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Home > Guides > Landlord entry notice rules
In almost every US state and Canadian province, yes: a landlord must give you advance written notice before entering your unit, usually 24 hours, stating the reason and a time window. The big exceptions are genuine emergencies and tenant consent. Entry without notice is one of the most complained-about landlord behaviors, and the law treats it seriously. This is general information, not legal advice.
A notice of entry is a short written letter, not a casual text. The standard requirements across jurisdictions cluster around the same four elements:
Ontario's rules are among the most precise: written notice at least 24 hours before entry, delivered to you or left in your mailbox, with the reason and the window stated. If any of those pieces is missing, the notice is defective and you can refuse entry.
| How it was delivered | Counts as written notice? | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Handed to you or a person in the unit | Yes, strongest form | Keep a note of the date and time it was given |
| Slipped under the door or left in the mailbox | Yes, in most jurisdictions | Easy to dispute; photo it with the date visible |
| Mailed | Yes, but with deemed-receipt days added | The 24-hour clock may not start until days after mailing |
| Email or text | Depends on the jurisdiction and your lease | Some statutes require a physical notice; check the wording |
Emergencies: fire, flooding, gas leak, a burst pipe, something that threatens the building or another unit. Tenant consent also counts: if you agreed to the visit, no notice is needed. Beyond that, the "reasonableness" limit kicks in. A landlord cannot claim an emergency to dodge the notice rule, and repeated "inspections" that add up to harassment are their own violation in many places. One practical note many tenants miss: you generally cannot change the locks to enforce the notice rule, most leases and statutes bar that too. The remedy is a written objection, not a new deadbolt.
Document first, escalate second. Write down each unannounced entry with the date, time, and what you found: a moved item, a note left behind, a neighbor who saw them. Then send a written letter reminding the landlord of the notice rule and asking that future entries be announced properly. Written beats verbal here, because a pattern of ignored written objections is exactly what a tenant board or housing court looks at. Keep copies of every notice you receive and every letter you send.
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