Can My Landlord Say No to Pets in Ontario?

By Jatin Dua · Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty · Updated 2 November 2026 · 9 min read — No-pet clauses are void in Ontario leases, but condo rules, tenant screening and problem pets are real exceptions. Here is where the lines are.

This is for Ontario tenants with a dog, cat or other pet, people hunting for a pet-friendly rental, and landlords who want to know where their rights start and stop. You will get the exact rule in the Residential Tenancies Act, the condo exception, when a pet can actually lead to an eviction, and how service animals fit in.

Can my landlord say no to pets in Ontario?

Not through the lease. Section 14 of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA) says a lease term that bans animals in or around the rental property is void. Ontario’s guide to the standard lease uses “do not allow pets” as its own example of a term that cannot be enforced.

That means if you signed a lease with a no-pets clause and later get a cat, the landlord cannot evict you just because the clause exists. Section 4 of the RTA backs this up: any lease term that conflicts with the Act is void, even if both sides signed it.

The answer has three important limits, though: the screening stage, condo rules, and pets that cause real problems. Each one is covered below.

Can a landlord refuse to rent to me because I have a pet?

This is where most confusion comes from. Section 14 voids a no-pet term in a tenancy agreement. The RTA does not say a landlord must accept an applicant because they have a pet. Section 10 of the Act, which covers selecting tenants, talks about income information, credit checks, references and rental history, and says nothing that requires a landlord to take pet owners.

In practice, many landlords ask about pets on the rental application and pick the applicant they prefer. The big exception is the Ontario Human Rights Code. Section 2 of the Code gives every person the right to equal treatment in housing without discrimination based on disability and other protected grounds. The Ontario Human Rights Commission’s policy on disability gives “modifying no pets policies” to allow guide dogs and other service animals as an example of accommodation.

So a landlord who turns away a person because of a disability-related animal may be facing a human rights complaint, not just a tenancy question. If you are in that situation, get advice early.

What does the law say for each type of rental?

The rules change depending on what kind of home you rent. Here is a quick guide.

Source: Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (consolidated September 21, 2026); Condominium Act, 1998; Ontario’s Guide to the Standard Lease; LTB brochure “Information for New Tenants”; Ontario Human Rights Code.

Can a condo ban pets even if I rent the unit?

Yes, it can. This is the exception that surprises tenants the most. Ontario’s standard lease guide notes that condominium rules may prohibit certain animals.

Under section 119 of the Condominium Act, 1998, every owner and every occupier of a unit must follow the Act, the condo’s declaration, its by-laws and its rules. The owner, your landlord, must also take reasonable steps to make sure you follow them. The condo corporation can enforce those rules.

Disputes about provisions that “prohibit, restrict or otherwise govern pets or other animals” are within the jurisdiction of the Condominium Authority Tribunal, under Ontario Regulation 179/17. In plain terms, the condo board, not just your landlord, can come after a pet that breaks the building’s rules.

Before you sign a lease in a condo, ask your landlord for the pet section of the declaration and the current rules. Common limits include the number of pets, weight or size caps, and leash rules in common areas. My guide to Ontario condo rules on pets, smoking and short-term rentals explains how declarations and rules differ.

Can I be evicted because of my pet in Ontario?

Not just for having one, but yes in some cases if the pet causes serious problems. The landlord must use a proper notice and win at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). The LTB’s eviction brochure confirms a landlord may give notice based on “the presence or behaviour of a pet.”

Section 76 of the RTA sets a high bar when the case is about an animal. The LTB can only order an eviction if it is satisfied the tenant keeps the animal and at least one of these is true:

• The past behaviour of an animal of that species has substantially interfered with the reasonable enjoyment of the landlord or other tenants.
• The presence of an animal of that species has caused the landlord or another tenant a serious allergic reaction.
• The species or breed is inherently dangerous to the safety of the landlord or other tenants.

The Board must not evict on the first two grounds if it finds that the tenant’s own animal did not cause or contribute to the problem.

Which notice does a landlord use?

For ongoing problems like constant barking, the landlord usually serves an N5. The termination date must be at least 20 days out, and the tenant can void the notice by stopping the problem within 7 days. If the landlord lives in the same building and it has three or fewer units, an N7 with 10 days’ notice is possible. Pet damage, such as chewed doors or urine-soaked floors, can also be grounds for an N5 for damage, and the tenant can void it by repairing or paying within 7 days. My breakdown of the N5 notice and the 7 days that matter walks through that process.

Can a landlord charge a pet deposit or pet rent in Ontario?

A pet deposit is not allowed. Section 105 of the RTA says the only security deposit a landlord may collect is a rent deposit of up to one month’s rent, and Ontario’s standard lease guide names pet deposits as void terms. Section 134 also bans fees, premiums and similar charges, refundable or not.

What about higher rent for a pet owner? A landlord sets the starting rent before the tenancy begins. After that, rent increases must follow the Act’s rules, including the 12-month rule and 90 days’ written notice. Adding a “pet surcharge” partway through a tenancy is not one of the allowed increases. My guide to what a landlord can legally ask for as a deposit covers the full list.

What about service animals and emotional support animals?

The Human Rights Code applies to housing, and section 3(4) of the RTA says the Code wins if the two conflict. The Ontario Human Rights Commission says housing providers have a duty to accommodate people with disabilities up to the point of undue hardship, and gives changing no-pet policies for service animals as an example.

The Commission’s policy also notes that service animals do not have to be certified, and that where the animal’s role is not obvious, a letter from a health professional may be reasonable to ask for. Each case depends on its facts. If you are a tenant with a disability-related animal, or a landlord facing a request, a lawyer or a community legal clinic (Legal Aid Ontario can refer you to one) can help.

How can tenants and landlords make a pet tenancy work?

A few other practical points help both sides:

• Licensing: the City of Toronto requires all dogs and cats owned in the city to be licensed and wear a tag, renewed every year.
• Written pet terms: the standard lease allows extra terms. Clear rules about waste pickup, leashes in common areas and noise are fine, as long as they do not ban the pet or add a fee.
• Move-out: pet damage beyond normal wear and tear is still the tenant’s responsibility under section 34 of the RTA, and a landlord can claim it through the LTB.

What to do next

1. Read your lease and, if you rent a condo, ask the landlord for the pet section of the declaration and rules.
2. If you share a kitchen or bathroom with the owner, check whether the RTA applies to you at all.
3. If you receive an N5 about a pet, fix the problem within 7 days and keep proof that you did.
4. If a disability-related animal is involved, put your accommodation request in writing and get advice early.
5. Landlords: replace any no-pet clause in your lease with clear, lawful pet-care terms.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, ss. 3, 14, 76, 105, 134 (e-Laws, consolidated to September 21, 2026)
• Ontario: Guide to Ontario’s standard lease
• LTB brochure: How a Landlord Can End a Tenancy
• Condominium Act, 1998, s. 119 (e-Laws)
• O. Reg. 179/17, Condominium Authority Tribunal jurisdiction
• Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19, s. 2 (e-Laws)
• Ontario Human Rights Commission: Policy on ableism and discrimination based on disability, duty to accommodate
• City of Toronto: Pet licensing

Related reading

• Can My Landlord Enter Without Notice in Ontario?
• Can a Landlord Evict You Without Going to the LTB in Ontario?
• Can My Landlord Raise the Rent Every Year in Ontario? 2027 Rules
• Can a Landlord Put Security Cameras in or Outside a Rental in Ontario?