Brief Overview Of Kentucky State Laws Concerning Air Guns
Kentucky does not have any state laws regulating air guns.
How old do you need to be to purchase a BB gun, airgun, air rifle or pellet gun in Kentucky?
In Kentucky you must be 18 Years Old to purchase a BB gun, airgun, air rifle or pellet gun.
Kentucky Air Gun Hunting Regulations
Kentucky allows air gun hunting for certain species. Some species have specific requirements to the caliber of pellet that must be used. These species and the caliber required (if applicable) include:
• Beaver (.22 caliber or larger)
• Bobcat (.22 caliber or larger)
• Cottontail Rabbit
• Coyote (.22 caliber or larger)
• Gray Fox (.22 caliber or larger)
• Grouse
• Mink (.22 caliber or larger)
• Muskrat (.22 caliber or larger)
• Opossum (.22 caliber or larger)
• Pigeons
• Quail
• Rabbit
• Raccoon (.22 caliber or larger)
• Red Fox (.22 caliber or larger)
• Skunk (.22 caliber or larger)
• Small game
• Sparrow
• Squirrel
• Starlings
• Varmints (.25 caliber or larger)
• Weasel (.22 caliber or larger)
Air Gun Laws In Local Jurisdictions
In addition to state laws, local jurisdictions may also have their own laws regulating air guns. Below are the laws for local jurisdictions in the state of Kentucky.
ASHLAND, KENTUCKY – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
130.16 TOY GUNS, AIR GUNS, BB GUNS, AND THE LIKE.
(A) No person shall fire or discharge an air rifle, BB gun, or other instrument capable of issuing a projectable, whether by air, gas, spray, or other means, while on any public street, public sidewalk, or in any public place, nor shall any person fire or discharge such rifle, gun or other instrument described herein into or across any public street, public sidewalk, or public place. It shall be unlawful for a parent or guardian of a minor to knowingly permit a minor to violate this section.
(B) It shall be lawful and permissible to fire or discharge within the corporate limits of the City of Ashland, Kentucky only on private property, with the permission of the property owner, any air rifle, BB gun, or other toy gun.
(C) (1) It shall be lawful and permissible for the following persons under the following conditions to discharge any type of toy guns within the corporate limits of the City of Ashland:
(a) Peace officers, properly supervised, in practice on an established practice range.
(b) The National Guard, in practice, at the armory or on an established practice range, properly supervised.
(c) Any organized gun club or group properly supervised, engaged in skeet or trap shooting at a place established for that purpose.
(d) Any organized club or group properly supervised upon approval by the Ashland Board of City Commissioners may discharge between the hours of 12:00 noon and 10:00 p.m. any smoothbore BB gun with metallic sights in which the propelling force is developed through the use of a compressed spring, gas or compressed air, at a fully enclosed shooting range, provided that supervision is available for each participant by a certified gun instructor. No BB guns that have been altered from factory manufacture are permitted. The range shall be fully enclose and not permit discharge of BBs or pellets outside of its perimeter. Sight and hearing protection must be provided for participants. Any organization seeking such approval must provide liability insurance with the City of Ashland named as an insured in the sum of not less than $1,000,000 for the dates of the application. The organization shall also sign an indemnity agreement with the City of Ashland holding the city and its employees harmless from any injury that might arise from the use of the shooting range.
(e) The City of Ashland Certified Animal Control officer in the course of required duties.
(2) All such activities as described and designated above shall be carried on at a place and in such a manner so as not to constitute a menace to the public safety or tranquility.
(D) It shall be permissible to discharge any spring controlled device with a foam based projectable in public places provided no intent to injure or damage property is involved.
(E) It shall be impermissible to paint, color or otherwise modify a commercially available toy gun to make it appear as a real gun, or use a painted, colored or otherwise modified commercially manufactured toy gun that appears as a real gun.
(F) Violation of this section shall be deemed a misdemeanor and punishable pursuant to KRS 534.040. (‘83 Code, § 130.16) (Ord. 107-2015, passed 11-12-15; Am. Ord. 80, 2020, passed 6-18-20)
BEREA, KENTUCKY – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
53.002 DISCHARGING WEAPONS PROHIBITED
(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot or discharge, within the city, any firearm, pellet gun or rifle, air-rifle or gun, or BB-rifle or gun, unless necessary or proper for the protection of person or property; provided, however, that this provision shall not apply to peace officers who discharge weapons in the performance of their lawful duties; and provided further that this provision shall not apply in any area with a zoning classification of A-1 (Agriculture).
(B) Upon the conviction of any person for the violation of this section, any gun or rifle used by a person in the commission of an offense may be confiscated and disposed of in compliance with Kentucky Revised Statutes.
CRESTVIEW HILLS, KENTUCKY – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
136.01 DISCHARGE OF WEAPONS.
(A) “WEAPON” as used herein shall mean and include all firearms, pistols, rifles, shotguns, BB guns, pellet guns, air rifles, toy guns, or sling shot bows which project, launch, shoot, or otherwise discharge lead, pellets, BBs, arrows, or any dangerous missiles.
(B) It shall be unlawful to discharge any firearms within the corporate limits of the city except in a regularly established shooting gallery. However, this section shall not be construed to prohibit any officer of the law from discharging a firearm in the performance of his duty. Further, this section shall not be construed to prohibit any citizen from discharging a firearm when lawfully defending his person or property. (Ord 1979-7-1, passed 7-12-79) Penalty, see § 136.99
136.99 PENALTY.
Any person found guilty of a violation of § 136.01 shall be fined not less than ten dollars ($10.00) or more than one hundred dollars ($100.00). (Ord. 1979-7-1, passed 7-12-79)
FLORENCE, KENTUCKY – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
131.01 DISCHARGING AIR RIFLES.
(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot or discharge any air rifle, BB gun, or pellet gun within the corporate limits of the city.
(B) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than $10 or more than $500, and the weapon employed in the violation shall be confiscated.
FULTON, KENTUCKY – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
32-2 DISCHARGE OF COMPRESSION GUNS RESTRICTED; PENALTY.
(A) No person shall fire or discharge within 300 feet of any building or vehicle in the corporate limits of the city any air rifle, BB gun or pellet gun whose power or means of propulsion is by compression of air or by springs and compression of air in combination.
(B) Any person firing or discharging an air rifle, BB gun or pellet gun, as defined and prohibited by subsection (A) of this section, shall, upon conviction in the District Court, be punished as prescribed in § 1-10 and each shooting, firing or discharging thereof shall be deemed a separate offense.
(C) In addition to the penalty provided in subsection (B) of this section, upon the second or subsequent conviction, the Court may confiscate the weapon then being used by the person so convicted.
GRAYMOOR-DEVONDALE, KENTUCKY – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
130.01 DISCHARGING PROJECTILES; FIREARMS.
It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a law enforcement officer, to discharge any type of projectile from a firearm, BB gun, pellet gun or other device within the city limits, unless the discharge is necessary to protect life or property or to prevent the commission of a crime, as defined by state statute.
HENDERSON, KENTUCKY – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL – Henderson, Kentucky – Code of Ordinances
Sec. 16-4. – Use of air rifles, air handguns and pellet guns.
(a) The following words and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them:
(1) Air rifles, air handguns and pellet guns shall mean any barreled weapons of any description from which a projectile can be discharged by the action of compressed air or compressed gas, rather than the action of an explosive. “Air rifles,” “air handguns” and “pellet guns” shall include all weapons as defined above herein and not subject to registration and regulation by state and federal laws, and shall be referred to collectively herein as “non-regulated firearm.”
(2) Projectile shall mean any object or device which will or is designed to be expelled from any “non-regulated firearm.”
(b) Restrictions regarding the use of non-regulated firearms shall be as follows:
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of eighteen (18) years to have in his possession any non-regulated firearm, unless he is in the presence of his parent or guardian, or unless he is on property owned by his parent or guardian.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge a non-regulated firearm in such a manner as to endanger, damage or injure another person or the property of another person.
(3) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge a non-regulated firearm in such a manner as to cause or allow the projectile to be expelled beyond the boundary lines of the property from which said unregulated firearm was discharged.
(4) It shall be unlawful for any person to have in his possession on a public street after the hours of darkness a non-regulated firearm.
(Ord. No. 14-78, §§ I, II, 5-23-78)
LAKESIDE PARK, KENTUCKY – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
52.003 DISCHARGING FIREARMS PROHIBITED
No person shall discharge or shoot any air rifle, pellet gun, sling shot, or other devices capable of discharging dangerous projectiles.
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE, KENTUCKY – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Chapter 14 OFFENSES AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky Code of Ordinances
Sec. 14-46. Same—Air rifles, air pistols, BB guns, or similar guns, slingshots or steel-tipped arrows, discharging within the urban county; penalty.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or give away any air rifle, air pistol, BB gun, or similar gun, slingshot or steel-tipped arrow to any person under the age of eighteen (18).
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of eighteen (18) to discharge any air rifle, air pistol, BB gun, or similar gun, slingshot or steel-tipped arrow without adult supervision.
(c) No person, except peace officers, military personnel and similar officers in the execution of their official duties, shall shoot or discharge air rifles, air pistols, BB guns, or similar guns, slingshots or steel-tipped arrows within the urban county in the following places or circumstances:
(1) Within the urban service area boundary, rural activities centers (as identified in the comprehensive plan) and rural settlements, including but not limited to Athens, Avon, Bracktown, Clays Ferry, Coletown, Fort Springs, Jimtown, Little Georgetown, Little Texas, Loradale, Maddoxtown, Princetown, Nihizertown, Centerville, Uttingertown, Columbus and Willa Lane, except as provided in subsections (d), (e), and (f).
(2) Within three hundred (300) feet of any building which, in addition to its ordinary meanings, includes any vehicle or aircraft; except that this prohibition shall not apply to the safe discharge of air rifles, air pistols, BB guns, or similar guns, slingshots or steel-tipped arrows with the consent of the owner of any such building.
(3) On any real property without the consent of the owner thereof.
(4) Within any urban county park, unless said park is posted otherwise by the director of parks and recreation. Such posting may be made only in areas which have been inspected for safety purposes by the department of public safety.
(d) Air rifles, air pistols, BB guns, or similar guns, slingshots or steel-tipped arrows may be shot or discharged:
(1) In lawful defense of person or property.
(2) In competition at the Bluegrass State Games.
(3) In competition or for instructional purposes at schools or universities.
(e) Steel-tipped arrows may be shot in indoor archery ranges.
(f) Paint ball guns may be shot or discharged in properly zoned commercial establishments operated in accordance with recognized national standards.
(g) Any person who violates this section shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each offense, and any parent of any minor who shall knowingly permit such minor to violate this section shall likewise be fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each offense.
(Ord. No. 49-92, § 1, 4-2-92; Ord. No. 244-2005, §§ 1, 2, 8-25-05)
MADISONVILLE, KENTUCKY – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
130.05 DISCHARGE OF AIR GUNS.
It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot within the city any air gun, spring gun, or any instrument or weapon other than firearms with which injury can be inflicted on man, beast, or fowl.
MIDWAY, KENTUCKY – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
130.20 AIR RIFLES, PELLET GUNS AND ARROWS.
(A) Sale or gift prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to sell or give away any air rifle or B.B. gun or similar gun within the city limits of the city.
(B) Possession by minor without adult supervision prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of 18 years to possess, use or discharge any air rifle, pellet gun, arrow (excluding rubber tipped arrows) or other dangerous projectile, unless the person is under the supervision of an adult.
MAYFIELD, KENTUCKY – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
No listed air-gun ordinances.
NEWPORT, KENTUCKY – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
130.24 WEAPONS.
The use and possession of B-B guns, air rifles, pellet guns and any other instrument capable of issuing a projectile, whether by air, gas, spring or other means, other than a firearm, is prohibited by anyone under the age of 18 without parental guidance.
OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
ARTICLE I. ESTABLISHMENT, SUPERVISION AND REGULATIONS OF CITY PARKS Owensboro, Kentucky Code of Ordinances
Weapon means firearm, rifle, pistol, revolver, or any weapon designed or intended to propel a shot, bullet, or other missile of any kind, or any device capable of discharging projectile by air, spirit, gas or explosive, or any explosive substance or harmful solid, liquid and gaseous substance, or any spear, arrow, bow and arrow, slingshot, crossbow, spear or spear gun, or any dirk, Bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, or any other knife, straight-edged razor, spring stick, metal knuckles, blackjack, paintball gun, or any bludgeon-type weapon, or any flailing instrument or any disk which is designated to be thrown or propelled and which may be known as a throwing star or oriental dart, or any weapon of like kind, and any stun gun, laser or similar device.
(Ord. No. 8-2003, § 1, 2-4-2003; Ord. No. 3-2010, § 1, 2-2-2010)
PADUCAH, KENTUCKY – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
DIVISION 1. GENERALLY Paducah, Kentucky Code of Ordinances
Sec. 66-64. Shooting BB guns or firearms.
(a) The shooting of a BB gun, pellet gun or any firearm, as defined by KRS 527.010, in the city is hereby prohibited and unlawful.
(b) The Chief of Police is hereby authorized to issue permits for firing ranges within the city and shooting on approved firing ranges with permission of the owner or operator of the firing range and such firing ranges shall not be unlawful under subsection (a) above.
(Ord. of 6-3-47; Code 1968, § 19-13; Ord. No. 81-4-2077, 4-14-81; Code 1996, § 131.04)
PIKEVILLE, KENTUCKY – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
130.10 AIR GUNS PROHIBITED.
It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge air pistols or air rifles within the corporate limits of the city.
WINCHESTER, KENTUCKY – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL – Winchester, Kentucky – Code of Ordinances
Sec. 11-4. – Hunting of game, discharge of firearms and the use and sale of fireworks prohibited.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the act of hunting game in the corporate limits of the city.
(b)(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any firearm or air gun, BB gun or pellet gun projecting lead or any missiles except in a regularly established shooting gallery within the corporate limits of the city for any reason whatsoever, provided that this subsection shall not be construed to prohibit any officer of the law from discharging a firearm in the performance of his duty nor to prohibit any citizen from discharging a firearm when lawfully defending person or property.
(b)(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in bow hunting or bow practice or to discharge or propel an arrow of any length with any type of head from any type recurved or compound bow or crossbow, or any other type of bow, within the corporate limits of the city, except a toy bow with a pull of one (1) pound or less, using arrows with rubber or soft heads, provided however, that this subparagraph shall not be construed to prohibit bow practice or to prohibit discharging or propelling an arrow within the corporate limits of the city if conducted at an archery range within the confines of an enclosed structure so long as the archery range is properly licensed and is located in a proper commercial zone or as part of an educational program conducted by a duly recognized public, private or parochial school or as part of a bona fide youth organization.
Disclaimer
These rules and regulations were compiled to the best of my ability. The information on this article should not constitute as legal advice. Always check with your local jurisdiction for the final ruling.