Which Canadian provinces have rent control?

Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, and (through a temporary cap) Nova Scotia limit annual increases. Quebec has no fixed cap but lets tenants refuse an increase and have the TAL set a fair rent. Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland have no rent cap.

How much notice must a landlord give to raise rent?

Typically three months (BC, Manitoba, PEI, Alberta for periodic tenancies), 90 days in Ontario, and four months in Nova Scotia. In every province rent can generally be increased only once every 12 months.

Can a landlord raise rent by any amount in some provinces?

Yes. Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland have no rent-control cap, so there's no percentage limit — but the increase can still happen only once a year and requires proper written notice.

Which Canadian provinces have rent control?

Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, and (through a temporary cap) Nova Scotia limit annual increases. Quebec has no fixed cap but lets tenants refuse an increase and have the TAL set a fair rent. Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland have no rent cap.

How much notice must a landlord give to raise rent?

Typically three months (BC, Manitoba, PEI, Alberta for periodic tenancies), 90 days in Ontario, and four months in Nova Scotia. In every province rent can generally be increased only once every 12 months.

Can a landlord raise rent by any amount in some provinces?

Yes. Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland have no rent-control cap, so there's no percentage limit — but the increase can still happen only once a year and requires proper written notice.

Rent Increase Rules by Province in Canada

How much can your rent go up in 2026, and how much notice do you get? Five provinces cap the increase, one lets you refuse it, and four have no limit at all. Here's every province in one table.

By the LeasePlain Editorial Team · Checked against Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act per our editorial standards·Last reviewed September 2026

Province	Rent control	2026 max increase	Notice
Ontario	Yes (guideline)	2.1%	90 days
British Columbia	Yes	2.3%	3 months
Alberta	No cap	No limit	3 months (periodic)
Quebec	Mediated	No fixed cap (TAL ~3.1%)	3–6 months
Manitoba	Yes (guideline)	1.8%	3 months
Saskatchewan	No cap	No limit	12 months
Nova Scotia	Yes (temporary cap)	5%	4 months
New Brunswick	No formal cap	No set limit	Varies
Prince Edward Island	Yes (IRAC)	2%	3 months
Newfoundland & Labrador	No cap	No limit	8 wks–6 mo

Notes by province

Ontario: Units first occupied after Nov 15, 2018 are exempt from the guideline. The 2027 guideline is 1.9%.
British Columbia: No vacancy control — a new tenancy can start at any rent.
Alberta: No rent control, but only once per 12 months and not in the first year.
Quebec: No hard cap, but you can refuse an increase and stay while the TAL fixes a fair rent.
Manitoba: Some newer buildings and higher-rent units are exempt.
Saskatchewan: No rent control, but periodic tenancies need 12 months' notice (6 months if the landlord is in a prescribed association) — once per 12 months.
Nova Scotia: The 5% cap is extended through December 31, 2027.
New Brunswick: No fixed cap; large increases can be reviewed by the tribunal.
Prince Edward Island: Set annually by IRAC; capped at 3% by law.
Newfoundland & Labrador: No rent control; once per 12 months with 8 weeks' notice (month-to-month) or 6 months (yearly).

The big picture

Rent control in Canada is a patchwork. Ontario, BC, Manitoba, and PEI set an annual guideline; Nova Scotia holds a temporary 5% cap through 2027; Quebec has no cap but lets you refuse an increase and stay. In Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland, there's no percentage limit — your protection is the once-a-year rule, the notice period, and the option to move.

Last reviewed: September 2026. Guidelines are announced yearly and rules change — confirm the current figure with your provincial authority before relying on it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rent increase guides & tools

General information, not legal advice. Rent rules vary by province, unit type, and lease. Confirm with your provincial tenancy authority for your situation.