It is strictly regulated.
Paintball guns in Austria are classified as firearms under the Waffengesetz 1996 (WaffG) and EU Firearms Directive 2017/853, requiring strict compliance for public use. While not outright banned, their carriage in public spaces demands a Waffenbesitzkarte (WBK) or Waffenpaß (for non-EU citizens), with paintball-specific exceptions rare. Local authorities, including the Bundesministerium für Inneres (BMI), enforce nuanced restrictions, particularly in urban areas like Vienna and Salzburg, where municipal ordinances may impose additional prohibitions.
Key Regulations for Paintball Guns in Public in Austria
- Firearm Classification: Paintball markers are treated as Category B firearms under the WaffG, necessitating a WBK for legal possession unless used in licensed paintball venues with Ausnahmebewilligung (exception permits).
- Public Carriage Restrictions: Transporting paintball guns in public without a WBK violates §10 WaffG, with penalties up to €7,200 or imprisonment. Exceptions apply only for direct travel to/from authorized fields, documented via Transportbewilligung.
- Municipal Overrides: Cities like Vienna enforce Ortsverordnungen banning public display or discharge, even with permits. The Wiener Waffengesetz (2023 amendment) mandates secure storage in vehicles, with inspections by the Landespolizeidirektion Wien.
Local compliance with the EU’s 2026 Firearms Regulation further tightens record-keeping for paintball clubs, requiring digital logging of member permits via the BMI’s Waffenregister. Non-compliance risks revocation of venue licenses.