HomeMy WebLinkAboutCowlitz Shooting Ordinance Chapter 10.22 OUTDOOR PUBLIC SHOOTING RANGE DEVELOPMENT STANDA... Page 1 of 7
Chapter 10.22
OUTDOOR PUBLIC SHOOTING RANGE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
Sections:
10.22.010 Title.
10.22.020 Purpose.
10.22.030 Special use permit required.
10.22.040 Exemptions.
10.22.050 Definitions.
10.22.060 Development standards.
10.22.070 Application—Required information.
10.22.080 Inspections.
10.22.090 Penalties—Violations.
10.22.100 Fees.
10.22.110, Liability for damages.
10.22.120 Severability.
10.22.130 Effective date.
10.22.010 Title.
This chapter shall be known as the"Outdoor Public Shooting Range Development Standards
Ordinance." [Ord. 96-076, § 1, 5-6-96.]
10.22.020 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards, a procedure for public review, and to require a
special use permit for the development of public outdoor shooting range facilities so as to offer
recreational firearm shooting opportunities and training activities in a manner that will protect the
health, safety, and welfare of the property owners, residents, and other users of land in the vicinity of
new shooting ranges. [Ord. 96-076, §2, 5-6-96.]
10.22.030 Special use permit required.
Notwithstanding any provision of CCC 18.10.275, public shooting ranges shall be permitted uses
solely pursuant to a special use permit issued pursuant to CCC 18.10.280 through 18.10.325(Zoning
Code Special Uses)and subject to the standards of this chapter. [Ord. 96-076, § 3, 5-6-96.]
10.22.040 Exemptions.
The terms of this chapter shall not apply to indoor shooting ranges, public outdoor shooting ranges
developed and operating as of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, private
outdoor shooting ranges where no fee is charged or membership required for the use of the facility
and where firing occurs less than five times per month by other than the property owner or lessee, or
to ranges used exclusively for archery; provided, any expansion of a public outdoor shooting range
beyond that developed and operating as of the effective date of said ordinance, or beyond the terms
of a permit issued hereunder, shall require issuance of a new special use permit and the total facility
shall be subject to the standards of this chapter. [Ord. 96-076, §4, 5-6-96.]
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Chapter 10.22 OUTDOOR PUBLIC SHOOTING RANGE DEVELOPMENT STANDA... Page 3 of 7
2. "Firing range" may refer to several ranges constructed in a complex.
"Pistol" means a firearm capable of being held, aimed and fired with one hand. Also known as a
handgun.
"Public shooting range" means a firing range where a user fee is charged, or where a person must be
a member of a group to be allowed to use the facility and membership requires the payment of dues
or fees.
"Range Manual" means The Range Manual—A Guide to Planning and Construction,The National
Rifle Association, 1988.
"Ricochet catcher" means a device installed along a backstop, a berm, or on the range floor,
designed to capture ricocheting projectiles. Ricochet catchers are more frequently used on backstop
areas where the slope or backstop material does not positively contain bullets.
Rifle.
1. "Rifle" means a modern firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder. Its main characteristic
is a rifled (grooved)barrel that imparts a spin to a single projectile as it travels through the bore.
2. Some rifles designed for military or law enforcement use may have a pistol grip stock instead
of a shoulder stock.
3. For purposes of this chapter, "rifles" shall also include black powder and other muzzle loading
firearms, some of which may have rifled barrels.
"Safety baffles" means vertical or sloping barriers designed to prevent a projectile from traveling into
an undesired area or direction. Most often used to prevent bullets from leaving a firing range.
"Safety fan" applies only to rifle and pistol firing ranges. The safety fan of a firing range consists of
three parts: the direct fire zone, the safety zone, and the ricochet zone. The direct fire zone is that
area into which all shots are fired during the normal course of shooting. This zone includes all
directions and angles of fire used on a firing range while shooting at a specific target, either stationary
or moving,from a specific firing point. The length of the direct fire zone extends to the maximum
range of the ammunition and firearm used on the firing range, but can be shortened by physical
barriers or other devices which reduce the maximum distance of a bullet's trajectory. The safety zone
extends 10 degrees to the left and right of the direct fire zone and protects against errant bullets
caused by cross fire or accidental discharge of a firearm. The ricochet zone is that area 45 degrees to
the left and right of the firing line, and extended a certain distance dependent on the type of firearm
and ammunition allowed on the range (i.e., 85 yards for air guns, and up to 1,200 yards for high-
powered rifles). The line is then extended parallel to each side of the safety zone downrange to the
intersection of a line extended from the terminus of the direct fire zone through the outer corner of the
safety zone. See Drawing No. 103 in the Range Manual.
"Shotfall zone" means that area of a shotgun firing range where spent shotgun shot falls to the earth
and where development, other than trap or skeet houses or the equivalent facilities for other types of
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Warning signs identifying the range shall be posted around the perimeter of the parcel or parcels on
which the shooting range is located such that each sign is visible and legible from the next. The same
signs shall be posted similarly on the security fencing surrounding the safety fan(s).
C. Parking. At a minimum, there shall be one and one-half parking places for each firing position.
D. Noise. Notwithstanding the provision of WAC 173-060-050(1)(b), all firing line locations shall be
located such that the sound levels generated by the discharge of firearms on the range do not exceed
a 90 dB peak impulse response at the property line. The burden of proof that the proposed range will
meet this standard shall rest with the applicant. All noise studies shall be performed by a professional
engineer registered in the State of Washington or by a person with a degree in a discipline related to
acoustics.
E. Range Orientation. All firing lines should be aimed at target lines to the northeast, north or
northwest unless there is sufficient standing timber or natural topographic features on the property
controlled by the range operator to mitigate the effects of glare from the sun.
F. Drainage and Erosion Control. The range and associated facilities shall be designed to keep storm
runoff from the range site at a volume and velocity no greater than what existed prior to range
development. Appropriate erosion control measures shall be designed and installed to maintain the
water quality of the storm runoff from the range to predevelopment levels.
G.All backstops shall have sufficient depth of sand or other similar soft earthen material that is free of
rocks, stones and other hard objects that may result in bullet ricochets. All manmade berms shall be
vegetated to reduce the potential for erosion. A manmade, mechanical backstop may be substituted
upon approval of the planning commission. All backstops and berms shall be maintained to perform
their intended functions.
H. Firing ranges shall be developed such that there are no streams, ponds, lakes, or other
watercourses or wetlands located between any firing line and target line or within any shotgun shotfall
zone. [Ord. 96-076, § 6, 5-6-96.]
10.22.070 Application — Required information.
In addition to the general information required by CCC 18.10.285, the following information is required
for a special use permit application for a public outdoor shooting range:
A. An assessor's map of the subject property;
B. The types of firearms, ammunition and shooting to be allowed, such as trap, skeet, muzzle loader,
high power rifle, small bore rifle, pistol, action pistol, etc.;
C. A site plan drawn to scale illustrating the items listed below. The site plan shall be drawn at a scale
not smaller than one inch equals 200 feet, and not larger than one inch equals 50 feet:
1. The property lines of the parcel(s)on which the firing range(s)are to be developed,
2. For rifle and pistol ranges, the safety fan and its component parts with dimensions for all firing
ranges; for shotgun firing ranges, the component parts and dimensions of the shotfall zones,
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Chapter 10.22 OUTDOOR PUBLIC SHOOTING RANGE DEVELOPMENT STANDA... Page 7 of 7
It is a civil infraction for any person to violate this chapter or assist in the violation of this chapter.
Violations are subject to the provisions of Chapter 2.06 CCC, Civil Enforcement Code. Any violation is
a public nuisance. Each day a violation exists is a separate violation. Payment of any penalty
imposed for a violation does not relieve a person from the duty to comply with this chapter. [Ord. 96-
076, §9, 5-6-96.]
10.22.100 Fees.
Fees for administering the provisions of this chapter shall be as set from time to time by the Board.
[Ord. 96-076, § 10, 5-6-96.]
10.22.110 Liability for damages.
The ordinance codified in this chapter shall not be construed to hold the County of Cowlitz, or any
officer or employee thereof, responsible for any damages to persons or property by reason of the
certification, inspection or noninspection of any building, equipment or property as herein authorized.
[Ord. 96-076, § 12, 5-6-96.]
10.22.120 Severability.
Should any section, clause, or provision of the ordinance codified in this chapter or any code adopted
hereby be declared by a court to be invalid, the same shall not affect the validity of the remainder,
either in whole or in part. [Ord. 96-076, § 13, 5-6-96.]
10.22.130 Effective date.
The ordinance codified in this chapter shall become effective July 5, 1996. [Ord. 96-076, § 13, 5-6-
96.]
The Cowlitz County Code is current through Ordinance 17-
118, passed December 5,2017.
Disclaimer:The Clerk of the Board's Office has the official version
of the Cowlitz County Code. Users should contact the Clerk of the
Board's Office for ordinances passed subsequent to the
ordinance cited above.
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