How do I serve an N4 by mail in Ontario?
Short answer: You can send an N4 by regular mail or Xpresspost. Add 5 days for delivery, then count at least 7 days, not counting the day it's deemed delivered. An N4 mailed on Monday, November 2, 2026 needs a termination date of Saturday, November 14, 2026 or later.
Step by step
- Wait until the day after the rent was due. Rent due November 1 means the earliest you can give an N4 is November 2.
- Download a fresh N4 from the LTB forms page and fill in the rent owing table on page three. The total on page three must match page one.
- Work out the termination date. Mailing date + 5 days + 7 days. Mailed November 2 means deemed delivered November 7 and a termination date of November 14 at the earliest. The N4 date calculator does this for you.
- Mail it to the tenant at the rental unit and keep a copy of the N4 you sent.
- Note how and when you mailed it. If you file an L1, you also file a Certificate of Service that tells the LTB when and how you gave the notice.
Is mail the best choice?
Mail adds 5 days. Handing it to the tenant or an adult in the unit, putting it in the mailbox, or sliding it under the door counts the same day, so the termination date is 5 days sooner. Courier adds 1 business day. Posting it on the door is not allowed.
| N4 given Monday, November 2, 2026 by | Earliest termination date |
|---|---|
| Hand delivery | Monday, November 9, 2026 |
| Courier | Tuesday, November 10, 2026 |
| Saturday, November 14, 2026 |
The full N4 rules are in our N4 7-day rule guide and How many days is an N4 in 2026? The free September 2026 changes checklist has the delivery rules on one page.
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.