Pennsylvania Airgun Laws and Hunting Regulations

Brief Overview Of Pennsylvania State Laws Concerning Air Guns

Pennsylvania state law prohibits the following:

•You cannot sell, lend, give, or otherwise transfer any air gun to any person under age 18, except where the relationship of parent and child, guardian and ward or adult instructor and pupil exists between such person and the person under age 18.

•An air gun dealer cannot sell, lend, rent, give, or otherwise transfer an air gun to any person under age 18, where the dealer knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, the person to be under age 18, or where such dealer has failed to make reasonable inquiry relative to the age of such person, and such person is under age 18.

•Any person under age 18 cannot carry any air gun on highways or public lands unless accompanied by an adult, except that a person under age 18 may carry such air gun is unloaded in a suitable case.

How old do you need to be to purchase a BB gun, airgun, air rifle or pellet gun in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania you must be 18 Years Old to purchase a BB gun, airgun, air rifle or pellet gun.

Pennsylvania State Laws Concerning Air Guns

WEAPONS AND FIREARMS
Sale and use of air rifles – 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6304
§ 6304. Sale and use of air rifles.

(a) Sale or transfer of air rifles.–

(1) It shall be unlawful for any dealer to sell, lend, rent, give, or otherwise transfer an air rifle to any person under the age of 18 years, where the dealer knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, the person to be under 18 years of age, or where such dealer has failed to make reasonable inquiry relative to the age of such person, and such person is under 18 years of age.

(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, give, lend, or otherwise transfer any air rifle to any person under 18 years of age, except where the relationship of parent and child, guardian and ward or adult instructor and pupil exists between such person and the person under 18 years of age.

(b) Carrying or discharging air rifles.–

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person under 18 years of age to carry any air rifle on the highways or public lands unless accompanied by an adult, except that a person under 18 years of age may carry such rifle unloaded in a suitable case or securely wrapped.

(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any air rifle from or across any highway or public land or any public place, except on a properly constructed target range.

(1) Nothing in this section shall make it unlawful for any person under 18 years of age to have in his possession any air rifle, if it is:

(i) kept within his domicile;

(ii) used by the person under 18 years of age and he is a duly enrolled member of any club, team or society organized for educational purposes and maintaining as part of its facilities or having written permission to use an indoor or outdoor rifle range under the supervision, guidance and instruction of a responsible adult, and then only, if said air rifle is actually being used in connection with the activities of said club, team or society under the supervision of a responsible adult; or

(iii) used in or on any private grounds or residence under circumstances when such air rifle can be fired, discharged or operated in such a manner as not to endanger persons or property, and then only, if it is used in such manner as to prevent the projectile from traversing any grounds or space outside the limits of such grounds or residence.

(2) Nothing in this section shall prohibit sales of air rifles:
(i) By wholesale dealers or jobbers.
(ii) To be shipped out of this Commonwealth.
(iii) To be used at a target range operated in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection or by members of the armed services of the United States or veterans’ organizations.

(d) Seizure.–Any law enforcement officer may seize, take, remove or cause to be removed, at the expense of the owner, all air rifles used or offered for sale in violation of this section.

(e) No preemption.–The provisions of any ordinance enacted by any political subdivision which impose greater restrictions or limitations in respect to the sale and purchase, use or possession of air rifles, than is imposed by this section, shall not be invalidated or affected by this section.

(f) Grading.–Any dealer violating the provisions of paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. Any person violating any other provision of this section shall be guilty of a summary offense.

(g) Definitions.–As used in this section the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection: “Air rifle.” Any air gun, air pistol, spring gun, spring pistol, B-B gun, or any implement that is not a firearm, which impels a pellet of any kind with a force that can reasonably be expected to cause bodily harm. The term does not include a paintball gun or paintball marker as defined in section 2707.2 (relating to paintball guns and paintball markers). “Dealer.” Any person engaged in the business of selling at retail or renting any air rifles.
(Dec. 22, 2005, P.L.449, No.85, eff. 60 days)
2005 Amendment. Act 85 amended subsec. (g).
Cross References. Section 6304 is referred to in section
6120 of this title.Title 34, Sec. 2308 “Unlawful devices and methods”
Sec. 2308. Unlawful devices and methods.

(a) General rule. – Except as otherwise provided in this title, it is unlawful for any person to hunt or aid, abet, assist or conspire to hunt any game or wildlife through the use of:
(5) Any device operated by air, chemical or gas cylinder by which a projectile of any size or kind can be discharged or propelled.

Pennsylvania Air Gun Hunting Regulations

Pennsylvania does not allow air gun hunting.

Air Gun Laws In Local Jurisdictions

Below are a list of towns and cities in the state of Pennsylvania and the laws and regulations pertaining to airguns, BB guns, pellet guns and the like for each jurisdiction.

ASHTON TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA – AIRGUN LAWS

§ 680.01 AIR GUNS; BOW AND ARROW.

(a) No person shall use, store, sell or offer or expose for sale in lots of less than one dozen each, or have in his or her possession, within the limits of the township, any air gun, air pistol, spring gun, bow and arrow or any implement, not a firearm, which impels, or is designed or intended to impel, by force, a pellet or missile designed to be shot from a bow, except as authorized by 34 Pa.C.S. §§ 101 et seq.

(b) The police of the township are hereby authorized and directed to seize, remove and destroy any air gun, air pistol, spring gun, bow and arrow or any implement, not a firearm, which impels, or is designed or intended to impel, by force, a pellet or other missile designed to be shot from a bow found in the possession of any person within the township, whether on public or private grounds or premises, held or possessed in violation of subsection (a) above.

Bensalem, PENNSYLVANIA – AIRGUN LAWS

Chapter 160 PEACE AND GOOD ORDER – Bensalem, Pennsylvania – Code of Ordinances

Sec. 160-2. – Seizure of air guns; redemption.
Any gun which uses compressed air or gas or a spring as the propelling force for a projectile, when being used or carried in violation of any provision or section of this chapter, may be seized, confiscated and retained by any duly constituted police officer of the Township of Bensalem or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and, after being so seized, confiscated or retained, shall be held for a period of ten days. In the event that no cause is shown within said ten-day period why said gun should be returned, it shall thereupon be destroyed.
(Ord. No. 150, 6-28-72)

Sec. 160-3. – Violations and penalties.
Any person or persons violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty as provided in Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Annotated, with penalties set forth in 18 Pa. C.S.A. §§ 1103 and 1104, or shall be guilty and punishable as set forth in 53 P.S. § 65749.
(Ord. No. 150, 6-28-72)

CLEONA BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA – AIRGUN LAWS

§ 302. USE OF AIR RIFLES, BOW AND ARROWS OR SIMILAR DEVICES RESTRICTED.

It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any air rifle, air pistol, spring gun, spring pistol, B-B gun, bow and arrow or similar device, or any implement that is not a firearm but which impels a pellet of any kind with a force that can reasonably be expected to cause bodily harm, at any place within the Borough of Cleona. (Ord. 165, 11 /1/1971; as revised by Ord. 261, 7/1/2002, § 1; and as amended by Ord. 291, 8/5/2013, § 7)

§ 303. EXCEPTIONS.

This Part shall not apply to: A. Persons licensed to hunt in this Commonwealth while actually engaged in hunting where permitted under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. B. Members of any organization incorporated under laws of this Commonwealth engaged in target shooting upon the grounds or property belonging to or under the control of such organization. C. Any law enforcement officers when used in the discharge of their official duties. D. The discharge of firearms and bows and arrows in the Agricultural Zoning District of the Borough of Cleona, with the owner’s permission, for the purpose of animal control, including groundhogs, for the purpose of preventing land damage or crop damage. Use of a shotgun is preferred. When using a center fired rifle one must not be within 150 yards of any occupied residence as required by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The person firing the weapon will meet all the requirements of the Pennsylvania Game Commission for hunting within the Commonwealth. The owner shall notify the Cleona Police Department on an annual basis prior to the discharge of firearms. [Ord. 282]Supp. I; revised 10/6/2008(Ord. 165, 11/1/1971; as revised by Ord. 261, 7/1/2002, § 1; and as amended by Ord. 282, 10/6/2008, §I)

§ 304. PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION.

Any person who shall violate any provision of this Part shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $600 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues shall constitute a separate offense.

HANOVER TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA – AIRGUN LAWS

FIREARMS – means any shotgun, airgun, air pistol, spring gun or pistol, rifles and pistols of any caliber, or any other implement which impels with force a pellet of any kind. (Ord. 47, § 1, 12-29-76) § 202. Discharging of Firearms.

1. Generally Prohibited. Except as provided in § 202(2) it shall be unlawful and it is hereby prohibited for any person or persons to fire or discharge any firearm within the Township of Hanover, County of Lehigh, Pennsylvania.

2. Exceptions.

A. § 202(1) shall not prohibit the use of firearms by any law enforcement officer, constable, State fish or game warden, member of the United States Armed Forces or National Guard, or any other Federal, State, or local government agent, as required by and in the performance of their official duties.

B. § 202(1) shall not prohibit the use of firearms by any individual in the defense of person or property.

C. § 202(1) shall not prohibit the use of firearms in a fully enclosed firing range of a manufacturer of firearms, components thereof, or the nonexplosive components of munitions.

D. § 202 (1) shall not prohibit the use of firearms on any Pennsylvania State Game Lands, Pennsylvania State Forests or for hunting as defined by and in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (Ord. 47, § 2, 12-29-76; as amended by Ord. 126, 10-13-82; by Ord. 212, 5-11-88; and by Ord. 572, 6- 3-15)

§ 203. Penalties. Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this Part 2 shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than three hundred dollars ($300.00); and/or to imprisonment for a term not to exceed ninety (90) days.

JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA – AIRGUN LAWS

690.02 POINTING AND DISCHARGING FIREARMS AND OTHER WEAPONS.

(a) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) hereof, no person shall discharge any BB gun, air gun, rifle, shotgun, revolver, pistol or other firearm, or make use of any sling or arrow, within the Municipality.

(b) No person shall, intentionally and without malice, point or aim a firearm at or toward another or discharge a firearm so pointed or aimed.

(c) This section does not extend to cases in which firearms, slings or arrows are used in self-defense, in the discharge of official duty or in justifiable homicide.

(d) This section does not extend to cases in which BB guns, air guns, slings or arrows are used for target practice in confined wall-enclosed structures under adult supervision and as approved by the Director/Chief of Police.

LOWER CHICHESTER TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA – AIRGUN LAWS

(a) No person shall store, sell, offer for sale or expose for sale at retail or have in his or her possession with the intent to sell or with the intent to use, within the limits of the Township, any air gun, air pistol or spring gun, or any implement that is not a firearm, that impels with force a pellet of any kind. Used in this section, “at retail” means any sale of less than one dozen of such articles, or any sale to any person of a bona fide dealer therein.

(b) Members of the Police Department are hereby authorized to seize, remove and destroy any air gun, air pistol or spring gun, or any implement that is not a firearm, that impels with force a pellet of any kind, which shall be used or discharged within the Township, or which shall be held and possessed in violation of this section.

MILLHEIM BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA – AIRGUN LAWS

§ 202. Use of Air Rifles, Bow and Arrows, or Similar Devices Restricted. It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any air rifle, air pistol, spring gun, spring pistol, B-B gun, bow and arrow, or similar device or any implement that is not a firearm but which impels a pellet of any kind with a force that can reasonably be expected to cause bodily harm, at any place within the Borough, except as provided in § 203 of this Part. (Ord. 151, 11/12/1984)

§ 203. Exceptions. This Part 2 shall not apply to: 1. persons licensed to hunt in this Commonwealth while actually engaged in hunting where permitted under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; 2. members of any organization incorporated under laws of this Commonwealth engaged in target shooting upon the grounds or property belonging to or under the control of such organization; and 3. the use of target ranges which are properly constructed to trap or stop the projectile as ascertained by the Mayor or Borough Council. 4. any law enforcement officers when used in the discharge of their official duties. (Ord. 151, 11/12/1984)

§ 204. Penalty. Any person who shall violate any provision of this Part shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed thirty (30) days. (Ord. 151, 11/12/1984; as amended by Ord. 189, 6/1/1999)

MYERSTOWN BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA – AIRGUN LAWS

§ 6-201. Discharge of Firearms Prohibited.

Except in necessary defense of person and property and except as provided in § 6-202 of this Part, it shall be unlawful for any person to use, fire, or discharge any gun or other firearm within the Borough of Myerstown. (Ord. 818, 12/10/2013)

§ 6-202. Use of Air Rifle, Bow and Arrow, or Similar Device Restricted.

It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any air rifle, air pistol, spring gun, spring pistol, B-B gun, bow and arrow or similar device, or any implement that is not a firearm but which impels a pellet of any kind with a force that can reasonably be expected to cause bodily harm, at any place within the Borough, except as provided in § 6-203 of this Part. (Ord. 818, 12/10/2013)

§ 6-203. Exceptions.

Philadelphia, PENNSYLVANIA – AIRGUN LAWS

CHAPTER 10-800. SAFETY
——————————————————————————–
§10-810. Weapons and Dangerous Devices.

(1) Discharging Firearms.[158] No person shall fire or discharge recklessly and without reasonable cause any rifle, gun, pistol, or other firearm.

(2) Water Pistols, Electric Canes, and Miniature Cannon.[159]
(a) No one shall sell or offer for sale water pistols, electric canes, miniature cannon, or similar articles.[160]
(b) No one shall use water pistols, electric canes, miniature cannon or similar articles in any street or public place.

(3) Spring Guns, Air Guns and Bows and Arrows.[161]
(a) No person shall sell, offer for sale at retail, or use, or possess with intent to use, any air gun, spring gun, or any implement not a firearm which forcefully impels a pellet of any kind.
(b) No person shall sell, or offer for sale, at retail, any bow and arrow, to any person under the age of twenty-one (21) years unless the seller first obtains written evidence of parental consent to the proposed purchase by the minor.[162]

(4) Switchblade Knives.[163] No person shall sell, offer for sale or carry any knife with a blade which is released by a spring mechanism including knives known as “switchblades.”

(5) Incendiary Paper. No person shall manufacture, sell, offer for sale, carry or store any incendiary paper that has been chemically treated to vanish at the touch of a flame, including paper known as “flash paper.”[164]

(6) Penalties. Whoever violates any provision of this Section or Section 10-821 shall, in addition to other penalties provided, forfeit the weapon, contraband, or dangerous device giving rise to the violation of such section.[165]

(7) Confiscation. Police officers shall seize and deliver into departmental custody any air gun, air pistol, spring gun, switch blade knife, incendiary paper, contraband weapons, accessories and/or ammunition or other implement which shall be used, discharged, possessed, offered for sale or carried in violation of Section 10-810 or Section 10-821.[166]

Pittsburgh, PENNSYLVANIA – AIRGUN LAWS

CHAPTER 607: FIREARMS, AMMUNITION AND OTHER WEAPONS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Code of Ordinances

§ 607.04 DISCHARGING TOY AIR GUN.

No person shall fire or discharge a toy air gun within the city, except under supervision at duly established target ranges and except where the firing or discharge and missile flight are confined entirely to the users own property or the premises of another with express consent.
(Ord. 30-1993, eff. 12-9-93)

§ 607.13 PENALTIES FOR DISCHARGING FIREARMS OR AIR GUNS.

Any person, upon a finding of guilty by a magistrate, of discharging a firearm or air gun anywhere within the city, other than provided for in § 607.02 hereof, shall be fined one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) and costs for each offense, and in default of payment thereof, may be imprisoned for not more than ninety (90) days. Each day of a continuing violation shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.
(Ord. 35-1982, eff. 9-1-82; Am. Ord. 30-1993, eff. 12-9-93)

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PA Uniform Firearms Act regarding pellet or air guns.

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person under 18 years of age to carry any air rifle on the highways or public lands unless accompanied by an adult, except that a person under 18 years of age may carry such Rifle unloaded in a suitable case or securely wrapped.

(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any air rifle from or across any highway or public land or any public place, except on a properly constructed target range.

There are a couple of exceptions:
(1) Nothing in this section shall make it unlawful for any person under 18 years of age to have in his possession any air rifle, if it is:
(i) kept within his domicile;
(ii) used by the person under 18 years of age and he is a duly enrolled member of any club, team or society organized for educational purposes and maintaining as part of its facilities or having written permission to use an indoor or outdoor rifle range under the supervision, guidance and instruction of a responsible adult, and then only, if said air rifle is actually being used in connection with the activities of said club, team or society under the supervision of a responsible adult; or
(iii) used in or on any private grounds or residence under circumstances when such air rifle can be fired, discharged or operated in such a manner as not to endanger persons or property, and then only, if it is used in such manner as to prevent the projectile from traversing any grounds or space outside the limits of such grounds or residence
The short version of what this is all saying is that you can only shoot it on your own property as long as the pellets don’t endanger anyone or go ‘off property’. You can also legally shoot it at a range. If you are under 18 you can only shoot it under adult supervision.

BOROUGH OF KENNETT SQUARE, PENNSYLVANIA – AIRGUN LAWS

No Air-gun ordinances listed, refer to Penn. State Statutes
1.18 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6304(a)(2).
2.18 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6304(a)(1).
3.18 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6304(b)(1).
4.18 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6304(e).
5.18 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6304(g).

WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA – AIRGUN LAWS

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.