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Election Signage:
Concerns for Wrongful Interference by a Landlord
Last Updated: July 03 2026
Question: Can a landlord in Ontario stop a tenant from posting an election candidate sign on their rented unit’s premises?
Answer: In Ontario, a tenant can generally display election advertising posters on the leased premises, and a landlord cannot prohibit it under Canada Elections Act, S.C. 2000, c. 9, s. 322, unless the restriction is about reasonable size or type of the poster or it applies to common areas (not the tenant’s own rented unit). If you’re dealing with a landlord who is limiting or removing election signs, Woodcock Legal Services can help you understand your rights and respond appropriately with professional legal services across Ontario; call (613) 334-6721 to discuss your situation.
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.
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:
Election advertising posters
322 (1) No landlord or person acting on their behalf may prohibit a tenant from displaying election advertising posters on the premises to which the lease relates and no condominium corporation or any of its agents may prohibit the owner of a condominium unit from displaying election advertising posters on the premises of his or her unit.
Permitted restrictions
(2) Despite subsection (1), a landlord, person, condominium corporation or agent referred to in that subsection may set reasonable conditions relating to the size or type of election advertising posters that may be displayed on the premises and may prohibit the display of election advertising posters in common areas of the building in which the premises are found.
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.
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