Legal Advertisement BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JOHNSON

Legal Advertisement
BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
JOHNSON COUNTY
ORDINANCE 2025-O-11
AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING TITLE 35 OF
THE JOHNSON COUNTY
CODE
OF ORDINANCES

WHEREAS, on October
31, 2011, the Board of
Commissioners of John-
son County Indiana
(Commissioners), ap-
proved Ordinance
2011-0-04, establishing lo-
cal ordinances governing
the discharge of weapons
in Unincorporated John-
son County under Title 35,
Article 2, Chapter 2, of the
Johnson County Code of
Ordinances; and
WHEREAS, the Com-
missioners have been ad-
vised that in the years
since the 2011 ordinance
was passed, the Johnson
County Sheriffs Depart-
ment (Sheriff) has re-
ceived multiple calls per
month from citizens con-
cerned about the proximity
of weapons discharging in
relation to unincorporated
residential areas; and
WHEREAS, the unin-
corporated areas of John-
son County have seen un-
precedented residential
growth, that is projected to
continually increase,
where residential areas
have become increasingly
dense, resulting in an in-
crease in calls to the Sher-
iff and concern for the
safety of citizens in the un-
incorporated residential
areas when weapons are
discharged; and
WHEREAS, based on
this actual and continued
projected growth of resi-
dential areas within unin-
corporated Johnson
County, the increased
amount of complaints re-
ceived by the Sheriff, and
in order to preserve the
continued safety for all citi-
zens in Johnson County,
while continuing to allow
the lawful discharge of
weapons, the Commis-
sioners have determined
that Title 35, Article 2,
Chapter 2 of the Johnson
County, Indiana Code of
Ordinances should now be
amended.
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED as fol-
lows:
Johnson County Code
Title 55, Criminal Law and
Procedure, shall be
amended to containing the
following sections:
CHAPTER 2: WEAP-
ONS DISCHARGE ORDI-
NANCE
35-2-2-1 DEFINI-
TIONS
For the purposes of this
chapter, the following defi-
nitions apply:
(A) WEAPON. Any
handgun, rifle, shotgun, or
other firearm capable of or
designed to or that may be
readily converted to expel
a projectile by explosion,
ORDINANCE NO.:
2025-O-11: ORDINANCE
OF THE JOHNSON
COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
AMENDING TITLE 35 OF
THE JOHNSON COUNTY
CODE OF ORDINANCES
or a bow or crossbow
capable of or designed to
or that may readily be con-
verted to shoot an arrow
or projectile by any
means.
(B) DISCHARGE. To
shoot or fire a weapon.
35-2-2-2 DIS-
CHARGE OF WEAPONS
PROHIBITED
Except as provided
herein, anyone who dis-
charges a weapon in unin-
corporated Johnson
County is responsible for
the projectile discharged.
Discharging a weapon, the
projectile of which travels:
(A) across or upon any
public street, sidewalk or
alley;
(B) across or upon a
public park, public school
or public school property;
(C) across or upon the
property of another with-
out the property owners
permission; or
(D) within 500 feet of
any bordering property
line without the bordering
property owners permis-
sion; is prohibited.
35-2-2-3 EXCEP-
TIONS
This chapter does not
apply to
(A) the discharge of
weapons in defense of
ones life or property or to
kill a dangerous or de-
structive animal;
(B) the discharge of
weapons during hunting
activities;
(C) the discharge of
weapons by any duly au-
thorized peace officer or
law enforcement official
acting in the proper perfor-
mance of his or her duties;
(D) the discharge of
weapons on a shooting
range established accord-
ing to applicable zoning
regulations, including
those established by any
police department or law
enforcement agency;
(E) the discharge of
weapons during a man-
aged hunt to control the
deer population under the
supervision of the federal,
state, or local law enforce-
ment or game manage-
ment officials; or
(F) the discharge of
blank cartridges in theatri-
cal performances or sport-
ing events or at military fu-
nerals or affairs subject to
other federal, state, and
local laws and regulations.
35-2-2-4 PENALTY
Any violation of this
chapter shall result in a
penalty of $50 for a first
time violation.
Subsequent offenses
shall result in a penalty of
no less than $100 and no
more than $7,500 for each
additional violation.
35-2-2-5 JOINT AND
SEVERAL LIABILITY
Where groups of two or
more people are shooting
together when a violation
occurs, they shall be
jointly and severally liable
for any penalty resulting
from the violation.
(Ord. 2011-04, passed
10-31-11.)
So adopted this 13th
day of October, 2025.

BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS OF
JOHNSON COUNTY,
INDIANA
60154127 hspaxlp
(J) 10-17-25-2025