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ADMINISTRATIVE CONSOLIDATION OF BYLAW 23-24
AS OF JUNE 24, 2025
REVISED BYLAW 23-24
AS OF JANUARY 8, 2025
A BYLAW OF THE TOWN OF OKOTOKS
IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA
TO REGULATE THE KEEPING OF LIVESTOCK EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS
(As amended by Bylaw 27-25)
WHEREAS pursuant to provisions of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), Revised
Statutes of Alberta 2000, Chapter M-26 and amendments thereto, Council of the Town
of Okotoks (Council) may pass a bylaw for municipal purposes respecting the safety,
health and welfare of people, the protection of people and property, wild and domestic
animals, and certain activities in relation to them; and
WHEREAS pursuant to provisions of the MGA Council has the authority to provide for
a system of licences, permits, and approvals; and
WHEREAS Council deems it desirable to regulate the keeping of Livestock Emotional
Support Animals in urban areas of the Town of Okotoks;
NOW THEREFORE Council enacts as follows:
1.
SHORT TITLE
This Bylaw may be known as the "Livestock Emotional Support Animal Bylaw".
2.
DEFINITIONS
In this Bylaw, unless the context otherwise requires:
2.1. Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) means the person appointed to the
position of chief administrative officer for the Town of Okotoks within the
meaning of the MGA;
2.2. Licence means the Owner of a LESA has provided Okotoks Municipal
Enforcement with a letter from a mental health care professional that and is on
file and the address at which the LESA will be harboured has been recorded;
Revised Bylaw 23-24
ADMINISTRATIVE CONSOLIDATION
Page 2 of 8
2.3. Livestock Emotional Support Animal (LESA) means a companion animal under
68 kilograms in weight that is otherwise prohibited under the Responsible Pet
Ownership Bylaw section 2, subsection 2.15, with the exception of honey bee
colonies and roosters, as determined by a mental health professional to provide
a benefit for an individual with a disability and such determination can be
provided to a Peace Officer upon request; (Bylaw 27-25)
2.4. Owner means:
2.4.1.
a person who has the care, charge, custody, possession or control of a
LESA;
2.4.2.
a person who owns or who claims any proprietary interest in a LESA;
2.4.3.
a person who harbours, suffers or permits a LESA to be present on any
property owned, occupied or leased by him or which is otherwise under
his control;
2.4.4.
a person to whom Licence authorization was issued for the LESA in
accordance with this Bylaw;
2.5. Peace Officer means:
2.5.1.
a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police;
2.5.2.
a Community Peace Officer as appointed by the Solicitor General of
Alberta;
2.5.3.
a Bylaw Enforcement Officer as appointed by the Town to enforce bylaws
of the Town;
2.6. Town means the Corporation of the Town of Okotoks in the Province of Alberta
and where the context so requires, means the area of land within the corporate
boundaries thereof;
2.7. Town tag means a notice or tag in the form as approved by the CAO, issued by
the Town, allowing a voluntary payment option of a fine established under this
Bylaw; (Bylaw 27-25)
2.8. violation ticket means a ticket issued pursuant to Part 2 of the Provincial
Offences Procedures Act, Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000, Chapter P-34 and any
amendments or regulations thereto.
3.
PROHIBITIONS
3.1. No Owner shall be permitted to harbour more than one (1) LESA.
Revised Bylaw 23-24
ADMINISTRATIVE CONSOLIDATION
Page 3 of 8
3.2. No Owner shall be permitted to use a Town-owned off-leash park for their
LESA.(Bylaw 27-25)
4.
LIVESTOCK EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL LICENCES
4.1. A LESA licence is not transferrable from one property to another, except on a
temporary basis less than 24 hours. Any permanent change of address within
Town must be updated with Okotoks Municipal Enforcement and notice
provided if the LESA will no longer be harboured in Town.
4.2. A LESA licence is not transferrable from one LESA to another and documentation
and notification must be provided to Okotoks Municipal Enforcement.
4.3. A LESA shall continue to be licensed within the Town at the address provided
until such time as:
4.3.1.
the owner provides notice to the Town that the LESA is no longer
required to be harboured at the residence;
4.3.2.
the owner provides notice to the Town of relocating the LESA to a
different property within Town limits;
4.3.3.
the owner provides notice to the Town of relocating outside of the Town;
4.3.4.
the owner provides notice to the Town of the death of the animal; or
4.3.5.
the Town provides notice to the owner that sufficient complaints have
been received by the Town of contraventions or infractions of this Bylaw
or any other applicable bylaw that warrant revoking the licence and
applicable permission to harbor the LESA within Town limits.
4.4. A LESA licence may be revoked by the CAO if:
4.4.1.
the owner does not meet or no longer meets the requirements for a
licence as set out in this Bylaw;
4.4.2.
the owner furnishes false information or misrepresents any fact or
circumstance required pursuant to this Bylaw;
4.4.3.
the owner has failed to take corrective measure to address issues or
concerns received by Okotoks Municipal Enforcement regarding smell,
noise, vermin, unkept premises, mistreatment of the LESA, aggressive
behaviour, or any other contravention of this Bylaw;
4.4.4.
the owner has, in the opinion of the CAO, based on reasonable grounds,
contravened any part of this Bylaw whether or not the contravention has
been prosecuted;
4.4.5.
the owner fails to pay a fine imposed by a court for a contravention of
this Bylaw or any applicable Bylaw related to the keeping of livestock;
Revised Bylaw 23-24
ADMINISTRATIVE CONSOLIDATION
Page 4 of 8
4.4.6.
the owner fails to pay any fee required by this Bylaw or any other
applicable legislation; or
4.4.7.
in the opinion of the CAO, based on reasonable grounds, it is in the
public interest to do so.
5.
KEEPING OF LIVESTOCK EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS
5.1. A person who keeps a LESA must:
5.1.1.
ensure that the LESA is not kept in such a manner that causes or permits
a nuisance or is reasonable likely to disturb the peace of any other
individual;
5.1.2.
provide each LESA with food, water, shelter, light, ventilation, care, and
exercise, all sufficient to maintain the LESA in good health;
5.1.3.
maintain the rear yard or enclosure in which the animal will be
harboured in good repair and sanitary condition, free from vermin,
noxious or offensive smells, and substances;
5.1.4.
ensure the LESA enclosure is located in the rear yard of the residence;
5.1.5.
keep the rear yard or enclosure secured at all times to prevent the
unintended release of the LESA;
5.1.6.
store manure with a fully enclosed container, and store no more than 85
litres (three (3) cubic feet) of manure at any time;
5.1.7.
remove all other manure not used for composting or fertilizing and
dispose of such in accordance with Town Bylaws.
6.
AUTHORITY OF CAO
6.1. In determining if the LESA is a nuisance or is reasonably likely to disturb the
peace of any other individual the CAO may consider one or more of the
following:
6.1.1.
a demonstrated impact on the health or well-being of others;
6.1.2.
repeated incidents of unruly or aggressive behaviour;
6.1.3.
repeated complaints of offensive odours, messy, untidy, or unkept rear
yard or enclosure;
6.1.4.
repeated complaints of the LESA defecating while off property of the
licence holder;
6.1.5.
repeated complaints of the LESA running at large; and
6.1.6.
demonstrated damage to neighbouring properties.
Revised Bylaw 23-24
ADMINISTRATIVE CONSOLIDATION
Page 5 of 8
7.
PENALTIES AND ENFORCEMENT
7.1. No person shall willfully obstruct, hinder, or interfere with a Peace Officer or
any other person authorized to enforce and engaged in the enforcement of
the provisions of this Bylaw.
7.2. Any person who contravenes any provision of this Bylaw is guilty of an
offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than Ten
Thousand ($10,000) Dollars, imprisonment for a term not exceeding one (1)
year, or both.
7.3. Where there is a specified penalty listed for an offence in Schedule "A" to this
Bylaw, that amount is the minimum specified penalty for the offence.
7.4. Where a person contravenes the same provision of this Bylaw two (2) or more
times within one 12 month period, the specified penalty payable in respect of
the second or subsequent contravention shall be the amount stated in
Schedule "A" for such offences.
7.5. In the case of an offence that is of a continuing nature, a contravention
constitutes a separate offense in respect of each day or part of a day on
which it continues.
7.6. The levying and payment of any fine or the imprisonment for any period
provided in this Bylaw shall not relieve a person from the necessity of paying
any fees, charges or costs from which that person is liable under the
provisions of this Bylaw or any other bylaw.
7.7. Any Peace Officer who has reasonable and probable grounds to believe that
any person has contravened any provision of this Bylaw may issue and serve:
7.7.1.
a Town tag allowing a payment of the specified penalty to the Town; or
(Bylaw 27-25)
7.7.2.
a violation ticket allowing payment according to the provisions of the
Provincial Offences Procedure Act, Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000,
Chapter P-34 and amendments thereto.
7.8. Service of a Town tag will be sufficient if it is: (Bylaw 27-25)
7.8.1.
personally served; or
7.8.2.
served by regular mail to the person's last known mailing address.
Revised Bylaw 23-24
ADMINISTRATIVE CONSOLIDATION
Page 6 of 8
7.9. If a violation ticket is issued in respect to an offence, the violation ticket may:
7.9.1.
specify the fine amount established by this Bylaw for the offence; or
7.9.2.
require a person to appear in court without the alternative of making a
voluntary payment.
7.10. A person who commits an offence may:
7.10.1. if a violation ticket is issued in respect of the offence; and
7.10.2. if the violation ticket specified the fine amount established by this Bylaw
for the offence;
make a voluntary payment equal to the specified fine by delivering the violation
ticket and the specified fine to the provincial courthouse specified on the
violation ticket.
7.11. Schedule "A" PENALTIES shall form a part of this Bylaw and may from time to
time be amended.
8.
SEVERABILITY
It is the intention of Council that each separate provision of this Bylaw shall be
deemed independent of all other provisions herein and it is the further intention of
Council that if any provision of this Bylaw is declared invalid, all other provisions hereof
shall remain valid and enforceable.
This Bylaw shall come into full force and effect upon third and final reading.
Bylaw 23-24 received third and final reading June 24, 2024.
ORIGINAL SIGNED BY
MAYOR AND CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Revised Bylaw 23-24 signed this 8th day of January 2025 by the Chief Administrative
Officer as authorized by Bylaw 16-24.
ORIGINAL SIGNED BY
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Bylaw 27-25 received third and final reading June 23, 2025.
ORIGINAL SIGNED BY
MAYOR AND CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Revised Bylaw 23-24
ADMINISTRATIVE CONSOLIDATION
Page 7 of 8
SCHEDULE "A"
PENALTIES
SECTION
OFFENCE
PENALTY
1st Offence
PENALTY
2nd & Each
Subsequent
Offence
2.2
Harbour an unlicensed LESA
$250
$500
3.1
Harbour more than one (1) LESA per Owner
$250
$500
3.2
Using a Town-owned off-leash park (Bylaw 27-25)
$250
$500
4.1
Transfer a LESA licence to another property within Town
without notifying Okotoks Municipal Enforcement
$250
$500
4.2
Transfer a LESA licence to another LESA without
providing documentation and notification to Okotoks
Municipal Enforcement
$250
$500
4.3.1
Fail to provide notification that the LESA is no longer
required
$250
$500
4.3.2
Fail to provide notification of permanent relocation of
the LESA within Town
$250
$500
4.3.3
Fail to provide notification of relocation of LESA outside
of the Town
$250
$500
4.3.4
Fail to provide notification of the death of the LESA
$250
$500
4.4.2
Provide false information or misrepresents a fact or
circumstance
$250
$500
4.4.3
Fail to take corrective measures to address a complaint
received
$250
$500
5.1.1
LESA kept in a manner that causes or permit a nuisance
or disturbs the peace of any other individual
$250
$500
5.1.2
Fail to provide sufficient water, food, shelter, light,
ventilation, care and exercise to maintain the health of
the LESA
$250
$500
5.1.3
Fail to keep the rear yard or enclosure in good repair and
sanitary condition, free from vermin, noxious or offensive
smells and substances
$250
$500
5.1.4
Harbour a LESA in the front yard of a residence
$250
$500
5.1.5
Fail to ensure rear yard and enclosure are secured at all
times
$250
$500
5.1.6
Fail to properly store manure
$250
$500
Revised Bylaw 23-24
ADMINISTRATIVE CONSOLIDATION
Page 8 of 8
5.1.7
Fail to remove manure in a timely manner
$250
$500