Goochland County Reinstates Restrictions on Recreational Shooting!

On Tuesday, August 7, at the urging of County Attorney Andrew McRoberts, and against the wishes of the county’s Zoning Board, the Goochland County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of reinstating an ordinance that requires commercial shooting ranges to obtain a “Conditional Use” permit, as opposed to operating a range as an "Accessory Use" of their property. 

Despite this setback, there were some supervisors who would only support the ordinance if it would not affect pending litigation, such as a case involving the Orapax Shooting Preserve.  In response to several members of the Board of Supervisors, County Attorney McRoberts reportedly stated that the change in the ordinance would not apply to Orapax, as legal proceedings in their case are already underway.

With suitable sport shooting venues being more and more difficult to find, Orapax should be applauded and aided in their effort to promote sport shooting on their 600-plus acre preserve. Using the information below, please contact the Goochland County Board of Supervisors and urge them to take every step necessary to ensure that any change to the zoning ordinance does not apply to private ranges.

District 1

Andrew W. Pryor

(804) 457-4177

[email protected]

District 2

William E. Quarles, Jr.

(804) 556-2927

[email protected]

District 3

Joseph T. Lacy, Jr.

(804) 556-4836

[email protected]

District 4

Malvern R. Butler

(804) 784-4241

[email protected]

District 5

James W. Eads

(804) 784-3944

[email protected]