Housing is one of the most important areas where service dog access issues arise. In Canada, landlords generally cannot refuse a service dog based on no-pets policies.
Service dogs are considered disability-related accommodations under provincial human rights legislation. This means landlords must accommodate tenants with disabilities to the point of undue hardship.
Pet deposits, pet rent, or additional fees related to a service dog are usually unlawful. A service dog is not treated as a pet for housing purposes.
Landlords may ask limited questions related to accommodation needs but cannot demand unnecessary medical details, certification, or proof of training.
Refusal may be justified only in rare circumstances where accommodation would cause undue hardship due to serious safety or health risks that cannot be mitigated.
Disputes involving service dogs and housing are typically addressed through human rights commissions rather than landlord-tenant boards alone.
Key takeaways:
• Service dogs are not pets in housing
• No-pets clauses do not apply
• Pet fees are generally unlawful
• Undue hardship is a high threshold
For province-specific housing guidance, consult the Canadian Service Dogs Handbook.