Firearm Discharge

*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

*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 signaling, 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.

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:

Public Open House:

Thursday August 14th, 2025

• Location: Baxter Ward Community Centre (25 Community Centre Dr, Port Severn, ON L0K 1S0)
• Time: 5:30pm - 7:00pm

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.

We’re seeking your input on the Firearm Discharge By-law to help ensure our regulations reflect safety, responsibility, and community values.

This survey is your chance to share concerns, offer suggestions, and help guide the next steps.

Please fill out the form at the following link:https://forms.office.com/r/DHSjvKBKVF.

Responses will be collected until August 31st, 2025.

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.

• Council Resolution C2024-199
• Committee of the Whole (May 6th, 2025) - Video
• Committee of Whole (May 6th, 2025) - Draft By-law & Report