Surprisingly, in-home gun ranges are becoming more and more popular, and many people see it as a place to escape.
Many people now consider adding a gun range to their homes for the convenience of shooting at their leisure. Adding a gun range to your home may involve retrofitting an existing space or creating a new space. The overarching question is: how much does the typical gun range cost?
In-home gun ranges can cost $50,000-$200,000. The final total is determined largely by the simplicity or complexity of the equipment selected as well as the level of safety you want. To grasp the costs involved, you must understand the requirements involved in a home gun range.
Many factors affect the overall cost of installing a home gun range. These factors also involve decisions that affect the cost of those portions of the design and installation. Before you make any decisions about a home gun range installation, read on to learn the intricacies and requirements of such a project.
What Does an In-Home Range Cost?
The installation of an indoor home shooting range involves a variety of costs. You should expect to incur costs for permitting, engineering services, equipment acquisition, and remodeling or construction of adequate space. Additional costs can involve insurance and ongoing maintenance.Engineering or Architectural Services
The permitting department may require engineering or architectural drawings to get the required permits for your indoor home shooting range. The cost of having these drawings produced can vary greatly, but in most cases falls between $1,200 and $6,000. Often the cost is based on the estimated cost of the project.Permitting Fees and Inspection Fees
The permitting process almost always involves fees for both the permit and the follow-up inspections. These fees vary from approximately $125 to $1,000 plus in some cases and may involve permits and fees to different departments and even to different jurisdictions. Your local permitting officials can provide you with a schedule of permit and inspection fees.Construction Costs
You may plan on retrofitting your indoor shooting range into an existing space or build a new structure to house the range. In either case, there will be costs associated with the construction and remodeling. A good contractor will provide you with an estimate for whatever type of installation you are planning. Remodeling costs may be as low as $100 per square foot or as much as $250 per square foot for new construction.Ongoing Costs to Consider
Be sure to check with your insurance agent about adding insurance coverage for your indoor home shooting range. Some insurance companies will not insure a home with a gun range. In any case, there will be additional costs for the liability insurance and the coverage for the equipment. You must also maintain the equipment. Air filtration systems need regularly scheduled maintenance to remain effective. Bullet traps require maintenance as well. The nature of target systems almost ensures regular repair to this equipment. Maintenance costs could average $50 to $150 per month.Is It Legal to Have an In-Home Gun Range?
Many cities and counties allow in-home gun ranges if you meet certain conditions. However, there are places where in-home gun ranges are prohibited or strictly controlled, and you must determine the legal issues where you live before you proceed. Legal challenges can come in various disguises and from different agencies. For example, you may face legal issues from:- State agencies such as Health and Safety organizations that control and regulate air quality.
- Local regulations and ordinances about discharging a firearm in a specific area, noise abatement issues, and zoning restrictions may prohibit any sort of shooting range in certain types of residential areas.
- Homeowners Associations can exert a significant amount of control over what you can and cannot do on your property. Some covenants and deed restrictions may prohibit the installation of a home gun range on your property.