Minimum acreage to shoot

[sphpkr]

I did the search thing and came up empty.
Question: Is there a mimimum amount of property you must to be able to shoot on your own land?
FWIW, I live in rural Austin County.

Thanks!

[Big Calhoun]

I did the search thing and came up empty.
Question: Is there a mimimum amount of property you must to be able to shoot on your own land?
FWIW, I live in rural Austin County.

Thanks!

Don't quote me on this, but IIRC, I read someplace it was a minimum of 10 acres.

EDIT: For the specifics, I think you want to look at HB 1364 from the 2005 legislative session (79R).

[jhutto]

Please do not consider this legal advice. as i am not qualified to give it.

I have done a lot of looking into this matter. There is a minimum to hunt, but not to just shoot. Do not be reckless in the discharge of your weapon. So you must have some way to contain the bullets you fire. Bullets landing on someone elses land is tresspass. Aditionally you might hurt someone. You might make sure there is no city ordanance preventing you from doing this. Where I live, there is none. If I were you I would contact any city that has jurisdiction over your land, the county, and state offices to verify. Your local PD, will be the firt to contact, and it might be nice to let them know those .45 shots they hear are not a violent crime.

Have fun, and sorry for the long post.

[OverEasy]

As long as you live in a place that doesn't outlaw shooting you can shoot on your own property, no size requirement.

You would be breaking the law if a bullet left your property. The Deadly Conduct law talks about shooting in the direction of a habitation, across roads etc.

According to the Waller Co. deputy I talked to, as long as you have a safe backstop to shoot into and the bullets don't leave your property you are OK.

Regards, OE

[seamusTX]

It depends entirely on the county and city (if you are in a city). Around here you have to be 500 feet from any residence or commercial structure.

- Jim

[O6nop]

You might make sure there is no city ordanance preventing you from doing this.

Ordinance -
rule, law
Ordnance -
weapon, firearm

make sure there is neither!!!!

[Piney]

Greetings--

Me too-- IANL..... but I do recall reading somewhere that you need a minimum of 10 acres. You also have to be certian that any bullets do not cross property lines. I assumed this meant in county and unincorporated areas-- not city limits.

I have 10.575 acres. I plan to get a dirt pile delivered so that I can shoot into it and not cross property lines. I'l have a place with a 100 yd lane or so The property behind it is well over 200 acres of creek bottom land, with nothing but an occasional errant cow back there. But- not taking a chance.....

[KBCraig]

The acreage requirement is not a requirement on land owners. It's a restriction against local ordinances restricting shooting, if the landowner has a certain minimum acreage.

I've forgotten the specifics, but I believe state law says local governments may not restrict shooting on land of 10 or more acres. I don't recall if that applies within city limits, or just unincorporated areas.

Hopefully someone who either knows the law or is willing to look it up, will chime in.

Kevin

[Greybeard]

Seems like I read somewhere that County Commissioners can have authority to pass ordinance applicable in semi-rural and/or unincorporated areas with smaller sizes. County Clerks office likely has the 411.

[Mike1951]

§ 235.022. AUTHORITY TO REGULATE. To promote the public
safety, the commissioners court of a county by order may prohibit or
otherwise regulate the discharge[0] of firearms[0] on lots that are 10
acres or smaller and are located in the unincorporated area of the
county in a subdivision.

Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1, § 55(a), eff. Aug. 28,
1989. Renumbered from V.T.C.A., Local Government Code § 240.022
by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, § 12.003(9), eff. Sept. 1,
2001.

The state grants the county the authority, so you will have to decide if your county has acted on it.