Summary

• The Province is establishing access zones for B.C.’s K-12 schools under the Safe Access to Schools Act
• Access zones help prevent disruptions at B.C.’s K-12 public and independent schools, protect students and staff, and prohibit people from interfering with safe access to school grounds

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To keep students and staff safe, the Province is establishing access zones at B.C.’s K-12 public and independent schools.

Under the Safe Access to Schools Act, the Province may establish access zones to prohibit harmful and disruptive behaviour on and around school grounds. This includes a prohibition on behaviours such as:

• protests
• impeding access to and from school
• disrupting school programs and activities
• behaviour that causes concern for the physical or mental safety of students and staff 

Since access zones were first activated by the Province on May 31, 2024, the ministry has received reports of 25 protest disruptions outside K-12 schools, including five disruptions at K-12 public schools throughout the 2025-26 school year.

How access zones function

• An access zone is an area where specific harmful and disruptive behaviour is not allowed. Within the access zone, it is an offence to engage in a range of behaviours that can harm students, staff or parents, or disrupt school programs.
• Access zones are active within 20 metres (66 feet) of school property on Monday to Friday (other than holidays) from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. and any time during extracurricular school activities at the school.
• Schools may call police to intervene if people engage in harmful behaviour within the access zone.  
• If police respond to a call from a school or district, police determine the appropriate response (e.g., tickets or arrest) based on the circumstances.
• Parents, caregivers and families can reach out to their local school district with any questions they may have.

In spring 2026, the repeal date of the Safe Access to Schools Act was extended from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2028.

Learn More:

• To learn more about the Safe Access to Schools Act, including specific prohibited behaviours, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/31006