BylawsBylaw No. 1452Community standardsAdopted 2013In force, as amended

Firearms and Bows Bylaw

Discharging firearms, bows or crossbows in Langford is generally prohibited, with exceptions for specified officials, organized range practice, certain permitted activities and pest-control work. Throwing or propelling axes or knives is allowed only indoors through an organized association or league, or at events hosted by a licensed business.

Who it affects: The bylaw applies to anyone discharging firearms, bows or crossbows, or throwing or propelling axes or knives within the City of Langford.

Key rules

The parts residents most often run into. The PDF is the official text.

Peace Officers, Conservation Officers, animal control officers and Armed Forces members may discharge weapons while lawfully performing their duties.
Organized rifle, pistol or bow association members may shoot during practice or competition at a range.
A valid permit is required to discharge blank cartridges for dog training.
Hunting wildlife for crop protection requires regional or provincial government authority.
Pest-control workers may discharge firearms to remove an animal from a building.
Axe or knife throwing is allowed indoors through an organized association or league, or at a licensed business event.

Amendments

This version includes these amending bylaws.

Bylaw No. 1875 · adopted Nov 4, 2019

Full textShow

CONSOLIDATED

BYLAW 1452, A BYLAW TO REGULATE THE DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS AND
BOWS

List of Amendments
Consolidated for Convenience Only

This Bylaw has been consolidated as of November 4th, 2019 for convenience only. Where
applicable, capitalization, numerical order, and numbering have been altered for consistency.
Copies of the original Bylaw and amendments may be viewed at the Langford City Hall located
on the Second Floor, 877 Goldstream Avenue, Langford, BC.

Consolidated to:

Amendment
Bylaw Number
Date Adopted
Amendment #1, 2019
1875
Nov 4, 2019

Bylaw No. 1452

Page 2 of 3

CITY OF LANGFORD
BYLAW NO. 1452

A BYLAW TO REGULATE THE DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS AND BOWS AND THE THROWING OF AXES AND
KNIVES

Municipal Council of the City of Langford enacts as follows;

1.
In this bylaw, the following words have the following meaning;

a) “Conservation Officer” means a Conservation Officer as defined in the Environmental
Management Act, [SBC 2003] CHAPTER 53.
b) “firearm” means, a rifle, shotgun, handgun or spring gun, and any device that propels a
projectile by means of an explosion, compressed gas or spring but does not include a bow.
c) “bow” means a long bow or cross bow
d) “cross bow” means a box fixed across a stalk with a groove for the arrow or bolt and a
mechanism for holding and releasing the string.
e) Peace Officer means an Officer under the Police Act.
f) “Axe” means a tool consisting of a metal blade attached at a right angle to a handle, often
used for chopping wood, and can include a hatchet or tomahawk.
g) “Knife” – means a cutting instrument consisting of a blade fastened to, or equipped with a
handle and can include a spike, shuriken or similar weapon.

2.
No person shall discharge any firearm, bow or crossbow within the City of Langford except as
herein provided:

a) Any Peace Officer, Conservation Officer, animal control officer or member of the Armed
Forces of Canada lawfully engaged in the execution of their duty.
b) Any member of an organized rifle, pistol or bow Association engaged in practice or
competition shooting upon a rifle, pistol or bow range.
c) Any person who is the holder of a valid permit and is engaged in the discharge of blank
cartridges for the purpose of training dogs.
d) Any person who is engaged in hunting wildlife for agricultural crop protection under a
regional or provincial government authority.
e) Any person carrying on a pest control business or employed by a pest control business
engaged in the removal of an animal from a building.

3.
No persons shall throw, propel or cast, for target or any other purpose, an axe or a knife within
the City of Langford except as herein provided:

(i) Indoors only as a member of an organized axe or knife throwing Association or League;
(ii) By any person participating as the customer or client of a licensed business which hosts
controlled axe and knife throwing events.

4.
Penalty – Every person who is guilty of an offence of any of the provisions of this bylaw is
punishable in accordance with the Offence Act of British Columbia.
5.
City of Langford Bylaw No. 509, “Firearms and Bow Use Bylaw No. 509, 2000”, cited as is hereby
repealed.

Bylaw No. 1452

Page 3 of 3

6.
This bylaw may be cited as “City of Langford Firearms, Bow, Axe and Knife Use Bylaw, No.
1452, 2013”

READ A FIRST TIME this 21st day of January, 2013.

READ A SECOND TIME this 21st day of January, 2013.

READ A THIRD TIME this 21st day of January, 2013.

FINALLY PASSED AND ADOPTED this 18th day of February, 2013.

MAYOR

(Certified Correct)

CORPORATE OFFICER