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Election Signage:
Concerns for Wrongful Interference by a Landlord
Last Updated: July 05 2026
Question: Can a landlord in Ontario stop a tenant from posting election signs or campaign posters in their rented unit?
Answer: In Ontario, a landlord generally cannot prohibit a tenant from displaying election advertising posters on the rented premises, with the main limits being that the landlord may impose reasonable conditions on the size or type of election posters and may ban posters in common areas; this tenant protection comes from Canada Elections Act, S.C. 2000, c. 9, s. 322. If your landlord is blocking your election signs beyond common areas or imposing unreasonable restrictions, Success.Legal™ can help you understand your options in the landlord-tenant legal profession ecosystem and what to document before you contact (800) 551-5751 for practical next steps.
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.