Election Signage:

Question: Can my landlord stop me from putting an election candidate sign in my rental unit in Ontario?

Answer: DK Legal Practice can help you understand your tenant rights around election signage in Ontario under Canada Elections Act, S.C. 2000, c. 9 at s. 322. In general, a landlord cannot prohibit a tenant from displaying election advertising posters on the leased premises, and they may only impose reasonable limits on size or type of posters and may prohibit posting in common areas.   If you want to keep your sign up, gather your lease, take photos of the posted sign rules, and call (416) 906-6663 so a Ontario paralegal at DK Legal Practice can review the situation and advise on next steps.

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Tenants Have a Right to Use a Sign to Promote an Election Candidate

In Canada, as a free and democratic society, all persons may choose to support a particular candidate in an election; and, with very few exceptions, post signage in promotion of a preferred candidate upon the premises that such persons occupy.  This right expressly includes persons occupying rented premises; and accordingly, a landlord is forbidden from restricting the posting of election signs by a tenant.

Note: Please contact DK Legal Practice by phone at: (416) 906-6663 to discuss any specific questions that you may have.

The Law

The Canada Elections Act, S.C. 2000, Chapter 9 prescribes the protection provided to a tenant who wishes to advertise or promote a favoured candidate.  Specifically, the Canada Elections Act states:

Conclusion

A landlord may restrict election posters or signs to a reasonable size.  Additionally, a tenant holds the right to place a poster or sign only within the rental unit; and accordingly, a landlord may forbid posters or signs from being placed upon areas beyond the rental unit occupied by the tenant.