Car Seat and Booster Seat Laws in Canada by Province (2026)
Last updated: November 2026. Figures checked against the official sources listed at the end of this page on October 2, 2026.
Short answer: Car seat rules in Canada are set by each province and territory. Most require a booster seat until a child is 145 cm (4'9") tall or reaches an age between 7 and 10, depending on the province; Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut have no booster seat law. Every seat used in Canada must carry Transport Canada's National Safety Mark.
Key facts
| Fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| No booster seat law | Alberta, Northwest Territories, Nunavut | Alberta.ca |
| Ontario booster rule | Until 145 cm, 36 kg or age 8 | Ontario e-Laws |
| BC booster rule | Until 145 cm or age 9 | BC Laws |
| Saskatchewan booster rule | Until age 7, 145 cm or 36 kg (any one) | Saskatchewan.ca |
| Required certification | National Safety Mark | Transport Canada |
Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this article said Alberta requires a booster seat until age 6 or 25 kg. That was wrong: Alberta has no booster seat law. We rebuilt the article as a table of all 13 provinces and territories, with the official source for each row.
Car seat and booster seat laws: all 13 provinces and territories
| Province / territory | Rear-facing | Forward-facing | Booster seat | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | Rear-facing until the child is at least 1 year old and weighs 9 kg or more | Forward-facing child seat from age 1 and 9 kg until 18 kg | Booster until 145 cm; the rules apply to children under 9, so they end at age 9 or 145 cm, whichever comes first | B.C. Motor Vehicle Act Regulations, Division 36 (BC Laws, current to Sept 29, 2026) |
| Alberta | Child restraint required (see next column) | A child under 6 who weighs 18 kg or less must be in a child restraint; this ends at age 6 or above 18 kg, whichever comes first | No provincial booster seat law | Alberta.ca: Occupant restraint laws |
| Saskatchewan | Appropriate child car seat | Appropriate child car seat | Booster for children under 7, under 145 cm and under 36 kg; may stop at whichever comes first (age 7, 145 cm or 36 kg) | Government of Saskatchewan: New booster seat laws effective June 27 (news release, June 26, 2014) |
| Manitoba | Appropriate child restraining device | Appropriate child restraining device | Restraint required while under 9 years, under 36 kg and under 145 cm; ends when any one is reached | Manitoba Child Restraining Devices Regulation, M.R. 89/2013 |
| Ontario | Rear-facing until at least 9 kg | Appropriate child seat from 9 to 18 kg | Booster until 145 cm, or 36 kg, or age 8, whichever comes first | Ontario e-Laws: R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 613 (Seat Belt Assemblies), s. 8 |
| Quebec | Appropriate child restraint | Appropriate child restraint or booster | A child under 145 cm or under 9 years must use a restraint or booster seat | LégisQuébec: Highway Safety Code, C-24.2, s. 397 |
| New Brunswick | Appropriate child seat | Appropriate child seat | Booster from 18 kg until age 9, or 36 kg, or 145 cm, whichever comes first | Government of New Brunswick: Child safety seats |
| Nova Scotia | Rear-facing until at least age 1 and 10 kg | Child seat until 18 kg | Booster above 18 kg for children under 9 and/or under 145 cm | Government of Nova Scotia news release: New seatbelt regulations will help protect children (Dec 21, 2005) |
| Prince Edward Island | Appropriate child seat | Appropriate child seat until about 18 kg | Booster until 145 cm or age 10 | Government of PEI: Highway and driving safety |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Rear-facing infant seat under 9 kg | Child car seat from 9 kg to under 18 kg | Booster for children 8 and under who weigh 18–37 kg and are under 145 cm; ends at age 9, over 37 kg or 145 cm | Newfoundland and Labrador Highway Traffic Act, s. 178.1 |
| Yukon | Rear-facing until at least 10 kg and walking | Child seat until over 22 kg | Booster from over 22 kg until 145 cm or 45 kg, whichever comes first | Government of Yukon: Find out which car seat your child should be using |
| Northwest Territories | Rear-facing until at least 9 kg | Child seat from 9 to 18 kg | No territorial booster seat law | NWT Department of Justice: legislation (Motor Vehicles Act, Seat Belt Assembly and Child Restraint System Regulations) |
| Nunavut | Rear-facing until at least 9 kg | Child seat from 9 to 18 kg | No territorial booster seat law (Traffic Safety Act, formerly the Motor Vehicles Act) | Nunavut Legislation: Traffic Safety Act (consolidation) |
Summaries of each jurisdiction's rules, checked October 2, 2026. Where a row says "appropriate" seat, the law requires a seat suited to the child's weight and height as set by the manufacturer. Saskatchewan's rear- and forward-facing weights, and Prince Edward Island's forward-facing weight, are summarized from older provincial guidance and should be confirmed with SGI or the PEI government. Nova Scotia passed a new Traffic Safety Act in 2025; until it takes effect, the Seat Belt and Child Restraint System Regulations under the Motor Vehicle Act apply. Laws are minimums.
Three things the table shows
- Height is the common finish line. Ten jurisdictions use 145 cm (4'9") as a point at which a booster is no longer required.
- Age limits differ. Booster rules end at age 7 in Saskatchewan, 8 in Ontario, 9 in BC, Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, and 10 in Prince Edward Island.
- Three have no booster law: Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Your seat's own height and weight limits still apply.
Every seat used in Canada needs the National Safety Mark
Transport Canada says it is illegal to import and use in Canada a seat that does not comply with Canadian standards, and tells parents to look for the National Safety Mark label on any child seat. Check the label before you buy, including for seats bought second-hand or while travelling.
Before every trip
- Use the stage that fits your child's weight and height, not only their age.
- The Canadian Paediatric Society says you should not be able to pinch the harness at the shoulder.
- Skip bulky snowsuits under the harness (see our winter car seat guide).
- Transport Canada advises checking with your car seat manufacturer before using any add-on product such as inserts, padding or strap covers.
Frequently asked questions
Does Alberta have a booster seat law?
No. Alberta requires a child restraint for a child under 6 who weighs 18 kg or less, but it has no booster seat law. The Northwest Territories and Nunavut also have none.
When can a child stop using a booster seat in Ontario?
Once the child is 145 cm tall, or weighs 36 kg, or turns 8, whichever comes first, under Ontario Regulation 613.
When can a child stop using a booster seat in Saskatchewan?
Saskatchewan requires a booster for children under 7, under 145 cm and under 36 kg, so a child may stop once they reach any one of those.
Can I use an American car seat in Canada?
Transport Canada says it is illegal to import and use in Canada a seat that does not comply with Canadian standards. Look for the National Safety Mark label.
Which province has the oldest booster age?
Prince Edward Island: a booster is required until the child is 145 cm tall or 10 years old.
Shop related categories
Related guides and tools
Sources
- B.C. Motor Vehicle Act Regulations, Division 36 (BC Laws, current to Sept 29, 2026) (checked October 2, 2026)
- Alberta.ca: Occupant restraint laws (checked October 2, 2026)
- Government of Saskatchewan: New booster seat laws effective June 27 (news release, June 26, 2014) (checked October 2, 2026)
- Manitoba Child Restraining Devices Regulation, M.R. 89/2013 (checked October 2, 2026)
- Ontario e-Laws: R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 613 (Seat Belt Assemblies), s. 8 (checked October 2, 2026)
- LégisQuébec: Highway Safety Code, C-24.2, s. 397 (checked October 2, 2026)
- Government of New Brunswick: Child safety seats (checked October 2, 2026)
- Government of Nova Scotia news release: New seatbelt regulations will help protect children (Dec 21, 2005) (checked October 2, 2026)
- Government of PEI: Highway and driving safety (checked October 2, 2026)
- Newfoundland and Labrador Highway Traffic Act, s. 178.1 (checked October 2, 2026)
- Government of Yukon: Find out which car seat your child should be using (checked October 2, 2026)
- NWT Department of Justice: legislation (Motor Vehicles Act, Seat Belt Assembly and Child Restraint System Regulations) (checked October 2, 2026)
- Nunavut Legislation: Traffic Safety Act (consolidation) (checked October 2, 2026)
- Transport Canada: Child car seat cross-border shopping – what parents and caregivers should know (checked October 2, 2026)
- Transport Canada: Third-party aftermarket products for children's restraint systems (checked October 2, 2026)
- Canadian Paediatric Society (Caring for Kids): Car seat safety (checked October 2, 2026)
- Parachute: Booster seat legislation (page reviewed Feb 9, 2026) and Canadian car seat and booster seat legislation chart (checked October 2, 2026)
This page is general information, not medical advice. Follow your child's health-care provider and the product manufacturer's instructions.
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