How buying a gun in Virginia Beach works
Pick an FFL dealer near you that accepts shipped transfers and name it at checkout. We confirm their license and ship the firearm to them. Ammunition, optics and parts ship straight to your door where Virginia law allows.
Every firearm sale in Virginia, including most private sales, goes through a background check with the Virginia State Police Firearms Transaction Program. A buyer may purchase only one handgun in a 30-day period unless an exemption applies, such as holding a concealed handgun permit. A 2026 law banning the future sale of certain semiautomatic firearms and magazines over 15 rounds was set to start July 1, 2026, but a court put it on hold. Check the current status before you order.
Dealers in these communities all work for Virginia Beach-area buyers:
- Chesapeake
- Norfolk
- Portsmouth
- Suffolk
- Pungo
- Sandbridge
- Hampton
- Newport News
Carrying a gun in Virginia Beach (independent city) County
Virginia requires a concealed handgun permit to carry concealed. It is issued by the circuit court of the county or city where you live, and you apply through that court's clerk. Applicants must be 21 and show handgun training. Open carry is generally legal for adults but is restricted in some places, and the 2026 session added new limits on public places, hospitals and colleges. From July 1, 2026, Virginia recognizes out-of-state permits only from states on the State Police list.
Hunting near Virginia Beach
East of the Blue Ridge, Virginia's general firearms deer season runs from November 14, 2026 to January 2, 2027 in most counties, following archery in October and an early muzzleloader season in early November. Legal firearms include rifles, shotguns and muzzleloaders, but many cities and counties in Tidewater limit deer hunting to shotguns or restrict hunting near homes. Check the Virginia DWR regulations and your local ordinances before you hunt.
Virginia Beach limits deer hunting methods inside city limits, so check local rules. Back Bay and the nearby marshes are known for waterfowl.
Naval Air Station Oceana and the nearby Navy bases give Virginia Beach a large military and security community, and salt air here means a coated slide and a Kydex holster.
Public shooting ranges near Virginia Beach
The public ranges below are run or officially listed by state wildlife agencies and state forests near the cities we cover. Most ask for a hunting or fishing license, an access permit or a small daily fee, and some close for the season, so check the agency page before you drive out.
Source: State wildlife agency public range lists (Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia), September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.