Can You Set Up a Gun Range on Your Property in Fort Myers?

In January of 2026, Gulf Coast News Now reported that residents had become frustrated with a nearby gun range operated by the Fort Myers Sheriff’s Office. Residents say that they hear the constant sound of gunfire, often emanating for hours out of the gun range. Families say their children are frightened, while military veterans claim that the gunfire is triggering their PTSD. Residents are also concerned about plummeting home values. This raises an interesting question: When is it legal to set up your own gun range in a residential area? Could you face gun charges in Fort Myers?

The One-Acre Rule

According to Florida Statute 790.15, you may be allowed to discharge a firearm on your own property while target shooting, but only in an area that has a “residential density” of more than one acre per dwelling. This makes many of the higher-density areas of Fort Myers unsuitable for backyard gun ranges. The typical lot size for a single-family residence within city limits is about 7,500 square feet.

In order to create your own gun range on your property, you would need to live in an agricultural area or a “residential estate.” You would likely find these properties outside of the city limits, within the greater Charlotte County area.

You Have to Prioritize Safety When Creating Your Gun Range

Even if it is legal to build a gun range on a property of more than one acre, you still need to prioritize safety and consider additional laws. It is illegal to discharge a firearm over a paved public road or an occupied premises. If you set up a firing range and a shot goes wide of the mark, you could face charges if the projectile passes over a road or a home.

You also have to avoid discharging your firearm in an unsafe, reckless, or negligent manner. This all means that you have to be very careful when setting up your range. You must create some kind of barrier or “bullet stop” that will prevent projectiles from hitting unintended targets. The entire setup must be extremely controlled. Ideally, you’ll want to fire into a large hill.

The Penalties for Discharging a Firearm in Public Can Be Severe

If you do this in an unlawful manner, you could face a misdemeanor of the first degree. The penalty for this offense is up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000.

Can a Fort Myers Firearms Defense Attorney Help Me? 

While the Sheriff’s Office might be able to get away with having a firing range in a residential area, the average homeowner is likely subject to much stricter restrictions. That said, it is at least theoretically legal to set up your own gun range on your property. To learn more, consider contacting a Fort Myers gun crimes defense attorney. If you’re already facing charges in connection with the discharge of firearms on your property, contact The Foley & Wilson Law Firm today.

Sources:

 gulfcoastnewsnow.com/article/punta-gorda-sheriffs-office-gun-range-florida/69992378

wengradio.com/news-brief/gunfire-grit-when-your-dream-home-turns-into-a-shooting-range/

leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0790/Sections/0790.15.html

colliersheriff.org/how-do-i/gun-safety/firing-weapons-on-your-property