# Can My Landlord Evict Me for Running a Business From My Ontario Rental?

> In Ontario, usually not just for having a home business. The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 lets a landlord evict only for specific grounds: an illegal act (s. 61) or conduct that substantially interferes with others' reasonable enjoyment of the building (s. 64). A lawful, quiet home business does not, by itself, meet either ground.

Published 2026-08-18 · Last reviewed 2026-08-14 · [Canonical page](https://canadalegalcenter.ca/articles/can-my-landlord-evict-me-for-running-a-business-from-my-rental-in-ontario/)

Legal information, not legal advice.

## The eviction grounds a landlord must actually use

**Usually no, not just for the fact that you run a business from your rental.** Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (the "RTA") governs most private residential rentals, including houses, apartments, condos, and secondary units like basement apartments. It gives landlords a closed list of reasons to evict, and "you're running a business" is not one of them on its own. A landlord "can only evict you in specific situations and must give you written notice using the proper form provided by the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB)."

Two grounds are the ones that actually come up when a home business becomes a problem:

1. **Illegal acts (section 61).** A landlord may give notice of termination if the tenant, another occupant, or someone the tenant let into the unit "committed the illegal act... or if they permitted a person to do so in the rental unit or the residential complex." This is the ground that applies if the business itself is illegal, not merely disliked by the landlord.
2. **Substantial interference with others (section 64).** A landlord can also evict for conduct that substantially interferes with the reasonable enjoyment of the building by other tenants or the landlord. Critically, an LTB decision has confirmed "there is no requirement under Section 64 that the act complained of be illegal or contrary to policy or to terms of the tenancy agreement." A completely lawful business can still trigger this ground if it disturbs the building.

If your business is quiet, legal, and doesn't generate complaints, neither ground is likely to be met, which is why simply "running a business" is not itself a lawful basis for eviction under the RTA.

## Why "residential" tenancy law treats business use differently

The RTA is built around residential tenancies specifically. Ontario's own guidance notes that "many of the rules about rent do not apply to some types of rentals, such as university and college residences and commercial properties," which underscores that the Act's protective scheme, including its eviction rules, is designed for people living in a home, not operating a storefront. That framing matters: the RTA doesn't contain a stand-alone ground like "tenant is running a business," so a landlord has to fit your situation into one of the existing categories, most often the illegal act or interference grounds above.

## What can turn a lawful home business into an eviction risk

The verdict above comes with real conditions attached. A business that starts out lawful can still put a tenancy at risk if:

- **It becomes an illegal act.** If the business itself violates the law (the sources reviewed don't cover municipal licensing or zoning specifically, only that illegal acts generally fall under section 61), a landlord can use that as an eviction ground.
- **It disturbs other tenants or the landlord.** Noise, foot traffic, deliveries, or anything else that substantially interferes with others' reasonable enjoyment of the building can support an eviction application under section 64, regardless of whether the business is otherwise legal.

## What you can do if your landlord threatens eviction

A landlord cannot simply tell you to leave. If they allege illegal acts, they must serve a Form N6 (Notice to End your Tenancy for Illegal Acts or Misrepresenting Income) and then file a Form L2 application with the LTB. The LTB holds a hearing before any eviction can occur, meaning you have the right to respond and present your case before an adjudicator, not just to your landlord.

If you receive an N6 or any other termination notice, the options generally available under this process include:

- Reviewing the notice to confirm it names the correct legal ground and uses the LTB's proper form.
- Preparing to respond at the LTB hearing, since no eviction takes effect without one.
- Contacting the Landlord and Tenant Board directly for information on the hearing process and your procedural rights.

Nothing here is legal advice for your specific situation. If you're facing an active notice or application, the LTB hearing itself is where the facts of your case, including whether your business meets section 61 or 64, get decided.

## Frequently asked questions

**Does it matter if my lease says no business use is allowed?**

The sources reviewed for this article do not cover how a lease clause banning business use interacts with Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act eviction grounds, so that point is not addressed here. What the Act does confirm is that a landlord must still fit any eviction into a specific legal ground and use the correct Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) notice form.

**What if my home business is unlicensed or breaks a municipal zoning rule?**

This falls under the illegal act ground (s. 61) if the conduct amounts to an illegal act under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. Municipal licensing and zoning bylaws themselves were not covered in the sources reviewed for this Ontario-specific article, so whether a particular business breaches them is a separate question from the tenancy law question answered here.

**Can my landlord evict me immediately, or is there a hearing first?**

In Ontario, no. A landlord alleging illegal acts must serve a Form N6 notice and then file a Form L2 application with the Landlord and Tenant Board, which holds a hearing before any eviction order can be made.

**What if neighbours complain about noise or foot traffic from my business?**

In Ontario, this falls under section 64 of the Residential Tenancies Act, which allows eviction for conduct that substantially interferes with other tenants' or the landlord's reasonable enjoyment of the building. This ground applies even if the business itself is entirely lawful.


## Sources

1. [Ontario.ca - Renting in Ontario: Your rights](https://www.ontario.ca/page/renting-ontario-your-rights), Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, SO 2006, c 17 (retrieved 2026-07-17)
2. [Musse v. 6965083 Canada Inc., 2021 ONSC 1085 (CanLII)](https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onscdc/doc/2021/2021onsc1085/2021onsc1085.html), Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, SO 2006, c 17, s 61(1); as applied in Musse v 6965083 Canada Inc, 2021 ONSC 1085 (retrieved 2026-07-17)
3. [SOL-70129-16 (Re), 2016 CanLII 44391 (ON LTB)](https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onltb/doc/2016/2016canlii44391/2016canlii44391.html), Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, SO 2006, c 17, s 64; as applied in SOL-70129-16 (Re), 2016 CanLII 44391 (ON LTB) (retrieved 2026-07-17)
4. [Steps to Justice - My landlord wants to evict me for illegal acts](https://stepstojustice.ca/questions/housing-law/my-landlord-wants-evict-me-illegal-acts-what-should-i-do/), Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, SO 2006, c 17, ss 61, 69 (retrieved 2026-07-17)