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City Lifejacket Bylaw
To help keep everyone safe on the water, the City of Calgary created Bylaw No. 9084, which requires a Personal Floatation Device (PFD) or lifejacket to be worn when using any watercraft. This bylaw applied to all bodies of water within the City of Calgary, including Mahogany Lake, and the MHOA supports and enforces it as part of our overall water safety program.
Bylaw No. 9084: Being a bylaw of the City of Calgary to require the use of lifejackets or personal floatation devices by persons boating within the boundaries of the City of Calgary
Lifejackets are Required
Everyone using a watercraft on Mahogany Lake must wear an approved, properly fitted lifejacket or Personal Floatation Device (PFD) at all times.
This applies to:
- Strong swimmers and beginners alike
- Swimmers of any and all ages
- Every time you are in, on, or holding onto a watercraft
What Counts as a Watercraft?
The lifejacket requirement applies to all watercrafts on the lake. The same rules apply whether the watercraft is personally owned or rented from the MHOA.
Watercrafts include but are not limited to:
- Canoes
- Kayaks
- Paddleboards
- Rowboats
- Inflatable boats
- Large floating devices
Lifejackets are Easy to Access
Lifejackets are available free of charge at designated stations at the Main Beach and West Beach kiosks, making it easy for everyone to stay safe on the water.
- Main Beach: 173 lifejackets available
- West Beach: 114 lifejackets available
Lifejackets are stocked in children, youth, and adult sizes, and are clearly marked to help users find the right fit quickly. All lifejackets are regularly inspected and maintained to ensure they are in good condition and ready for use.
Residents are also welcome to bring and use their own approved, properly fitted lifejacket if they prefer.
Safety Briefings Before You Launch
Before renting a watercraft from the MHOA, members are asked to review and sign a Boat Rental Consent / Resident Boat Use Agreement. This helps ensure everyone heading our on the lake understands the key safety expectations and requirements.
As part of the rental process, all users receive a brief, staff-led safety briefing before launching. These briefings are designed to be clear, friendly, and easy to follow, and they cover:
- Shared-use expectations for members Mahogany Lake
- What to do if weather or lake conditions change
- Proper lifejacket fit and wear
- Basic operation of the watercraft
If you’re renting a boat, you’re also responsible for making sure everyone on board wears a lifejacket for the entire time they’re on the water.
More Water Safety to Explore:
- Swim Distance Buoy System [click to view page]
- Swim Lessons & Programs [click to view page]
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) [click to view page]
- External Resources [click to view page]
