15.16.040 Creation, modification, or deletion of No Firearms Discharge Areas and/or Restricted Firearms Discharge Areas.
(1) The creation, dissolution, or modification of the boundaries of an existing discharge area or restrictions within an existing area may be initiated by petition or by Board proposal. Petitions requesting the Clallam County Commissioners to create a No Firearms Discharge Area or Restricted Firearms Discharge Area or to dissolve an existing area or modify the boundaries of an existing area shall be filed with the clerk of the Clallam County Commissioners. Petitions shall contain the signatures of at least fifty (50) percent plus one of the owners of real property in the area under consideration. In the case of a request to modify the boundaries of an existing area, signatures shall only be required from within the area to be added or deleted. Verification of signatures shall be accomplished by the auditor.
(2) Petitions submitted to the Board of Clallam County Commissioners shall contain, at a minimum, the following information:
(a) The description of the property to be designated or undesignated and a sketch of the proposed boundaries. The description shall include a map which depicts parcels and parcel sizes within the proposed boundaries. Parcels within the proposed boundary shall be contiguous.
(b) The name, address, telephone number, and tax parcel number of the primary sponsor of the proposal.
(c) The name, address, and tax parcel number of each property owner signing the petition, and each owner of property within the proposal.
(d) The type or types of firearms that the petition seeks to have restricted from use, modified for use, or unrestricted from use.
(e) If the petition is for establishment or alteration of a Restricted Firearms Discharge Area, the specific restrictions and acts or omissions to be designated as unlawful or restrictions, acts, or omissions to be altered.
(f) If the petition proposes that shooting (exemption) be allowed on parcels larger than a minimum designated size, the petition shall include the recommended minimum parcel size and the types of firearms for which discharge will be allowed. Any such exemptions shall be made with the following conditions:
(i) Only the landowner and/or individuals with the landowner’s written permission may discharge firearms. Safety of shooters and containment of projectiles is the responsibility of the property owner and/or shooter.
(ii) Individuals discharging firearms must be adults or under the direct supervision of a responsible adult.
(iii) Any discharge of firearms will be conducted between 9:00 a.m. and dusk and shall be for the purposes of target practice or sighting of such weapons, not for firing at or hunting of animals.
(iv) Any exempted property must have natural or manmade ground contours, berms, steel plate with sand trap, fiber containment device, or other containment device designed to reasonably ensure that any projectile fired is contained with the property boundaries. Unsuitable backstops include but are not limited to trees, stumps, vehicle hulks, stone or gravel piles.
(3) At the first regular meeting following verification of the petition or upon proposal by the Board of Clallam County Commissioners, the Board shall call for a public hearing on the proposal. Notice of public hearing shall be given by publication of a notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the County at least once, not less than ten (10) days prior to the date set for the hearing.
(4) At the public hearing proponents and opponents of the proposal or those who desire to modify either boundaries or restrictions in the proposal shall be given the opportunity to provide testimony. In addition, property owners claiming exemption under CCC 15.16.020(2)(d) or (e) or 15.16.030(2)(d) or (e) shall provide testimony or other documentation in support of their claim.
(5) After the public hearing is closed, the Board of Clallam County Commissioners shall establish the proposed No Firearms Discharge Area or Restricted Firearms Discharge Area if it determines the proposal meets the following criteria:
(a) The proposed No Firearms Discharge Area or Restricted Firearms Discharge Area is a minimum of twenty (20) acres in area and contains at least twenty (20) legal lots of record, as defined by CCC Title 33, Zoning.
(b) The population density of the proposed No Firearms Discharge Area or Restricted Firearms Discharge Area is such that discharging firearms significantly increases danger to the safety of the general public and other property owners within the area.
(c) The proposed area is zoned for five (5) acres or less parcel size or the average size of lots within the proposed No Firearms Discharge Area or Restricted Firearms Discharge Area is five (5) acres or less in size.
(6) At the conclusion of the hearing the Board may:
(a) Approve or disapprove the creation of the No Firearms Discharge Area or Restricted Firearms Discharge Area;
(b) Adjust the boundaries of the proposed area;
(c) Modify the restrictions within the proposed area;
(d) Recognize and establish properties qualifying for exemption under CCC 15.16.020(2)(d) or (e) or 15.16.030(2)(d) or (e);
(e) Establish exemptions under subsection (2)(f) of this section.
(7) For all Restricted Firearms Discharge Areas and/or No Firearms Discharge Areas created on or after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, the primary sponsor shall cause to be posted and maintained at or near the boundary along all roadways used by the public for ingress and egress an appropriately sized sign which contains the language indicated below. Owners of property on the perimeter of a designated area may post their section of the boundary, at their option, with like signs. The signs shall read:
Restricted Firearms Area (or)
No Firearms Discharge Area
The use of firearms within this area is limited pursuant to Clallam County Code Chapter 15.16. Contact the Sheriff’s Office for additional information. It is unlawful to deface or remove this sign.
It shall be unlawful for any person(s) to deface or remove any sign placed pursuant to this chapter. All provisions of this chapter shall be enforceable regardless of the presence or absence of signs.