Kyle City Council passes Child Safety Zones Ordinance

KYLE, TX – During its Tuesday, May 4 meeting, the Kyle City Council passed on second reading the Child Safety Zones Ordinance that would regulate sex offender residency within the City of Kyle.

The Child Safety Zones Ordinance effectively amends Chapter 23 of the City of Kyle Code of Ordinances by making it unlawful for certain sex offenders to establish a permanent residence, establish a temporary residence or to be a recurring visitor at a residence within 1,000 feet of premises where children commonly gather — schools, daycares, parks, etc. 

The ordinance also makes it unlawful for certain sex offenders to leave decorations or exterior porch lights on or otherwise invite trick-or-treaters to their home on Halloween. Individuals found to be in violation of the Child Safety Zones Ordinance will be charged with a class C misdemeanor.

The ordinance would not apply to homeowners or those with a rental/lease agreement in effect before the ordinance’s passing; or to individuals that were required to register as a sex offender as a minor but were not convicted as an adult; or to individuals living in a medical facility such as hospitals or inpatient facilities.

“This ordinance wasn’t written to be punitive toward any part of our population, which is why we put in the work to refine and enhance it with an open ear for input from the community,” Kyle Chief of Police Jeff Barnett said. “The central purpose throughout the process of writing and passing the Child Safety Zones Ordinance has been how we as a community can more effectively protect our children. This ordinance is just another layer of protection we can add to help toward that overall goal.”

The City of Kyle ordinance was researched and drafted after similar ordinances passed in other cities in Central Texas. The Child Safety Zones Ordinance was originally presented to the Kyle City Council during its Feb. 2 meeting. It was brought back to council for further discussion and consideration during the Feb. 23 and March 2 meetings before coming back to Council for its first reading on April 20, where council voted six to one in favor of the ordinance. 

A map depicting the prohibited areas is available to the public on the Kyle Police Department’s webpage at www.cityofkyle.com/police/child-safety-zones-ordinance and will be reviewed and updated on an annual basis.