1. General Requirements for new Rifle and Pistol Range.
A. Minimum lot area: five acres.
B. Minimum lot width: 300 feet (street side right-of-way). The range area must be a minimum of 400 feet wide plus the width of the shooting range. A minimum of 200 feet is required from any property or street right-of-way line. The area of use must be 900 feet from any neighboring residential or commercial dwelling.
C. An earthen background berm must be provided within 20 feet of the farthest target post. Such berms shall have a slope of not less than 45 degrees or a one to one ratio and must extend to 12 feet above the ground level of the highest target and or eight feet above the highest target. The crest of the berm at the 12 foot minimum height limit shall be at least four feet wide as measured between the wall of the berm facing the range and the opposite wall. The berm shall extend eight feet beyond the target on both sides. The berm shall be free of gravel and other hard surface material to provide adequate drainage. Natural earth backstop berms are permitted provided adequate vertical and horizontal requirements listed above are satisfied.
D. The earthen side berms must be provided immediately adjacent to the range and shall extend from the firing line to the background berm. The side berms shall meet the same design qualifications as set forth for background berms in subsection C. above.
E. Only targets mounted on target cross rails shall be permitted. No targets of any kind shall be set directly on the ground.
F. Warning signs noted 'Firing Range, Stay Clear' shall be posted outside the berms where visible from any location while approaching the berms.
2. General Requirements for new Trap and Skeet Range.
A. Minimum lot area: eight and one-half acres.
B. Minimum lot size: 300 feet (street side right-of-way). The range area must be 400 feet wide plus the width of the shooting range. A minimum of 200 feet is required from any property or street right-of-way line. The area of use must be 900 feet from any neighboring residential or commercial dwelling. The firing range must have 900 feet clear down range of firing line.
C. Only launched clay targets shall be used at a trap or skeet range. No targets of any kind shall be set directly on the ground.
D. Warning signs noted 'Firing Range, Stay Clear' shall be posted outside the designated area for trap and skeet shooting and must be visible from any location while approaching the trap or skeet range.
3. General Requirements for new Archery Range.
A. Minimum lot area: Not applicable (N/A).
B. Minimum lot size: The lot size will be dependent on the number of targets and the distance the targets are placed from the firing line. All targets must be located with a natural earth background or constructed berm such that the arrow of a missed target cannot land on a neighboring property or occupied areas. Targets set with clear and extended range beyond the target may be set up without a background berm providing that a missed target does not allow the arrow to land on a neighboring property or occupied area.
C. Warning signs noted 'Archery Range, Stay Clear' shall be posted outside the designated area for archery shooting and must be visible while approaching the archery range.
4. Existing rifle, pistol, trap, skeet and archery ranges prior to 4/6/15 shall be grandfathered and shall not be required to meet this requirement. However, these guidelines are highly recommended and will be required for any new range installation.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)