Your rental unit is your home, and every province protects a tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment, which includes limits on when the landlord can come in. Most provinces require 24 hours’ notice and set the hours when entry can happen; all allow entry without notice in an emergency. This page sets out each province’s rule, what counts as a lawful exception, and what to do if your landlord entered without notice. The rest of renting is covered in the renting in Canada hub.
The notice requirement by province
| Province | Notice required | When entry can happen | Written? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 24 hours | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Yes |
| British Columbia | 24 hours | 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. | Yes |
| Manitoba | 24 hours | Reasonable hours set out in the notice | Yes |
| Saskatchewan | 24 hours | Reasonable hours set out in the notice | Yes |
| Nova Scotia | 24 hours | Reasonable hours set out in the notice | Yes |
| New Brunswick | 24 hours | Reasonable hours set out in the notice | Yes |
Ontario’s and BC’s full tenant rules are in the Ontario tenant rights guide and the BC tenant rights guide.
Alberta
- With your consent, which can be verbal or written, the landlord can enter at any time without notice.
- Without your consent, the landlord needs written notice at least 24 hours before entering, to do repairs, inspect, control pests, or show the unit to buyers, mortgagees or (once notice to end the tenancy has been given) new tenants.
- No notice is needed if the landlord has reason to believe there is an emergency or that you have abandoned the unit.
The rest of Alberta’s rules are in the Alberta tenant rights guide.
Quebec
- The landlord must give 24 hours' notice, verbally or in writing, to inspect the dwelling or carry out work in it during the lease.
- Visits by prospective tenants or buyers take place between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and you can require the landlord or a representative to be present.
- Repairs are done between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
- Urgent repairs, such as a major leak, can be done immediately without notice.
The rest of Quebec’s rules are in the Quebec tenant rights guide.
When landlords can enter without notice
Every province allows entry without notice in an emergency, such as a fire, a flood or a gas leak, and with your consent. Some provinces add other exceptions, such as Alberta’s for a unit the landlord believes has been abandoned. Reasons that don’t justify entry without notice include a quick look at the unit, showings, non-urgent repairs and checking whether you’re home.
Reasons for entry with proper notice
| Reason | Usual notice |
|---|---|
| Repairs or maintenance | 24 hours |
| Showing the unit to prospective tenants after notice to end the tenancy has been given | 24 hours |
| Showing the unit to prospective buyers | 24 hours |
| Inspecting the condition of the unit | 24 hours |
What to do if your landlord entered without notice
Step 1: Document the incident
Write down the date, time and what happened as soon as possible, and keep any evidence: building entry logs, camera footage you’re allowed to record, or neighbours who saw it.
Step 2: Write to your landlord
An email or letter stating that the entry happened without proper notice, and that future entries need to follow your province’s notice rule, creates a record and often resolves the problem.
“On [date] at about [time], my unit was entered without notice. Under [the province’s tenancy law], I’m entitled to [24 hours’] notice before entry except in an emergency. Please give proper notice for any future entry.”
Step 3: Apply to your province’s tenancy board if it continues
| Province | Where to apply |
|---|---|
| Ontario | Landlord and Tenant Board: a T2 application about tenant rights |
| BC | Residential Tenancy Branch: dispute resolution |
| Alberta | Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service, or the court |
| Quebec | Tribunal administratif du logement |
| Manitoba | Residential Tenancies Branch |
| Saskatchewan | Office of Residential Tenancies |
Depending on the province and the facts, a board can order the landlord to follow the notice rules, reduce the rent for the period affected, award compensation or, in serious cases, end the tenancy. If you decide to leave, the options and their costs are on breaking a lease early.
Repeated entry as harassment
A landlord who repeatedly enters without notice may be interfering with your reasonable enjoyment of the unit, which every province treats as a serious breach and which can support a larger claim.
Protecting yourself going forward
- Keep a log of every entry: date, time and the reason given.
- Confirm in writing: if your landlord calls to say they’re dropping by, a reply by email confirming the date and time keeps a written record.
- Locks: in several provinces, including Ontario and Quebec, neither landlord nor tenant can change the locks without the other’s consent.
Frequently asked questions
Can a landlord enter to show the unit to prospective tenants? Yes, with proper notice. In most provinces showings to new tenants are allowed once notice to end the tenancy has been given, and showings to buyers at any time, with the same notice as other entries.
What if the landlord has a key and keeps entering? Having a key doesn’t give a landlord the right to enter without notice. Each unauthorized entry is a separate breach, so documenting each one strengthens an application to the board.
Key takeaway
In most provinces a landlord needs 24 hours’ notice and a lawful reason to enter outside an emergency. If yours didn’t give it, write it down, respond in writing, and apply to your province’s tenancy board if it continues. Other tenant rules, such as deposit rules by province and subletting rules, work the same way: provincial law sets them.
Related Reading
Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them on October 6, 2026. How we check facts.
- Government of Alberta: During a tenancy | Alberta.ca
- Tribunal administratif du logement: Tribunal administratif du logement