatever, play as much games as you can to compensate the cost of your gears and weapon ... I mean, buying a 500-1000$ gun and you can't shoot everyday is painful.

It's like financing / leasing a racing car but you have school every weekday in downtown ... parking there is too expensive so you have to take the bus. Then what? You paid so much for your car but you don't get to drive it as much as you could. That's seriously sad.

hi there guys i was googling this exact topic so i decided to register, im almost 21, live in Toronto and i got a pellet gun for christmas as a gift.


since they aren't allowed to be discharged within city limits where are they allowed? is there like a shooting range or some kinda field you guys go target shooting at or something?

check airgunforum.ca for information on pellet guns

thx

By-Laws
 

While I'm sure most try to help when it comes to this sort of thing I think when trying to quote a law or regulation you should do so with the reference for the actual law in question. For example By-laws for the City of Winnipeg to list a by -law 2890/81 which states it should be known as the Firearms By-law. It does say that you can not fire any firearm or other gun without the permission of the Chief of Police. You can take this two ways. 1. Airsoft guns are not firearms as stated in the firearms act in they fire under 500 FPS. One could say well they say any other kind of gun but I don't think that would apply as long as there are screw guns, glue guns or cap guns. 2. You could send a letter and tell the Chief that you are setting up a range in your backyard suitable for airsoft complete with a BB trap and list your range safety rules and blah blah. You would probably either get ignored or a short letter that says go for it. But that's here in Winnipeg. It may or may not be that way where you live. The point here is that a person from Winnipeg could say to you that there is a by-law here that says you can't fire any gun in your backyard and they'd be right but it would not apply to what you want to do. But then keep in mind that anyone can call up and complain about anything you do, its just a matter of weather anyone will care about what they claim. In the current climate of anyone downtown might be armed, that realistic looking AR in your backyard would warrent further investigation if reported but still might be legal.

Be Careful...
 

Be careful to Google your city's bylaws.

In Milton, Ontario, technically it is part of the GTA now, or GTHA, where it is a bylaw that even airsoft pistols are illegal to be discharged.

Even if you ignore that bylaw, the local Milton bylaw outlaws discharge of "Firearms" which is hilariously defined as:

except of course within "prohibited areas" which is basically the rural areas, surrounding the cities. Then you can discharge them with specific precautions, not within 30M of a highway, or 150 ft or so from a house or something.

Canadian law seems so "pussy-like" to me. Not only can we not responsibly own and control firearms, we cant even fire a fricking airsoft gun that fires plastic...

Our law does not specify the firearms velocity or muzzle velocity. It just outright bans them all. SO retarted.

We need new government and re-written law, allowing us to do as we please as long as we are not hurting, killing, or causing shit. Of course with respecting property and ownership rights of others.

you created an account to answer a 5 year old question....

SO???? A municipalities definition of firearm is pretty standard. They also have weird definitions for other things too.

By the way the way the bylaw is written technically a powder actuated tools (eg. Hilti gun) are a bylaw violation to use but I don't think a city bylaw officer will split hairs and fine you.