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 nearby Navy bases give Virginia Beach a large military community, and Back Bay draws duck and goose hunters.
Public shooting ranges near Virginia Beach
These public shooting ranges near our featured cities are run or listed by state wildlife agencies, state forests or the national forests. Many require a hunting or fishing license, a range permit or a day pass, and hours change with the seasons, so call or check the agency site first.
Source: State wildlife agency, state forestry and U.S. Forest Service range lists, September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.