My 2 year old refuses to go to sleep at a decent hour.

Does he stay in his bed or does he k getting up?

If h's constantly getting up, try telling him he can stay awake as long as he wants.....as long as he stays in bed and is quiet.  It might be that he's just fighting you because he can.  It's that age, you know?  Take away the fight, and he just might no longer care.  And if he's in bed being quiet chances are good he will fall asleep without really meaning to anyway.

my ds did not stay in the toddler bed for anything....after about a month we put him in the pack-n-play and he started sleeping through again.  About 2 months after that we moved him into a twin bed with a rail and that was a much easier transition.  He could get and and did occasionally, but not nearly as often as when in the toddler bed.   Good luck to you. 

I also have a night owl. My LO has never gone to sleep at a "normal" hour. It seems like the more I tried to schedule his routine the worse it got. Now he only naps before 1 pm and I try to wear him out as much as possible before dinner. About an hour before bed we focus on relaxing activities and we try to spend some individual time we him. That has really seemed help. It was almost like he was acting out because he wanted to be the center of attention. Anyways...now our house is much happier and well rested.

My 2 year old learned to climb out of his crib about 2 years ago, since then his naps are random. I don't push the naps, and if he takes a cat nap in the car if we're going some where. I'm happy with that, and don't push the naps. I have learned to pick my fights, my two oldest did that and they haven't napped in a few years (7 & 5). For bed I rock him to sleep, I bet that will bite me in the ass later yet for now it works. I will hold that boy kicking, and screaming if needed be. Half the time, he will lay on my lap snuggled with a blanket while I rub his face with my fingers. The kids share a room, and I can't do what I did with our first. Put her in the room, gated it and came in to put her back in bed. We have stairs at this house we're in, and he comes down an knocks on the door lol. I save the trouble of bed time, put the girls in bed the same time. An keep him downstairs with me, until he passes out and I put him in the toddler bed. 

I avoid long naps, late naps and whatever to make bed time easier if not earlier. His sister wear him out naturally, so that part happens me not trying much lol. Good luck! 

Have you tried a baby gate? What are his favoriate things to have when he goes to sleep.  Use those to help you. If he doesn't stay in bed you take them away.

Or give him a sticker for each night then a special reward.

Be clear stand your ground and stick with it. It doesn't happen over night. It took us a while.

 i have a 2 yr old that is a night owl too!i feel your pain!

Maybe get him up earlier?
Cut out naps.

Quoting isra1986:

Maybe get him up earlier?
Cut out naps.

 I agree, this could work.

Lots of good tips in this thread.  The only thing I would add is to try wearing him out in the afternoons:  walking, going to the playground, some kind of physical activity that will get out some of that toddler energy.  Then after supper and bath time, he may just be ready to sleep.

Good luck!