The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of the ordinance codified in this article:
(1) 
“Firearm”
means any weapon or device by whatever name known which will or is designed to expel a projectile by the action of an explosion. The term “firearm” shall include but not be limited to rifles, pistols, shotguns and machine guns. The term “firearm” shall not include devices, including but not limited to “nail guns,” which are used as tools in the construction or building industries and which would otherwise fall within this definition.
(2) 
“Ordinary high water mark”
means that mark on all lakes, streams and tidal water which will be found by examining the bed and banks in ascertaining where the presence and action of waters are so common and usual and so long continued in all ordinary years as to mark upon the soil a characteristic distinct from that of the abutting upland in respect to vegetation; provided, that in any area where the ordinary high water mark cannot be found, the ordinary high water mark adjoining salt water shall be the line of mean higher high tide.
(3) 
“Range”
means a place set aside and designated for the discharge of firearms for individuals wishing to practice, improve upon or compete as to their shooting skills.
(4) 
“Shoreline”
means the border between a body of water and land measured by the ordinary high water mark.
(Ord. 515 (2014) § 2 (part), 2014)
(1) 
The discharge of firearms is prohibited within five hundred yards of any shoreline in the unincorporated areas of Kitsap County.
(2) 
The discharge of firearms in the unincorporated areas of Kitsap County is further prohibited in the following instances:
(a) 
In any area designated as a “no-shooting” area pursuant to Section 10.25.040; specifically:
(i) 
Section 23, Township 25, Range 1 West, Willamette Meridian, Kitsap County, Washington, except for the following area: The southwest quarter, except that portion lying northeast of the Seabeck Highway, of Section 23, Township 25, Range 1 West, Willamette Meridian;
(ii) 
That area bounded on the west by Bethel-Burley Road, on the north by Burley-Olalla Road, on the east by Bandix Road, and on the south by the Kitsap County/Pierce County line;
(iii) 
That area bounded on the west by a line that begins at the southwest corner of tax parcel number 252301-4-012-1009, thence in a straight line northeasterly to the northeast corner of tax parcel number 252301-1-019-1008, thence north along the east boundary of tax parcel number 252301-1-018-1009 to its intersection with the south boundary of tax parcel number 252301-4-013-1009, thence west along said south boundary to the southwest corner of said tax parcel, thence north along the western boundary of said tax parcel to the intersection of Southwest Lake Flora Road, thence easterly along the southerly right-of-way of said road to its intersection with J.M. Dickenson Road Southwest, thence southwesterly along the westerly right-of-way of said road to its intersection with the eastern boundary of tax parcel number 252301-4-018-1003, thence north along said boundary to the northeast corner of said parcel, thence west along the northern boundary of said parcel to the Alpine Lake noshooting area;
(iv) 
The Bridletree neighborhood, specifically the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter and the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter and the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter in Section 32, Township 25 North, Range 1 West, W.M. in Kitsap County, Washington and the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter and the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter and the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter in Section 33, Township 25 North, Range 1 West, W.M., in Kitsap County, Washington and that portion of the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter being all of Short Plat Subdivision No. 5369, recorded in Volume 5 of Short Plats, Page 189, under Auditor’s file No. 9011140200 and amended under Auditor’s file Nos. 3219741 and 3219742 records of Kitsap County, Washington, in Section 4, Township 24 North, Range 1 West, W.M., in Kitsap County, Washington.
(b) 
On any parcel of land less than five acres in size.
(c) 
Towards any building occupied by people or domestic animals or used for the storage of flammable or combustible materials where the point of discharge is within five hundred yards of such building.
(d) 
Later than one-half hour after sunset or earlier than one-half hour before sunrise unless otherwise authorized under state hunting regulations.
(e) 
Within five hundred yards of the following lakes located, in whole or in part, in the unincorporated areas of Kitsap County: Long Lake, Kitsap Lake, Wildcat Lake, Panther Lake, Mission Lake, Tiger Lake, William Symington Lake, Tahuya Lake, Island Lake, Horse-shoe Lake, Carney Lake, Wye Lake, Buck Lake, Fairview Lake and Bear Lake.
(f) 
Nothing in this section shall be construed or interpreted as abridging the right of the individual guaranteed by Article I, Section 24 of the state Constitution to bear arms in defense of self or others.
(Ord. 515 (2014) § 2 (part), 2014; Ord. 569 (2019) § 2, 2019)
The provisions of Section 10.25.020 shall not apply to the discharge of firearms:
(1) 
By law enforcement officers, including Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife officers, or security personnel in the course of their official duties;
(2) 
On a shooting range; provided, that any such range shall comply with the criteria for ranges adopted by the Kitsap County board of commissioners pursuant to Article 2 of this chapter;
(3) 
In the course of farm slaughter activities;
(4) 
For lawful hunting in accordance with state and federal hunting laws, or responding to wildlife threatening human safety or causing property damage as provided by state law.
(Ord. 515 (2014) § 2 (part), 2014; Ord. 515A (2014) § 1, 2014)
(1) 
The establishment or disestablishment of a “no shooting” area in addition to those described in Section 10.25.020 may be requested by petition by the registered voters residing in such proposed additional areas. Such petition may include a request that the discharge of certain types of firearms be nevertheless allowed during certain times and under certain conditions. The superintendent of a school district may also request by petition that school property within that district which is located in the unincorporated area of Kitsap County and on which a building having an occupancy classification of “E” under the Uniform Building Code is situated, together with the area within five hundred yards of the school property’s perimeter, be designated as a “no shooting” area. Any such petition shall be presented to the Kitsap County board of commissioners and shall substantially comply in content with the following criteria:
(a) 
The proposed area shall contain a minimum of fifty dwelling units or, in the alternative, a minimum area of one square mile;
(b) 
The proposed area shall have readily identifiable boundaries, which shall be shown on a map attached to the petition;
(c) 
A petition requesting that the discharge of certain types of firearms be nevertheless allowed during certain times and under certain conditions shall set forth with specificity the types of firearms, times and conditions being proposed;
(d) 
The petition for the proposed area shall bear the signatures of at least fifty-one percent of the proposed area’s registered voters; provided, however, that a petition for a “no shooting” area involving school property need be signed only by the superintendent of the school district in which the school property is located;
(e) 
Ranges permitted under Article 2 of this chapter shall not be declared a no-shooting area by petition method.
(2) 
A petition for a “no shooting” area shall be in substantially the following form:
PETITION TO CREATE A “NO SHOOTING” AREA
To: The Kitsap County Board of Commissioners
We, the undersigned citizens of Kitsap County, State of Washington, being legally registered voters within the respective precincts set opposite our names, do hereby respectfully request that the area generally known as __________ be established as a “No Shooting” area pursuant to Kitsap County Code Section 10.25.020.
We further request that the discharge of certain types of firearms, commonly known as __________, be nevertheless allowed during certain times of the year, namely, __________, under the following conditions:
1. ___________________________________
2. ___________________________________
3. ___________________________________
4. ___________________________________
5. ___________________________________
The proposed area’s boundaries are shown on the attached map and are generally described as follows:
[Here insert proposed area boundary description]
Each of us says:
(1) I am a legally registered voter of the State of Washington in the precinct written after my name below.
(2) The portion of such precinct within which I reside is included within the proposed “No Shooting” area.
(3) My residence address is correctly stated below.
(4) I have personally signed this petition.
Petition Name and Signature
Precinct Name
Residence Address Number and Street
City or PO Box No.
Zip Code
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Failure of a petition to comply with any of the above format shall not automatically invalidate such petition but shall be a matter for consideration by the Kitsap County board of commissioners as to whether the intent and standards of this section have been met.
(3) 
Upon the receipt of such a petition, the board of commissioners shall forward the petition to the Kitsap County auditor for verification of the signature requirements of this section. Upon the return of area verification from the auditor, the board shall set the matter for consideration at the next regularly scheduled public hearing or as soon thereafter as it may appropriately be heard.
(4) 
At any time after one year from the effective date of the establishment of a “noshooting” area pursuant to this section, the residents of such area may seek abrogation of such by the same procedure provided in this section for the establishment of a “no-shooting” area; provided, however, that in the event of such abrogation, Section 10.25.020 shall remain in full force and effect as to that area.
(Ord. 515 (2014) § 2 (part), 2014)