Active discussion of the reform processes of the Russian legislation raises the question of state and development of legislation defining the main directions in youth policy at the regional level. The article examines the state, trends and ways to improve the legislation of the Russian Federation in the field of youth policy. The analysis in terms of its optimization suggests that to improve the effectiveness of regional legal regulation of social relations in the field of youth policy, law-creating transformations are strongly required. A quantitative and qualitative analysis of the legislation of the Russian Federation in the field of youth policy is conducted; the criteria of its condition are outlined. The article describes some of the features of the laws of the Russian Federation in the field of youth policy, defines typical range of issues of legal regulation, which is common to all subjects of the Russian Federation. Finally, conclusions are given which are to provide a sound basis for the further development of regional legislation.