Can My Landlord Ban Pets in Ontario?

The No-Pet Clause in Your Lease Is Void

Section 14 of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 could not be plainer: "A provision in a tenancy agreement prohibiting the presence of animals in or about the residential complex is void."

If your signed lease says "no pets," that clause has no legal effect. Signing it does not waive your rights, and your landlord cannot terminate your tenancy simply because you got a cat after moving in.

The Catch: Before You Sign

Section 14 protects tenants, not applicants. Before a tenancy exists, a landlord can lawfully refuse to rent to someone because they have a pet. Once you are a tenant, the protection kicks in — the landlord cannot evict you for the pet itself.

When a Pet CAN Get You Evicted

A landlord can pursue eviction where the pet causes real problems. The RTA allows notices of termination where:

• the animal has caused serious damage to the unit or complex;
• the animal has caused a serious allergic reaction to the landlord or other tenants; or
• the animal is inherently dangerous, or its behaviour substantially interferes with others' reasonable enjoyment.

Even then, the landlord must serve the proper notice (usually an N5) and prove the problem at the Landlord and Tenant Board. The pet's existence is not enough; its behaviour is what matters.

The Condo Exception

If you rent a condo unit, be careful. A no-pet rule in the condominium corporation's declaration is made under the Condominium Act, 1998, not your lease — and Ontario courts have enforced such declarations against renters even though the lease clause itself is void. Ask whether the building's declaration (not just the lease) restricts pets before you sign.

Service Animals

Guide dogs and service animals engage the Human Rights Code, which applies on top of the RTA. Refusing accommodation for a disability-related animal exposes a landlord to a human rights complaint, even in a condo.

What to Do If Your Landlord Threatens Eviction Over a Pet

1. Do not move out or surrender the pet based on a verbal threat or a letter.
2. Ask the landlord to put the specific complaint in writing.
3. If you receive an N5 notice, note that it can be voided by correcting the problem within seven days.
4. Get advice from your local community legal clinic before the Board hearing.

A "no pets" line in a lease is one of the most common unenforceable clauses in Ontario rentals — and often travels with other illegal terms.