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In a series, inspired by a colleague, the Richmond Sentinel presents some interesting laws that simply don’t sound real in the Province of Alberta.

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I can’t believe that’s a law: Alberta edition

By Matthew Cheung

Published 11:38 PDT, Fri March 14, 2025

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DISCLAIMER: The following article is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and does not reflect the opinions or views of the Richmond Sentinel.

Following the British Columbia edition, we now move onto Alberta in our 13-part series that explores some ridiculous sounding laws and bylaws ever enforced. Some bylaws and laws include prohibition of owning a pet rat, building a mud hut or house with a straw roof, and even putting a bell on a cat.

1. Similar to British Columbia, Alberta has an issue with painting wooden ladders. Alberta’s 2009 Occupational Health and Safety code stated that a person must not paint a wooden ladder, as it is hard to see what condition the ladder is in.

2. In 1950, the Albertan government passed a law that prohibited the act of owning pet rats. This was due to the fact that the government was focused on protecting the province’s agriculture and its own citizens from the spread of any diseases that rats might carry. Such drastic measures has made Alberta one of the few places that are generally rat free, though some infestations could occur. (Amberstudent, n.d.)

3. In Edmonton, Alberta, dogs, cats, or any domesticated animals are prohibited meowing or howling. This may seem like a ridiculous rule, as that howling, barking, meowing and other noises are their primary method of communication, but it does not actually mean literally. On Aug. 31, 2007, the City of Edmonton enacted a bylaw related to noise disturbances. In said bylaw, section 14, subsection (2), that “A person shall not cause or permit property they own or occupy to be used so that noise from the property disturbs the peace of any other individual”, meaning if an owner’s pet, was making excessive noise, the owner may be liable.

4. Lounging around with your feet up is a great way to relax, in Calgary, according to bylaw number 54M2006; no person shall stand or put his feet on the top or surface of any table, bench, planter or sculpture placed in any public place.

5. Everyone has heard the story of the three little pigs, about how the big bad wolf huffed and puffed, and blew down the little pig’s houses. In Ponoka, Alberta, a bylaw states that “one must not build a mud hut or house with a straw roof”

6. With the massive amounts of money being put into gambling on sports, casinos, and all the exposure it gets, one bylaw tried to stop this. In Falher, Alberta, at one point in time, it was illegal for residents to attend horse races, horse race meetings, dog races, boxing contests, or wrestling matches on Sundays. The reason behind this could be because of the religious observance of Sundays as a day of rest. (Wojna, 2011)

7. In 2015, in order to somewhat regulate public conduct, Taber, Alberta enacted a “Community Standards Bylaw”. This bylaw prohibited swearing, spitting, and yelling in public, those who were caught violating said bylaw could be fined up to $150. (CityNews, 2015)

8. Children used to be able to enjoy hanging out with friends, but not some parts of Alberta. In the towns of Red Deer and Taber, bylaws have been enacted making it illegal for children under the age of 16 to be outside from 12 to 6 a.m., unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. The bylaw was enforced at different years, it was enacted in Red Deer in 1999, and Taber in 2015, both in order to promote safety and reduce public disturbances. Taber. (2023). (Community Standards Bylaw No. 9-2015. Town of Taber.)

If you think that we missed a funny law, feel free to email us at newsroom@richmondsentinel.ca or comment under one of our social media accounts. Next edition, we travel up north to see what laws or bylaws were, or still are, enforced.