Belleville Has a Halloween Age Limit, and Teens Are Wanted

Picture a 15-year-old in a hoodie and a plastic mask, pillowcase in hand, knocking on a door on October 31. In one Illinois city, that scene is technically against the law.

Belleville, Illinois passed an ordinance in 2008 titled "Halloween Solicitation." It exempts only children in the eighth grade and under, which puts the cutoff at roughly age 12 or 13.

The rule doesn't stop at age. Trick-or-treating is limited to the hours between 5:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and an adult is allowed to accompany a child on the rounds.

The penalty depends on who you ask. Most reports say a violation could bring a fine of up to $1,000, though one outlet reported $250 for a first offense and $500 after that.

Then comes the twist: reporting says nobody has ever been cited under it. The law was pushed by then-mayor Mark Eckert, who wanted a safer, family-friendly Halloween.

Belleville isn't entirely alone. Chesapeake, Virginia once threatened up to six months in jail for anyone over 12, then dropped the jail penalty in 2019 and raised the age to 14.

There is no universal age limit for trick-or-treating in the United States. Local rules vary, and some are on the books for years without anyone testing them, so check your town's code before sending a teenager out.