r/canadaguns • u/No-Communication3433 • May 02 '26
Application / Regulation advice Need insight
What's the city and federal policy for owning an air gun in Canada and using it like a spring break barrel? Below 500 fps. And what should I do to avoid getting punished unknowingly?
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u/z00animal May 02 '26
The language used in some city bylaws would outlaw nerf and water guns. It’s ridiculous.
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u/Iokua_CDN May 02 '26
Federal you should be fine. Below the 500 it's not a firearm.
That being said, check your own local city bylaws. We can't help you without knowing what city. Most cities likely will have them banned, lots won't even allow bows and Arrows or crossbows in city limits. I'm lucky in that my city doesn't allow it in parks, but you can use airguns and Bow and Arrows in your own backyard. Even then though make sure you know what's behind you and where any misses go. I got an empty field behind so it's fine, but I've had Arrows miss, hit a chain link fence and deflect upwards and go flying pretty far, even though it was originally aimed so it would have hit the ground. So be careful. Last thing you need is a miss going flying and breaking something or Injurying someone. Probably why most towns don't allow it in city limits
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u/No-Communication3433 May 02 '26
I live in brampton 😅
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u/Iokua_CDN May 02 '26
You are out of luck. Brampton bylaw classifies all those airguns as guns and prohibits shooting them even on private private property
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u/DoYouGetSarcasm May 02 '26
They are firearms under section 2 of the Canadian criminal code (and therefore are always weapons).
Section 84 (3) sets out that they are excluded from the firearms act, licensing, and laws where non restricted, restricted, prohibited firearms are referenced. Laws that say "firearm" without any modifier include them.
Bylaws (City laws) prohibiting firearms discharge usually include these as not being allowed to discharge. It may expressly include them or just say 'firearms' and thus include them.
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u/HappyCan7250 May 02 '26
Below 500fps is pretty unregulated, no license needed, but it gets a bit more convoluted as I believe it also has to be below a muzzle energy threshold and not just purely based on fps.
Many municipalities don't allow allow you to shoot airguns in your yard either, but you would have to look into your bylaws to confirm it. Odds are if you own under several acres, you aren't allowed to shoot it in your yard. Where I am, the cut off is 3 acres or more allows shooting on your property, but it varies from municipality to municipality.