Guide · Entry and privacy

How much notice does a landlord need to enter? (Ontario, BC, Alberta, Quebec)

In all four provinces the basic rule is at least 24 hours' notice for a stated reason, but the allowed hours, the form of notice and the showing rules are different in each one.

General information, not legal advice. The provincial tenancy laws and the official sources listed below are the authority. Rules change, so check them before you act on a specific case.

Key points

Ontario: written notice at least 24 hours ahead, with the reason, the day and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
British Columbia: written notice at least 24 hours and no more than 30 days ahead, with a reasonable purpose and a time between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. (unless the tenant agrees otherwise).
Alberta: signed written notice at least 24 hours ahead, entry between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and not on a holiday or the tenant's day of worship.
Quebec: 24 hours' notice, which can be verbal or written. Visits between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.; work between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
A real emergency allows entry without notice everywhere.
A lease clause cannot give you more entry rights than the law allows.

Province comparison table

Rule	Ontario	BC	Alberta	Quebec
Minimum notice	24 hours, written	24 hours, written (max 30 days ahead)	24 hours, written and signed	24 hours, verbal or written
Allowed hours	8 a.m. – 8 p.m.	8 a.m. – 9 p.m. unless tenant agrees	8 a.m. – 8 p.m.; no holidays or tenant's day of worship	Visits 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.; work 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Notice must state	Reason, day, time	Reasonable purpose, date, time	Reason, date, time (or a reasonable time period)	Intention to inspect, do work or show to a buyer
Without notice	Emergency; tenant consents at the time; cleaning set out in the lease	Emergency to protect life or property; permission at the time or within 30 days before; housekeeping in a written agreement; abandonment; RTB order	Emergency; reasonable belief of abandonment; tenant consent	Emergency (urgent and necessary work)
Showing to buyers	24 hours' written notice	24 hours' written notice; landlord or agent present	24 hours' written notice	24 hours' notice each time; tenant can require you to be present
Showing to new tenants	After a notice or agreement to end: no written notice, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., but you must inform (or try to inform) the tenant first	24 hours' written notice; landlord or agent present	24 hours' written notice, only after notice to end a periodic tenancy or in the last month of a fixed term	After the tenant's notice of non-renewal or termination, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.; agree on visit times (see below)

Ontario

Under section 27 of the Residential Tenancies Act, you can enter with written notice given at least 24 hours ahead to do repairs or other work, to let a potential mortgagee, insurer or buyer view the unit, for a condo engineering inspection, for a reasonable inspection of the unit's condition, or for another reasonable reason written in the lease. A registered real estate agent with your written authorization can also give notice for buyer showings.

The notice must give the reason, the day and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Serve it the way section 191 allows: hand it to the tenant or an adult in the unit, put it in the mailbox, or mail it (mail takes extra days to count as given, so hand delivery is simpler).

Without written notice (section 26), you may enter in an emergency, if the tenant consents at the time of entry, or to clean if the lease requires regular cleaning. After you and the tenant agree to end the tenancy, or one of you gives notice, you may show the unit to prospective tenants between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. without written notice, but you must first inform the tenant or make a reasonable effort to do so.

Common mistake: "Sometime between 9 and 5." The LTB's Interpretation Guideline 19 says you should give a reasonably specific time when you control the work. In Wrona v. Toronto Community Housing, the Divisional Court held that a nine-hour window did not meet the rule.

British Columbia

Section 29 of BC's Residential Tenancy Act lists the only cases where you may enter (see the table above). The main one is written notice given at least 24 hours and not more than 30 days before, with a reasonable purpose and a time between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. You may inspect monthly with proper notice. For showings, the landlord or agent must be there, and you cannot ask the tenant to leave. Watch the delivery rules: a notice that is mailed counts as received on the fifth day, and one posted on the door or left in the mailbox counts as received on the third day (section 90).

Alberta

Under section 23 of Alberta's Residential Tenancies Act, you need the tenant's consent (verbal or written) to enter, unless you reasonably believe there is an emergency or the unit is abandoned, or you give 24 hours' notice for one of the listed reasons: inspection, repairs, pest control, or showings to buyers, mortgagees or (near the end of the tenancy) new tenants.

The notice must be in writing, signed by you or your agent, state the reason, and give a date and time. Entry must be between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and not on a holiday. If the tenant has told you in writing that their day of worship is not Sunday, you cannot enter on that day (but Sunday is then allowed). You may give "a reasonable period" with set start and end times. Notices generally must be served in person or by registered mail (section 57).

Quebec (préavis de visite du logement)

The Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) says you must give 24 hours' notice, verbal or written, before you inspect the dwelling, do work, or show it to a potential buyer. Visits take place between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Work must be done between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. For urgent work, such as a major leak, you can act right away without notice.

When the tenant gives you notice of non-renewal or termination, you may post a "for rent" sign and arrange visits by prospective tenants between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. The TAL's guidance asks both sides to agree on visit conditions, and its English FAQ says you must get the tenant's consent. Our reading is that the safest practice is to agree on times in advance and give at least 24 hours' notice. For buyer and new-tenant visits, the tenant can require you or your representative to be present, and can refuse access if no one is.

We could not open the Civil Code text (articles 1930–1935) on LégisQuébec when checking this page. The Quebec rules above come from the TAL's own pages. Check the Code for the exact wording.

What a good entry notice says

Tenant name and unit address.
The reason for entry, in plain words (for example, "replace kitchen faucet").
The date and a specific time inside the allowed hours.
Who will enter (you, a plumber, an agent).
Your name, signature (required in Alberta) and contact number.
How and when you delivered it. Keep a copy and a photo.

Tenant consent and common mistakes

In Ontario, consent for entry without notice must be given at the time of entry. An "OK" last week does not count.
Having a key is not permission. Without consent, notice or an emergency, the entry is illegal.
Do not over-inspect. Ontario's LTB warns that unnecessary entries can be harassment.

FAQ

Is a text message enough notice to enter in Ontario?

For entry with notice, the Ontario Residential Tenancies Act requires written notice given in a way the Act or the LTB Rules allow. A text is risky unless the tenant has agreed in writing to receive notices that way. Hand delivery or the mailbox is safer.

Can the tenant refuse entry if the time is inconvenient?

In Ontario, the LTB says a tenant cannot refuse entry just because the time is inconvenient, as long as the notice meets the Act. In every province, a tenant can refuse entry that does not follow the rules.

Does the tenant have to be home when I enter?

No, not in Ontario or BC, as long as proper notice was given. In Quebec, the tenant can ask that you or your representative be present for visits, and may refuse access if no one is.

Can I give a time window instead of an exact time?

Alberta's Act allows a reasonable period with a start and end time. In Ontario, the LTB accepts a window only when a third party controls the timing, and a court found a nine-hour window was not good enough. Keep windows short.

Can I enter for an emergency without notice?

Yes. All four provinces allow entry without notice in a real emergency, such as a fire, a flood or a burst pipe. Write down what happened and tell the tenant right away.

Related tools and guides

Repair log — record entry notices, visits and repairs
Ontario standard lease guide
N1 vs N2 vs N10 rent increase forms
Ontario last month's rent deposit
Open the Landlord Pilot workspace

Official sources

Last checked: 2026-11-01.