A. Purpose and Intent. It is the purpose and intent of this section to provide standards for the location and operation of practice indoor firing ranges ("indoor firing range") by locating indoor firing ranges in appropriate areas with minimal adverse impact on the community and its resources, and providing standards of operation that will protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the community.
B. Indoor Firing Ranges - General.
1. Indoor firing ranges shall be a conditionally permitted use within the Business Park (BP) and General Industrial (GI) zoning districts with conditional use permit approval pursuant to Chapter 16.52 provided that the business conforms to all applicable federal and state standards, all applicable requirements of the Murrieta Municipal Code.
2. Distance Requirements. The establishment of an indoor firing range shall not be permitted within three hundred (300) feet of a K-12 public school, public park, residential zoning district, an off-site or on-site alcoholic beverage sales establishment, or another indoor firing range.
C. Requirements.
1. Every indoor firing range shall be in compliance with the applicable building, environmental, and fire code requirements of the Murrieta Development Code.
2. The applicant shall submit to a criminal background check. If the applicant is an association, firm, corporation, partnership, or other entity comprised of more than a sole proprietor, this requirement shall apply to all principals.
a. Applicant, all principals and applicable employees shall never have been convicted of a felony, or a misdemeanor involving a firearm.
b. Applicant, all principals and applicable employees shall never have been convicted of a violation of law concerning the manufacture, use, possession, or sale of firearms.
3. Indoor firing ranges shall be permitted to operate during the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., unless amended by the conditional use permit.
4. The applicant shall provide sufficient and substantial evidence that the proposed indoor firing range is properly designed, constructed and equipped for the proposed firearms to be discharged within the facility.
5. No other weapons, other than firearms, shall be discharged in an indoor firing range.
6. No firearms shall be allowed which have been classified as illegal under state or federal statute.
7. Firearms and safety rules and regulations shall be prominently posted in a general area available to all customers of the establishment. Compliance with those regulations shall be monitored and enforced by facility a range safety officer.
8. A minimum of one range safety officer shall be on duty during operating hours.
a. Range safety officers shall be responsible for:
i. The operation and maintenance of the shooting range.
ii. Inspection of all firearms and ammunition for safe functions and operations.
iii. Protocols shall be established ensuring that firearms or ammunition deemed not safe by the range safety officer shall not be discharged within the indoor firing range.
iv. Ensure all firearms and ammunition at the indoor firing range remains securely stored at all times and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
9. No person, employee, member, or customer of an indoor firing range shall be allowed to enter or leave the premise with a loaded firearm, unless permitted by or exempted by state or federal law.
10. All firearms shall be loaded only on the firing line under the supervision of the range safety officer, unless permitted by or exempted by state or federal law.
11. No drugs or alcohol may be consumed on the property, nor shall the sale of alcohol be permitted on the property.
12. No person shall be allowed to utilize an indoor firing range who the range safety officer, or other employees of an indoor firing range, believes to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
13. No person shall be allowed to utilize an indoor firing range who the range safety officer, or other employees of an indoor firing range, believes to pose a threat to themselves or others.
14. The Murrieta Police Department shall be contacted immediately if the range safety officer, or an employee, reasonably believes that a person on premises may be a threat to themselves or others.
15. Individuals under eighteen (18) years of age will be allowed to utilize the facility, provided:
a. They are accompanied by parent or legal guardian; or
b. They are under adult supervision and a signed release by the parent or guardian is provided.
16. All persons at the firing line shall wear approved eye and ear protection under the supervision of the range safety officer. All employees of a practice indoor firing line shall receive eye and ear protection and shall receive proper training regarding the use of suitable eye and ear protection. The City holds no liability for the hazardous conditions related to eye and ear damage known to exist at such facilities.
17. The sale and storage of ammunition shall be permitted.
18. The manufacture of ammunition shall not be permitted, unless permitted through the conditional use permit.
19. No person, other than the range safety officer, official employees, or independent contractors hired to maintain the facility shall be permitted beyond the firing line.
20. All doors, gates, and entrances between the firing points and backstop shall be securely locked at all times when a person is engaged in practice shooting.
D. Safety and Management Plan. A detailed safety and management plan shall be submitted in full compliance with the NRA Range Source Book: A Guide to Planning and Construction, published by the National Rifle Association, or by an equivalent guidebook (if applicable) deemed comparable by the Murrieta Police Department and Planning Department. Such information shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:
1. Plans for the installation and maintenance of interior and exterior surveillance cameras installed that can observe the parking lot, lobby, store, firing lines, and all general areas within an indoor firing range and its perimeter. Recordings from the surveillance cameras must be maintained for not less than thirty (30) days and shall be made available to members of the Police Department upon request.
2. Plans for the installation and maintenance of adequate exterior and interior lighting.
3. Protocols shall be developed for the safe display and storage of firearms and ammunition.
4. Protocols shall be developed, with cooperation of the Murrieta Police Department and other public safety organizations, to ensure open lines of communication exists between an indoor firing range and all local public safety organizations.
5. A stormwater diversion plan.
6. A hazardous waste diversion and disposal plan.
7. A plan to reduce exposure to hazardous waste, provide clear air and decrease noise for all employees and customers in accordance with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) Preventing Occupational Exposure to Lead and Noise at Indoor Firing Ranges, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
8. Hours of operation.
9. An affirmative letter signed by the Murrieta Police Chief or designee, detailing that the Department is satisfied with the applicant's consideration of all security related and communication issues regarding an indoor firing range.
10. A plan to mitigate outside noise to the surrounding community.
11. Protocols shall be adopted to ensure that firearms and ammunition deemed unsafe will not be discharged within the firing line.
12. Failure to submit a safety and management plan as required shall be grounds to automatically deny an application for a license.
13. Failure to adequately implement or maintain the safety and management plan shall be grounds for suspension or revocation of the business license.
14. Any future revisions or modifications of the Safety and Management Plan must be approved by the City Planning Department and Police Department. Failure to obtain approval or otherwise disregard, edit, modify, revise or in any way change the Safety and Management Plan on file is grounds for suspension or revocation of the business license.
(Ord. 489 § 2, 2014)