British Columbia landlord guide
Deposit limits, entry notice, termination notice and rent increase rules for British Columbia, with the sources they come from.
British Columbia landlord-tenant rules at a glance
- Security deposit limit
- Half a month's rent; plus a pet damage deposit of up to half a month's rent
- Deposit return / claim rule
- Within 15 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant provides a written forwarding address, return the deposit plus interest, obtain the tenant’s agreement, or apply for dispute resolution.
- Deposit interest
- Required; rate set annually by regulation (0% for 2026, 0.95% for 2025)
- Notice before entry
- 24 hours' to 30 days' written notice; entry between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
- Ending a month-to-month
- Tenant 1 full month before rent is due; landlord's notice varies by cause
- Notice before a rent increase
- 3 full months' written notice; once every 12 months
- Late fees
- Allowed only if stated in the agreement; maximum $25
- Rent control
- Yes; maximum increase 2.2% for 2027 (2.3% for 2026), effective January 1, 2027
General information from the British Columbia Residential Tenancy Act, last reviewed 2026-09-29. Not legal advice; municipal bylaws can add requirements.
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