Can a landlord refuse pets?

Yes. An Alberta landlord can refuse pets or put a no-pets term in the lease, and a tenant who keeps a pet against the lease is in breach, which can lead to the landlord ending the tenancy. Where pets are allowed, a refundable pet deposit counts toward the one-month security deposit limit. A non-refundable pet fee is allowed and is treated as part of the rent.

The Service Dogs Act bars refusing a self-contained unit, or setting different terms, because a person with a disability has a service dog, as long as they control the dog. The government ID card is proof the dog qualifies, and a breach can bring a fine of up to $3,000. Emotional support animals are not covered by that Act, but the Alberta Human Rights Commission says a duty to accommodate other support animals may still exist, depending on the situation and reliable medical information. A human rights complaint must be made within one year.

Yes. A BC tenancy agreement can ban pets or limit their size, kind or number, and a landlord does not have to change a no-pets term. A pet kept in breach of the agreement can lead to eviction. Where pets are allowed, the landlord can take one pet damage deposit of up to half a month's rent, no matter how many pets you have, on top of the security deposit of up to half a month's rent. Monthly pet fees are not allowed.

The Guide Dog and Service Dog Act bars refusing an advertised unit to a guide or service dog team, or setting discriminatory terms, unless the unit shares sleeping, bathroom or cooking space with another family. Certification is voluntary, so a landlord cannot turn you down because the dog is not certified, and no pet damage deposit can be charged for it. Emotional support animals cannot be certified, and refusing one is discrimination only if it is tied to a disability and the landlord could have accommodated it without undue hardship.

Yes. A Manitoba landlord can refuse pets or limit the kinds allowed. Pet rules are house rules, so they must be in writing, made known to the tenant and reasonable. Keeping a pet without permission can lead to a notice to move. If a landlord brings in a new no-pets rule, pets already living in the unit can stay but cannot be replaced. Where a pet is allowed, the landlord can take a pet damage deposit of up to one month's rent on top of the security deposit, once per tenancy.

Under the Human Rights Code, a service animal is one trained, including self-trained, to help with a person's disability. It is not a pet, it does not break a no-pets rule, and no pet damage deposit or cleaning fee can be charged for it. There is no certification in Manitoba. The landlord can ask whether the animal is trained and about the disability-related need, but not about the diagnosis. An animal called a comfort or companion animal counts as a service animal only if it is trained to help with the disability.

Yes. Saskatchewan's Residential Tenancies Act does not mention pets, but a landlord can set reasonable written rules about the use of the unit, and a no-pets rule is one of them. The province's own fixed-term agreement form gives no pets as an example of an extra tenant obligation. A breach of a material term that is not fixed after written notice, or repeated breaking of the landlord's rules, can let the landlord end the tenancy. There is no pet deposit rule: only one security deposit, of up to one month's rent, is allowed.

Under the Human Rights Code, landlords must accommodate service animals, and a no-pets policy does not apply to them. Charging higher fees, deposits or surcharges because of a service animal is not allowed, and there is no official certification. Emotional support animals are handled case by case: the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission says some housing decisions have recognized them as protected.

Not through the lease. In Ontario, a no-pets clause in a tenancy agreement is void, and a landlord cannot charge a pet deposit or a pet fee. A landlord can still apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board to end a tenancy over an animal, but only if it substantially interferes with other people's reasonable enjoyment, causes a serious allergic reaction, or is an inherently dangerous species or breed. Condo rules that ban pets can still bind a tenant renting a condo unit.

Human rights law also protects tenants with service animals, which matters most for condo rules and refusals to rent. The Blind Persons' Rights Act bars refusing a unit because of a guide dog. The Ontario Human Rights Commission says service animals for psychiatric disabilities or addictions do not have to be trained or certified, but where it is not obvious, the tenant may need evidence of the disability and of how the animal helps.

Yes. A New Brunswick landlord can refuse pets, and the Standard Form of Lease has a section for pet restrictions. The province says a no-pets policy is not discriminatory in itself. There is no pet deposit rule; the security deposit is capped at one month's rent (one week's rent for a weekly tenancy).

The landlord must make an exception for a service animal. Under the Human Rights Act, a landlord cannot refuse a tenant because of a service animal, apply a no-pets rule to it, or accept only certified animals. The landlord can ask for a doctor's note, but you do not have to give a diagnosis, and the animal must be under control. An emotional support animal may be protected if it is part of the treatment for a disability and documented by a physician or psychologist; the general benefits of having a pet are not enough.

Yes. No Nova Scotia law makes a landlord allow pets, and the landlord's rules, which you get before signing, may cover them. A landlord cannot charge an extra deposit for pets: any money taken on top of rent counts as part of the security deposit, which is capped at half a month's rent.

The Service Dog Act bars refusing advertised premises to a certified service dog team, except for one unadvertised room in a home the landlord or their family lives in. You must show the provincial ID card if the landlord asks, and fines run from $500 to $3,000. The Blind Persons' Rights Act protects dog guides. Certification is voluntary, and a person with a trained, medically required dog that is not certified can still complain to the Human Rights Commission. The Service Dog Act does not protect pets, emotional support animals or therapy animals.

Yes. A PEI landlord can refuse pets and include a no-pets term. Breaking it can be grounds for eviction, as can a pet that disturbs others or causes damage. Only one security deposit, of up to one month's rent, is allowed, so a landlord cannot add a separate pet deposit.

Service animals are always permitted. The Residential Tenancy Act makes a lease term banning service animals void, and a service animal includes one trained or being trained to help a person with a disability, and a retired one. The PEI Human Rights Commission says a no-pets rule does not apply to them and there is no PEI certification. Animals that give comfort and companionship but are not trained are not protected by the Human Rights Act.

Yes. A Newfoundland and Labrador landlord can ban pets or limit the types allowed as a term of the rental agreement, and the Residential Tenancies Office treats this as generally reasonable. A separate pet deposit is not allowed: any money on top of rent counts toward the single security deposit, which is capped at three quarters of a month's rent.

The Service Animal Act bars refusing housing, or setting different terms, only because a person has a service animal. A lease ban on animals does not apply to it, and no fee can be charged for it. A service animal under that Act must be trained. Separately, the Human Rights Act can protect an animal needed for disability-related needs, which can include emotional support. A landlord can ask for a medical note or proof of training, but not the diagnosis, and can weigh the effect on other tenants, such as severe allergies.