Landlord Notice to End a Tenancy in Alberta

Alberta ties the notice to the reason. A landlord may not end a periodic tenancy without a reason, and the reason must be one the law allows. The table summarizes the main notices under the Residential Tenancies Act and the Ministerial Regulation.

The Regulation has sample forms, but the Handbook says they are not mandatory. What counts is that the notice has the required content. See the Government of Alberta page on ending a tenancy.

On a month to month tenancy, a landlord must give 3 tenancy months written notice and must have a prescribed reason, which must be stated in the notice. The reasons listed in the research are:

• You or a relative will move in.
• The unit is being sold and the buyer or a relative of the buyer will move in.
• A detached house, semi-detached house or condominium unit is being sold and the buyer asks you in writing to give notice. The buyer need not move in.
• The unit will be demolished.
• The unit will be converted to non-residential use.
• You are an educational institution and the tenant is no longer a student.
• Condominium conversion.
• Major renovations that need the unit empty.

For the last two, the notice is 365 days. For the other reasons, a weekly tenancy needs one week, and a yearly tenancy needs 90 days before the last day of the tenancy year. A notice given for a reason that is not prescribed is of no effect. "Major renovations" does not include painting, replacing a floor covering or routine maintenance. The Regulation was amended in 2026, so read the current text on the King's Printer site before relying on a renovation notice. A short overview for owner use is at when a landlord wants to move back in.

A tenant's basic promises under the Act include paying rent when due, not significantly interfering with the landlord or others, no illegal acts, not endangering people or property, no significant damage and keeping the unit reasonably clean. Breaking one is a substantial breach, as is a series of smaller breaches with a substantial combined effect.

14 days. You serve at least 14 days notice, or you can apply to the RTDRS or court. For unpaid rent, the tenant can cancel the notice by paying all rent owing before the termination date. For any other breach, the tenant can serve a written objection with reasons before the 14 days end. The notice is then ineffective and you must get an order. The tenant may stay until then.

24 hours. This is for significant damage to the premises or a physical assault or threat of assault on you or another tenant. The notice must be in writing and state the time and date the tenancy ends. If the tenant stays, you have 10 days after the tenancy ends to apply to the RTDRS or court. If you do not apply in time, the notice is ineffective.

Unauthorized occupant. You can require a person who is not a tenant but lives in the unit to leave, with at least 14 days notice. If the person has abandoned the unit, the notice period is 48 hours.

If your notice is ignored, see what to do when a tenant will not leave after notice.

Fixed term. A fixed term tenancy ends on its end date automatically, and neither side needs to give notice. It does not renew by itself. You cannot end it early except by agreement or for a substantial breach.

When the term ends and the tenant stays. If the tenant keeps living there and you keep accepting rent with no new agreement, the tenancy becomes periodic, monthly if the term was a month or more and weekly if shorter. From then on you can end it only for a prescribed reason with the notice above. If you want the tenant out at the end of the term, say so in writing and do not treat rent as ongoing without a plan.

Tenant notice, for comparison. A tenant on a month to month tenancy gives one tenancy month, weekly one week, and yearly 60 days before the last day of the tenancy year.

The tenant-side rules are in our Alberta eviction process guide.

A no-fault notice must be in writing, give the address of the premises, be signed by you, state the reasons and set out the termination date.

For counting, the Handbook says a landlord must give three tenancy months of notice, and notice is to be served on or before the first day of the three month notice period. Example: a tenancy runs from the 1st to the last day of the month. To end it on September 30, serve on or before July 1.

A 14 day notice means 14 clear days under the Act. The Handbook explains that the day of service and the last day are not counted, so allow about 16 days in total.

Serving too little notice is an offence under the Regulation, with a fine of up to $10,000. If a tenant leaves on a notice for a prescribed reason and you do not use the premises for that reason within a reasonable time, that is a contravention of the Act with a fine of up to $5,000, and the Handbook says the tenant may pursue you for compensation through court or the RTDRS. The government pages reviewed do not describe a compensation payment owed to the tenant for a valid no-fault notice itself.

• No winter restriction. The Act does not restrict ending a tenancy during the winter months.
• Showings. After a notice to end a periodic tenancy is served, you can show the unit to prospective tenants with 24 hours written notice, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., with a separate notice for each entry.
• No self-help. If the tenant does not leave, you need an RTDRS or court order and a civil enforcement agency. You cannot change the locks or remove belongings.
• Do not raise the rent after a renovation or condominium conversion notice.
• Sale. A new owner takes over the landlord's rights and duties, including the security deposit. For a notice to end the tenancy because of the sale, the buyer must ask you in writing to give it.

For the application and enforcement steps, see how to evict a tenant in Alberta. For a short overview of notice length, see how much notice a landlord has to give.

This guide explains the rules in general terms; for a specific case, ask the tribunal or a licensed legal professional.