Pets in Rentals Ontario: Are No-Pet Clauses Legal?

In most Ontario rentals, a "no pets" clause in your lease is void. Section 14 of the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) cancels any lease term that bans animals, even if you signed it. The exceptions are condo rules that prohibit pets, rentals where you share a kitchen or bathroom with the owner, and pets that cause real problems: the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) can end a tenancy over an animal that seriously disturbs others, triggers a serious allergic reaction, or is inherently dangerous.

Here's what that means in practice, what landlords can and can't do, and how to keep the peace when your roommate has a cat and you don't.

Key takeaways

No-pet lease terms are void under RTA section 14 in most private rentals.
Condo rules can still ban pets, and tenants have to follow them.
Live-in owner arrangements (shared kitchen or bathroom) usually fall outside the RTA, so a no-pet rule there can be enforced as part of your agreement.
Eviction over a pet needs an LTB order and proof of substantial interference, a serious allergic reaction, or an inherently dangerous animal.
No pet deposits or damage deposits. But you pay for damage your pet causes beyond normal wear and tear.
Service animals are protected under the Human Rights Code.

This article is general information, not legal advice. For your situation, contact the Landlord and Tenant Board or a community legal clinic (Legal Aid Ontario can refer you to one at 1-800-668-8258).

What section 14 actually says

Section 14 of the RTA voids any provision in a tenancy agreement that prohibits animals in or around the building. Ontario's guide to the standard lease uses the same example: an extra term that doesn't allow pets is void and can't be enforced. Steps to Justice puts it simply: you don't have to follow a no-pets rule even if it's written into your agreement.

"Void" means the clause has no legal effect. Your landlord can't evict you just for breaking it, and can't use it to charge you extra.

What section 14 doesn't do

It protects terms in a tenancy agreement. It doesn't force a landlord to pick a pet owner when choosing between applicants. Plenty of Toronto landlords ask about pets, and having a pet isn't one of the protected grounds under Ontario's Human Rights Code. Be honest if asked; misrepresenting things on an application is a bad way to start a tenancy.

Service and support animals

Disability is a protected ground. The Ontario Human Rights Commission says that accommodating people with disabilities can include changing "no pets" policies to allow guide dogs and other service animals, including animals that help with needs such as anxiety. The animal doesn't have to be certified, but where its role isn't obvious, you may need to show documentation, such as a letter from a doctor or other qualified health professional.

The exceptions

1. Condo rules

If you rent a condo, the Condominium Act requires everyone who occupies a unit, tenants included, to follow the condo's declaration, bylaws and rules. Some condo declarations restrict or ban pets. Section 14 of the RTA doesn't override that.

The Ontario standard lease asks the landlord to note if the unit is a condo, and you agree to follow the condo rules the landlord gives you. Ask for them before you sign. If a condo pet ban applies and you bring an animal in anyway, your landlord could serve a notice saying you're substantially interfering with their lawful rights, which can lead to an eviction application.

2. Living with the owner

If you share a kitchen or bathroom with the owner who lives there, the RTA generally doesn't apply, so section 14 doesn't protect you. Whatever you agreed about pets is what counts. See our guide to living with your landlord in Ontario.

3. Problems caused by the animal

Section 76 of the RTA says the LTB can't end a tenancy over an animal unless it's satisfied you keep the animal and that:

Ground	What the landlord must show
Disturbance	The past behaviour of an animal of that species substantially interfered with the reasonable enjoyment of the building by the landlord or other tenants
Allergy	The presence of an animal of that species caused the landlord or another tenant a serious allergic reaction
Danger	The species or breed is inherently dangerous to the safety of the landlord or other tenants

The Board won't evict on the disturbance or allergy grounds if your own animal didn't cause or contribute to the problem.

4. Damage

If you, someone living with you or a guest wilfully or negligently causes undue damage (for example, by letting a pet wreck the floors), the landlord can serve a notice under section 62 of the RTA. You get seven days to repair it, pay for it, or make arrangements the landlord accepts, and if you do, the notice is void.

A landlord can't just tell you the dog has to go. For behaviour like constant barking or an aggressive animal, the usual route is an N5 notice for substantial interference:

The notice must give a termination date at least 20 days away, explain the problem, and ask you to fix it within seven days.
If you fix the problem within those seven days, the first notice is void.
If you don't, the landlord can apply to the LTB, and you get a hearing.
Only an LTB order, enforced by the Sheriff, can remove you.

What landlords can and can't do

Landlords can:

ask about pets when screening new applicants
require you to follow condo rules that restrict pets
serve proper notices and apply to the LTB if an animal causes real problems
make you pay for damage beyond normal wear and tear
enter with 24 hours' written notice for repairs and inspections, and you must secure your pet so the work can happen

Landlords can't:

enforce a no-pet clause in a regular RTA tenancy
charge a pet deposit, pet damage deposit or other deposit beyond a rent deposit and a refundable key deposit (see our guide to deposit rules in Ontario)
evict you without an LTB order
enter without proper notice to "check on the pet" (our guide to landlord entry rules explains the rules)

Tips for renters with pets

Be upfront with landlords you're applying to. A short pet profile with age, vaccination records, spay or neuter status and a past landlord reference helps.
Ask for condo rules in writing if the unit is in a condo.
Document the unit at move-in with dated photos and video, especially floors, doors and screens.
Deal with complaints quickly. If a neighbour mentions barking, respond before it becomes a notice.
Look into tenant insurance and whether it covers liability for your pet; our guide to tenant insurance in Ontario covers what to ask.

Pets and roommates

Section 14 is about you and your landlord. It doesn't settle anything between roommates, and the LTB doesn't hear roommate disputes. Talk it through before anyone signs:

Allergies: a serious allergy in the household is a dealbreaker conversation, not a "we'll see".
Who's responsible: feeding, walks, litter, vet bills and cleaning up shared spaces.
Damage: who pays if the cat shreds the couch or the dog scratches the door.
Quiet and guests: crate times, barking, and pets meeting visitors.
Exit plan: what happens to the pet if the owner moves out.

Write it into a roommate agreement so there's no confusion later.

Bottom line

In most Ontario rentals, your landlord can't hold you to a no-pets clause. Condo rules, live-in owner arrangements and genuinely problematic animals are the exceptions, and you're always on the hook for damage. Keep your pet's record clean, read the condo rules, and agree on pet terms with roommates before moving in.

Finding pet-compatible roommates starts with a conversation. On ColivEase, you can chat with potential roommates (openly or by request) before you commit, and roommates can form a team and apply for a whole home together. Find your people on ColivEase and ask about pets in your first message.

Frequently asked questions

Is a no-pets clause in my Ontario lease enforceable?

Generally no. Section 14 of the Residential Tenancies Act makes any lease term that bans animals in the unit or building void, even if you signed it. The main exceptions are condo rules that prohibit certain pets, and rentals where you share a kitchen or bathroom with the owner, because the Act usually doesn't apply there.

Can my landlord evict me because I have a pet?

Only through the Landlord and Tenant Board, and only for specific reasons. The Board must be satisfied that the animal substantially interfered with others' reasonable enjoyment, caused the landlord or another tenant a serious allergic reaction, or is a species or breed that's inherently dangerous. It won't evict if your animal didn't cause or contribute to the problem.

Can a landlord charge a pet deposit in Ontario?

No. The Ontario government's guide to the standard lease lists damage and pet deposits as charges a lease can't require. A landlord can collect only a rent deposit of up to one month's rent and a refundable key deposit. If your pet causes damage beyond normal wear and tear, though, you're responsible for repairing it or paying for it.

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

The no-pet rule in section 14 protects you once you have a tenancy agreement. When choosing tenants, many landlords still ask about pets, and having a pet isn't a protected ground under the Human Rights Code. A disability-related service animal is different: landlords may have a duty to accommodate it, even with a no-pets policy.

Do condo no-pet rules apply to tenants?

Yes. Under the Condominium Act, occupiers, including tenants, must follow the condo's declaration, bylaws and rules. If the unit is a condo, the standard lease says you agree to follow the rules the landlord gives you. Ask for the condo's pet rules before you sign, because they can prohibit some or all animals.