LOCAL RULES: RTA S. 29

British Columbia notice of entry requirements

Your British Columbia notice of entry has 2 rules to meet. ReportDraft puts every one on your checklist and checks your draft before you sign.

  • Written notice 24 hours to 30 days before
  • A reasonable purpose, the date and a time between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
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British Columbia's Residential Tenancy Act lets a landlord enter after written notice given at least 24 hours and no more than 30 days ahead, for a reasonable purpose, between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. The way the notice is delivered matters: posted on the door it counts as received three days later, mailed five days later. Here is each rule with a link to the Act.

Last reviewed October 26, 2026 against the official sources listed below.

Notice of entryBRITISH COLUMBIA / FREE CALCULATOR

Notice period and entry times

WhatWhenRule
Notice givenNovember 2, 2026 (attached to the door)Residential Tenancy Act s. 29 (1) (b)
Notice counts as receivedNovember 5, 2026 (the third day after it was left, unless received earlier)Residential Tenancy Act s. 90
Earliest lawful entry without the tenant's consentNovember 6, 2026, at or after the time of day the notice counts as received (24 hours later)Residential Tenancy Act s. 29 (1) (b)
Planned entryNovember 4, 2026 is too early: enter on November 6, 2026 or later, or with the tenant's consent at the timeResidential Tenancy Act s. 29 (1) (b)
Hours of entryBetween 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., unless the tenant agrees otherwiseResidential Tenancy Act s. 29 (1) (b)
What the notice must sayIn writing: a reasonable purpose, and the date and the time of entryResidential Tenancy Act s. 29 (1) (b)

Emergencies, an abandoned unit and the tenant's consent at the time of entry follow their own rules (listed on this page). A lease may give the tenant more notice; check it.

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What British Columbia requires

  • A landlord may enter for any purpose only with the tenant's permission given at the time or within the last 30 days, or after written notice given at least 24 hours and not more than 30 days before the entry; housekeeping under the agreement, an order of the director, an abandoned unit and an emergency that threatens life or property are the other exceptionsResidential Tenancy Act, s. 29 (1)
  • The notice states a reasonable purpose for entering and the date and time of the entry, which must be between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. unless the tenant agrees otherwiseResidential Tenancy Act, s. 29 (1) (b)
  • A landlord may inspect a rental unit monthly in accordance with the notice ruleResidential Tenancy Act, s. 29 (2)
  • The notice may be handed to the tenant, left with an adult who lives there, mailed, left in the mailbox or mail slot, attached to the door, or given another way the Act allows; unless received earlier, a mailed notice counts as received on the fifth day after mailing, and one attached to the door or left in the mailbox on the third dayResidential Tenancy Act, s. 88, 90
  • The director may suspend or set conditions on the landlord's right to enter, and may let the tenant change the locks if the landlord is likely to enter unlawfullyResidential Tenancy Act, s. 70
  • Notice is also needed for an authorized third party, such as the landlord's agent, to enter on the landlord's behalf; common areas shared with others may be entered without noticeResidential Tenancy Branch: Landlord access to rental units

The notice and its window

Give written notice between 24 hours and 30 days before the entry, with a reasonable purpose, the date and a time between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. The tenant's permission at the time, or given within the past 30 days, also allows entry. Monthly inspections are allowed with proper notice.

When a posted or mailed notice counts

A notice handed over takes effect at once. Unless the tenant actually gets it sooner, a notice attached to the door or left in the mailbox counts as received on the third day, and a mailed notice on the fifth, so the 24 hours start only then. Notice is needed for an agent entering on the landlord's behalf too; shared common areas need none.

When the Branch steps in

The director can suspend or set conditions on a landlord's right to enter, and can authorize the tenant to change the locks if unlawful entry is likely.

Common mistakes

  • Taping a notice to the door the evening before: it counts as received three days later.
  • Giving notice more than 30 days ahead.
  • Entering after 9 p.m. without the tenant's agreement.
  • Sending a contractor alone without notice naming the entry.

Sources

Last reviewed October 26, 2026. Next review due January 26, 2027. This page explains published rules to help you write your report. It is not legal advice; the official text linked above governs.