Youth Curfew Bylaw Repealed

At the Regular Council Meeting on March 9, 2026, Okotoks Town Council unanimously voted to repeal the Town’s Youth Curfew Bylaw (Bylaw 13-98), which had been in place since 1998. The bylaw previously prohibited youth aged 12–15 from being in public places between 12:01 a.m. and 5 a.m. without a guardian or a legitimate reason. A review found the bylaw had not been enforced since at least 2018 and had limited effectiveness in addressing youth-related concerns, according to Okotoks Municipal Enforcement.

Administration recommended repealing the bylaw because other provincial and federal legislation, along with the Town’s Community Standards Bylaw, already address disruptive or unlawful behaviour from youth. Modern approaches to community safety focus more on prevention, engagement and targeted enforcement rather than broad restrictions. Repealing the bylaw allows the Town to rely on these existing frameworks while continuing to support a proactive, community-focused approach to safety.