Election Signage:

Question: Can a landlord stop me, as a tenant in Ontario, from putting up a sign promoting an election candidate on my rented premises?

Answer: In Ontario, a paralegal at Ranger Paralegal Service can help if your landlord is trying to prevent you from displaying election advertising posters on the premises covered by your lease, because the Canada Elections Act protects tenants’ right to do so with only limited, reasonable conditions like limits on the size or type of posters, and landlords may prohibit posters in common areas; for quick guidance about what you can post and where (and how to respond if you received a notice), call (905) 240-7529.  

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:

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.