Firearm Discharge

Firearm Discharge By-law Update

Overview

For the last few years, the Township and its residents have had concerns about target shooting on Crown land, that has escalated to more dangerous and disruptive behaviour in 2024. The Township by-law team has been working closely with several enforcement agencies including the Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hydro One Security Specialist, and the Ontario Provincial Police to assist in addressing these concerns. These Crown land incidents can be best controlled by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Police, but these instances prompted Council to pass Resolution C2024-199 in June 2024.

The Township of Georgian Bay has drafted a new Firearm Discharge By-law to regulate the discharge of firearms and bows. This new by-law aims to address rising safety concerns and replace the outdated By-law 91-05. This draft by-law was brought forward to Committee of the Whole on May 6th, 2025. To view the discussion, watch the video here.

Purpose of the Draft By-law

Enhance public safety by regulating where and how firearms and bows can be discharged.
Establish clear setback rules and minimum property size requirements.
Provide enforcement tools via fines and penalties.
Incorporate input from enforcement agencies and hunters’ associations.

Key Features

Below are summarized key features of the draft Discharge By-law, which aims to enhance public safety while balancing community interests and lawful use:

General Prohibitions

*All comments highlighted are the intent of the corresponding prohibitions:

4.1 No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged or allowed to be discharged a firearm or bow in the Township except in accordance with this by-law.

A catchall prohibition section to stop individuals from violating any part of this by-law.

4.2 No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged or allowed to be discharged, a firearm or bow on any property except with the consent of the owner of the land.

Individuals must have consent of the property owner to discharge on any land (does not apply to Provincial or Federal land).

4.3 No owner of land where the discharge of a firearm or bow is prohibited pursuant to section 4.4 and 4.5 shall allow any person to discharge a firearm or bow on such land.

Owners must ensure individuals discharging firearms on their property are doing so in compliance with this by-law.

4.4 No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged or allowed to be discharged, a firearm or bow on or within any of the following locations:

a. A prohibited area;

Defined as an Educational Property, Park, Public Centre, or Public Trail (Township owned or operated)

b. A lot less than 1.2 hectares (3 Acres) in size;

*Exemption for this section explained in Exemption drop down below

c. On or across any Township property.

All property owned, operated or managed by the Township of Georgian Bay

Exemptions

*All comments highlighted are the intent of the corresponding exemptions:

5.1 Notwithstanding Section 4.4 (b), a person may discharge or cause to be discharged or allowed to be discharged a firearm or bow from a property that is less than 1.2 Hectares (3 acres) in size where the said property abuts:

a. Crown land and the firearm or bow is discharged on or within the adjacent Crown Land provided the Crown Land is unoccupied, or;

Individuals may discharge a firearm from private property that is less than 1.2 hectares (3 acres) in size, provided the firearm is discharged onto adjacent crown land.

b. property and the combined size of the properties are at least 1.2 hectares (3 acres) and the written consent of the abutting property owner has been obtained and the firearm or bow is discharged on or within the combined properties.

Individuals can discharge a firearm on property less than 1.2 Hectares (3 Acres) in size if they have written consent from adjacent property owners where the total of the all land is above 1.2 Hectares (3 Acres).

This by-law also does not apply too:

Part of normal farm practice to destroy animals found in the act of killing or destroying livestock or property.
Trappers licensed under the MNR.
A registered and regulated gun club under the Firearms act.
Discharging of a bow, air gun, spring gun, pellet gun, or paintball gun within a secured indoor facility.
Discharging of bows at competition, educational, or recreational sanctioned event.
Property owned, managed, or controlled by federal or provincial agencies where firearms or bows is expressly permitted.
Facility operated by municipal, provincial, or federal police.
Any device used for signalling, notifying of distress.
Firing blank ammunition which not does not discharge a projectile.
Persons authorized under the Canadian Aviation Regulations to kill wildlife that may interfere with safe operations of an airport.

Enforcement & Penalties

The draft by-law will be enforced through the Township’s Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS), with a proposed penalty schedule included for public transparency. In more serious cases or for repeat offenders, enforcement may also proceed under the Provincial Offences Act, allowing the matter to be brought to court.

Fines are designed to escalate with repeated violations—acting as a deterrent to unsafe or irresponsible firearm use—while ensuring that respectful, law-abiding users are treated fairly.

Below are the draft fine amounts per offence:

ITEM	SHORT FORM WORDING	BY-LAW SECTION	ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY	2^nd OFFENCE ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY	3^RD OFFENCE OR BEYOND ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY
1	Discharge of firearm or bow contrary to by-law	4.1	$300.00	$600.00	$900.00
2	Discharge of firearm or bow without landowner consent	4.2	$300.00	$600.00	$900.00
3	Owner permitted discharge of firearm or bow on prohibited land	4.3	$300.00	$600.00	$900.00
4	Discharge of firearm or bow in prohibited area	4.4 (a)	$300.00	$600.00	$900.00
5	Discharge of firearm or bow on lot under 1.2 hectares	4.4 (b)	$300.00	$600.00	$900.00
6	Discharge of firearm or bow on or across Township property	4.4 (c)	$300.00	$600.00	$900.00
7	Discharge of firearm within 100m of prohibited area or occupied building	4.5 (a)	$300.00	$600.00	$900.00

Next Steps (as per Council Resolution)

1. Public Survey

A survey will be launched to collect formal feedback from residents. The survey will include questions about the proposed regulations, exemptions, enforcement mechanisms, and how the by-law may impact local property owners, hunters, and recreational users.

2. Public Meeting

A public open house will be scheduled to present the draft by-law to residents. This will be an opportunity for community members to speak directly with staff, ask questions, and learn more about how the by-law may affect them. Visual materials and staff presentations will help illustrate the intent and application of the by-law in specific areas of the Township.

3. Revised Draft By-law

After the open house and survey, staff will analyze all feedback and update the draft by-law accordingly. A revised version will then be presented to the Committee of the Whole for further discussion and potential recommendation to Council for adoption.

Stay Informed

Details about the open house and survey will be announced on the Township’s website, social media, and through local media channels. Residents are encouraged to participate and have their voices heard.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Questions?

For any further questions, please contact the by-law department by emailing by-law@gbtownship.ca or by calling 705-538-2337 ext. 251.