Overview

Hunting within Roswell city limits is regulated by the State of Georgia. State Law O.C.G.A. § 27-1-3 addresses hunting and fishing in Georgia. Read more about this state law.

Local governments across the state may not pass laws that regulate hunting within their jurisdictions; however, local governments may pass ordinances that regulate the discharge of firearms within their city limits.

Roswell Discharge of Weapons Ordinance

Section 13.1.3 of the City of Roswell’s Code of Ordinances specifies local regulations concerning the Discharge of Weapons:

1. It shall be unlawful to discharge any firearm, air gun, BB gun, bow, or crossbow projecting lead or any missile, except as authorized by permit secured from the city administrator or his designee. The city administrator or his/her designee shall issue permits for the discharge of firearms, air guns, BB guns, bows or crossbows as to ensure the safety of the public. This section shall not be construed to prohibit any officer of the law from discharging a firearm in the performance of his duty, nor any citizen from discharging a weapon when lawfully defending person or property.
   
   
2. In order to obtain a permit to discharge a firearm within the City of Roswell, such activity shall be conducted wholly within an approved and permitted indoor firing range.
   
   
3. In order to obtain a permit to discharge an air gun, BB gun, bow or crossbow within the City of Roswell, such activity shall meet at a minimum the following criteria:
   
   
   1. A sufficient backstop must be provided to prohibit the projectile from leaving the property. A projectile entering a neighboring property as a result of the discharge is prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.
      
      
   2. The target or any piece of the target is prohibited from unreasonably leaving the property as a result of the discharge.
      
      
   3. The discharge of the weapon must be on the applicant's own land or the applicant must have express written permission of the property's owner to discharge such a weapon on the property of another.
      
      
   4. If discharging a weapon within one hundred fifty (150) feet from a property line, any such discharge shall be toward the interior of the parcel upon which the discharge is occurring.
      
      
   5. All applicants must have taken and passed a state approved safety course, or obtained certification in the safe discharge of weapons, or show specific proof of training in the safe discharge of weapons.
      
      
   6. No permit shall be obtained by a person under the age of eighteen (18), provided however, that this provision shall not prohibit a person under the age of eighteen (18) from the discharge of a permitted weapon if accompanied by and under the direct supervision of a permitted adult.
      
      
   7. Upon request by an officer or other authorized official, a permit shall be available and be presented. Failure to timely provide such permit shall be a violation of this section.
      
      
   8. The discharge of a weapon must be on properties specified in such permit.
      
      
   9. The city administrator shall be authorized to obtain any other information deemed appropriate in the issuance of a permit.
      
      
4. Any person discharging a firearm, air gun, BB gun, bow or crossbow within the City of Roswell in violation of this article or any person discharging a firearm, air gun, BB gun, bow or crossbow without a permit or in violation of the permit criteria shall be punished as set forth in section 1.1.3 of this Code, shall have an issued permit automatically revoked and shall not be eligible for a permit to discharge a weapon within the City of Roswell for a period of five (5) years.

To obtain a permit, please contact the Roswell Police Department at policerecords@roswellgov.com or 770-640-4120.

If you believe someone is illegally discharging a weapon within the city limits, please call the Roswell Police Department at 911.

If you have any questions pertaining to the discharge of weapons in the City of Roswell, please email the Communications Division at communications@roswellgov.com.