Ontario Landlord Guide › Can an Ontario landlord say no pets? What the no-pet clause rule really means

Can an Ontario landlord say no pets? What the no-pet clause rule really means

Last updated October 23, 2026 · Written for small Ontario landlords

Short answer: Not in the lease. Section 14 of the Residential Tenancies Act says a lease term prohibiting animals in or about the residential complex is void, so you can't evict a tenant just for having a pet. The exceptions: if the unit is in a condo, the tenant can be required to follow condo rules that prohibit certain pets, and a pet that causes damage, serious allergies, substantial interference or danger can be grounds for a notice.

Official source: Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, sections 14 and 76 (ontario.ca/laws) · Last checked Oct 2026

What section 14 does and doesn't do

It voids the clause. A "no pets" line in the lease can't be enforced. Ontario's guide to the standard lease lists terms that "do not allow pets" as an example of void terms.
It doesn't stop condo rules. The same ontario.ca guide says the landlord can require the tenant to comply with condominium rules, which may prohibit certain pets. If you rent out a condo unit, give the tenant the declaration, by-laws and rules with the lease.
No pet deposit either. The ontario.ca guide also lists damage or pet deposits as fees the Act doesn't permit. The only deposits allowed are covered in our rent deposit guide.
Screening is a separate question. Section 14 is about a term in the tenancy agreement. Many landlords ask every applicant the same questions about pets and smoking; our screening guide covers how to ask fairly.

When a pet can be grounds for ending the tenancy

Under section 76, if your notice is about an animal and is given under section 64 (substantial interference), 65 (landlord living in a small building) or 66 (safety), the LTB won't end the tenancy unless it's satisfied the tenant keeps an animal and one of these is true:

Substantial interference: the past behaviour of an animal of that species has substantially interfered with the reasonable enjoyment of the building by you or other tenants, for example constant barking at night.
Serious allergic reaction: the presence of an animal of that species has caused you or another tenant to suffer a serious allergic reaction.
Inherently dangerous: the presence of an animal of that species or breed is inherently dangerous to your safety or other tenants' safety.

The LTB won't rely on the first two if it's satisfied the tenant's own animal didn't cause or contribute to the problem. Damage is separate: under section 62 you can give a notice if the tenant, an occupant or a guest wilfully or negligently causes undue damage, and section 89 lets you apply for the reasonable cost of repair. The LTB's guide to the Act says a landlord can give notice based on a pet in some cases, such as where a pet causes damage to the rental property.

Worked example: an N5 for a barking dog

You hand the tenant an N5 on Monday, October 26, 2026 because their dog barks through the night and the tenant downstairs has complained in writing. Under section 64, the termination date can't be earlier than the 20th day after the notice is given, which is Sunday, November 15, 2026. The notice must also give the tenant 7 days to stop the problem, until Monday, November 2. If the barking stops within those 7 days, the notice is void.

If you live in the same building and it has 3 units or fewer, section 65 allows a termination date as early as the 10th day after the notice, Thursday, November 5, and the 7-day chance to fix it doesn't apply. That version is for interference with your own enjoyment of the building, not another tenant's. If you mail the N5 instead of handing it over, the LTB's rules count it as served on the fifth day after mailing, so every date moves later.

Where the toolkit helps: The toolkit's LTB-Ready Evidence Pack includes a communication log, so every complaint, date and message about the animal is written down. The Move-In / Move-Out Inspection Form with a photo log records the unit's condition before the pet arrived. See what is inside the $19 toolkit

Avoid these mistakes

Serving an N5 because the lease says no pets. The clause is void. The notice has to be about what the animal did, with dates and evidence.
Charging a pet deposit or monthly pet fee. The ontario.ca lease guide lists pet deposits as not permitted, and you'd have to pay it back.
No dated record. At a hearing you need the complaints, dates, photos of damage and your messages with the tenant. A single phone call is hard to prove.
Using the wrong form. Download the current N5 from the LTB forms page each time; ten LTB forms were replaced on September 21, 2026.

This page doesn't cover animals a tenant needs because of a disability. If that comes up, talk to a lawyer or licensed paralegal before you act. Renting a room in your own home and sharing a kitchen or bathroom with the tenant? Read whether the Act applies to you first.

Official sources

Not legal advice. This site is general information written by a small Ontario landlord, based on official Ontario and Tribunals Ontario sources as of October 23, 2026. Laws and LTB forms change; check the linked official source before you act, and talk to a lawyer or licensed paralegal (or call the LTB at 1-888-332-3234) about your situation. Not affiliated with the Government of Ontario, Tribunals Ontario or the Landlord and Tenant Board. Full disclaimer.