Shooting In Riverside County: What's The Law?

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Due to a recent increase in the number of calls for service related to illegal shooting and off-roading in Riverside County, sheriff's officials are issuing some reminders to the public about what's allowed in unincorporated areas.

"Over the last six months we have noticed a significant increase in calls for service related to illegal shooting and illegal off road vehicle traffic in our unincorporated rural areas," the Lake Elsinore sheriff's station said on Friday. "The Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Department has received calls from citizens reporting their residence or businesses being struck by stray gunfire, noise complaints, littering and trespassing violations."

Here's an announcement from the sheriff's department about what local laws are:

In short, Riverside County Ordinance 514.10 strictly forbids recreational shooting in Western Riverside County as outlined in County Ordinance 514.10 Section 6.

Section 6. It shall be unlawful in the Western Zone for any person to shoot or discharge any firearm, or to have in his possession within said zone any loaded rifle or shotgun except as follows: a. The discharging of a shotgun used in lawfully hunting game pursuant to a valid hunting license, or the possession of a loaded shotgun used in lawfully hunting game pursuant to a valid hunting license shall be permitted in the Western Zone during the period July 4 through January 15, inclusive, of each year; provided, however, that this subsection shall not be construed to permit the discharging of a shotgun or the possession of a loaded shotgun within the boundaries of any "Closed Area" described in Section 8 of this ordinance.

Riverside County Department of Transportation recently posted four signs at entry points to the unincorporated areas that have experienced a dramatic increase in recreational shooting in the Western Zone, primarily all areas within Riverside County west of the 215 Freeway at Highway 74 and north to the 91 FWY. Please refer to the County of Riverside website using the following link: http://countyofriverside.us/AbouttheCounty/CountyOrdinances.aspx .

The Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station continually receives a large volume of complaints from illegal shooting in the area known as “Steele Peak” and will be conducting zero tolerance enforcement in this and surrounding areas in conjunction with the Bureau of Land Management and the Perris Sheriff’s Station. The Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station encourages the safe and responsible handling of firearms and the importance of being familiar with local regulations in regards to recreational shooting areas.

There are resources available to help locate areas open to recreational shooting and off road vehicles, such as the Bureau of Land Management (https://www.blm.gov/california ) and U.S. Forestry Service (https://www.fs.fed.us/ ), but a good rule of thumb is to check with local city and county ordinances for any restrictions.

Anyone with information or concerns can contact the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station at 951-245 3300 or after hours and on weekends at 951-776-1099.

Image via Riverside County Sheriff's Department