Plenty of cases at Ontario's Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) are decided before anyone gets to the merits: a notice delivered the wrong way, an upload that came a day late, evidence the other side never saw, a review asked for after the window shut. The LTB Rules of Procedure set those mechanics, and the Practice Directions show how the Board applies them. Both got a refresh on September 21, 2026. What follows is a landlord-and-tenant field guide to the rules that come up most, using today's numbering.
Cheat sheet
| Subject | Rule(s) | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Counting days | 1.12–1.16 | Calendar days; day one is excluded, the end day included |
| Service | 3.1–3.9 | Posted mail lands, legally, on day 5 |
| Proof of service | 3.8, 5.15 | Certificate due 5 days after serving, where one is needed |
| Filing | 4.1–4.10 | Portal applications: termination notice plus certificate at filing, or by day 5 |
| Rejected at intake | 6 | Premature filings, e.g. an L1 dated on or before the N4's end date |
| Arrears hearings | 10 | Landlord's L1/L9 Information Update, 5 days ahead at minimum |
| Evidence exchange | 19 | A week out for your own; 5 days out for replies |
| New hearing date | 21.1 | Unanimous consent, 5 business days out |
| Costs | 23 | Representation: $100/hour, $700 ceiling |
| Review | 26 | 15-day limit on orders dated July 1, 2026 onward |
The legal layers
At the top sits the statute, Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA). It plugs in the Statutory Powers Procedure Act (s. 184) and hands time calculations over to the Rules (s. 193). The Board itself may relax or set aside a rule, except where a statute or the rule in question forbids it (Rule 1.4.2).
Below the Rules sit Practice Directions, made under Rule 1.2 to describe day-to-day practice. You'll find all of them on the LTB Law, rules and decisions page. Don't confuse them with Interpretation Guidelines, which are about how Members might resolve points of law.
What the 2026 revision changed
Tribunals Ontario describes its goals for the update as clearer wording and layout, catching up with recent legislative changes, and matching how the Board actually works. Two consequences stand out.
Renumbering. Pre-2026 documents refer to general rules with an "A" in front and letters for paragraphs. One example still in circulation: the representation Practice Direction cites "Rule A3.1(b)" for the idea that the Rules let people participate with or without a representative, which today is paragraph 2 of Rule 1.3.1, and "Rule 1.6(q)" for allowing a representative to testify, which is now paragraph 17 of Rule 1.6. Quote current numbers in your own filings.
Bill 60 content. - Rule 19.4 builds in the s. 82 requirement to pay 50% of the arrears. - Rule 19.5.1 keeps the previous regime alive for arrears cases filed before September 21, 2026. - Rules 26.4 and 26.5 split review deadlines into 30 days or 15 days, keyed to the order's issue date.
Counting days (Rules 1.12–1.16)
All days count, weekends included. Ignore the day the clock starts; count the day it ends. Rule 1.1 calls every Saturday, Sunday and LTB closure day a "holiday"; when a deadline's last day is one, the deadline moves to the next working day. Delivering a notice on a holiday is still allowed, and the notice still works. None of these timing rules can be waived or varied.
Getting documents to the other side (Rule 3)
Rule 3.1 builds on RTA s. 191. Someone living in the unit can be served by:
- personal delivery, to them or to anyone apparently adult who is in the unit;
- the spot where their mail usually arrives, the mail slot, or the gap beneath the door;
- regular mail or courier;
- fax, if under 20 pages (more needs the recipient's agreement);
- email, with prior written consent; or
- the Tribunals Ontario Portal, with prior written consent to Portal service.
Taping something to the door is good for exactly one document, a notice of entry (Rule 3.2).
Ex-tenants who no longer occupy the unit have a narrower list of methods (Rule 3.3). Anyone wanting alternative service on one must ask no later than 40 days before the hearing (Rule 3.4).
Deemed service dates (Rule 3.9)
| Method | Served on |
|---|---|
| In person | Same day |
| Day it is sent | |
| Portal | Day of upload |
| Courier | Following day, or the next non-holiday (in practice the next business day, as weekends count as holidays under Rule 1.1) |
| Fifth day after posting | |
| Xpresspost | Fifth day, unless proof shows it arrived sooner |
Build these into notice periods. Example: an N4 mailed on Wednesday, May 5, 2027 is deemed served on Monday, May 10, and the notice period counts from there.
Filing (Rule 4)
There are five doors in (Rule 4.1): the Portal; [email protected]; a ServiceOntario centre handling LTB documents; courier to 15 Grosvenor Street; or the post. Emails carrying payment card numbers are rejected.
On a Portal application, three attachments travel with it: the termination notice, any affidavit, and the Certificate of Service (Rule 4.4). They can follow up to 5 calendar days later (Rule 4.5), but no later, or administrative dismissal is possible. Licensed representatives must additionally comply with the Practice Direction making the Portal mandatory for them (Rule 4.2.1). See the Tribunals Ontario Portal guide.
Who serves the application (Rule 5)
As a rule the Board delivers the Notice of Hearing and the application. It will never deliver your evidence for you (Rule 5.1). When the job falls to a party, timing is unforgiving:
- L10 files: serve the application and hearing notice a month (30 days) or more ahead, and get the certificate in at least 20 days ahead (Rules 5.8, 5.16).
- Most other directed service: at least 15 days ahead (Rule 5.9).
Turned away at intake (Rule 6)
Examples of applications the Board refuses to accept:
- 6.7 – an L1 dated on or before the N4 termination date;
- 6.8 – an application resting on an s. 62, 64 or 67 notice (N5 family) filed while the 7-day chance to fix is still running;
- 6.9 – any eviction application, other than for rent arrears, filed later than 30 days after termination;
- 6.10 – an application with required documents missing;
- 6.11 – an N12 or N13 application lacking a completed Part C of Schedule A or B.
Separately, Rule 6.1 blocks an applicant with an unpaid LTB fine, fee or costs from filing anything non-urgent until it is settled.
Hearings, who can appear, and summonses (Rule 7)
Format. It's the Board's call: in person, written, telephone, video, or a mix (Rule 7.1). Opposing an electronic hearing takes a written objection showing significant prejudice (Rule 7.2). Unless ordered otherwise, the public may attend.
Representation. Self-representation is always open. Otherwise use a Law Society of Ontario licensee, or an unlicensed helper only where a Law Society exemption covers them (Rule 7.13). Permitted unlicensed helpers listed in the Practice Direction on Representation include:
- an unpaid friend or neighbour, capped at three matters per year;
- a relative acting for free;
- legal clinic employees and volunteers; and
- an employee appearing solely for their employer.
Corporations can send an employee, or anyone else able to bind the company.
Summonses. Ask early, on a Request for the LTB to Issue a Summons; a party with a licensed representative has that representative draft it (Rule 7.5). Delivering it, and paying the witness's attendance money, is on the requesting party (Rule 7.6).
Case management and arrears hearings (Rules 9 and 10)
Skip a case management hearing as the applicant, without exceptional circumstances, and the file may be dismissed as abandoned (Rule 9.4).
For L1s and L9s, Rule 10.2 has the landlord deliver a filled-in L1/L9 Information Update to the Board and to every tenant, 5 days or more before the hearing. Fail to, and Rule 10.3 lets the Board have it done at the hearing or withhold the filing fee from the costs award.
Evidence (Rule 19 and the Practice Direction on Evidence)
Timing. Rule 19.1 has each party send every other party and the Board copies of the photos, documents and other material it intends to use, a week or more ahead of the hearing or case management hearing, by an RTA or Rule 3 method. Replies go out 5 days or more ahead (Rule 19.2). Late or improperly disclosed material risks exclusion (Rule 19.7).
A common mistake. Under Rule 19.1.1, a Portal upload is not service on the tenant, unless the tenant signed a written consent to Portal service and that consent is on the Portal.
Tenants raising their own issues on arrears cases. For L1, L9 and L10 applications filed from September 21, 2026, a tenant relying on s. 82 to bring up repairs, harassment or other complaints has to do three things a week or more before the hearing: pay the landlord 50% of the claimed arrears, set out each issue in writing (Rule 19.4), and disclose their evidence (Rule 19.6). The landlord replies at least 5 days ahead (Rule 19.6.1). Only the Human Rights Code can justify waiving Rule 19.4.
Format requirements (from the revised Practice Direction on Evidence):
- legible material, pages numbered consecutively, and a contents page whenever there is more than one item;
- no duplicates, and a separate filing per application unless the files were joined or ordered heard together;
- Portal uploads up to 500 MB in accepted formats; emailed evidence only to [email protected], subject line "EVIDENCE" plus file number and hearing date, 35 MB per message;
- no website or social-media links, and no Dropbox, iCloud or similar cloud links;
- audio or video only if you can play it yourself during the hearing; and
- the Member rules on admissibility and may keep out late material, weighing the delay, its cause, and prejudice.
Mediation, amendments, deadlines and withdrawal (Rules 13–17)
- Mediation and online dispute resolution discussions stay confidential (Rule 13.5).
- Pre-hearing amendments: written request, served on the others, filed with a Certificate of Service (Rule 15.1).
- Under Rule 16 many deadlines can be stretched or shortened, though termination notice periods are untouchable (O. Reg. 516/06, s. 56).
- Before a hearing begins, an applicant may withdraw unilaterally (Rule 17.2).
Changing the hearing date (Rule 21)
Rescheduling. Every party must agree, the request must arrive a minimum of 5 business days ahead (Rule 21.1), and it must list each party's unavailable dates for the coming three months (Rule 21.3). Late or opposed requests succeed only where compliance wasn't reasonably possible. No answer yet? Attend anyway, because the hearing proceeds and an absent applicant's case can be dismissed (Rule 21.4).
Adjournments. Raised when the hearing opens, and decided under Rule 21.8, which looks at things like prejudice and how the file has unfolded. L5 matters are rescheduled or adjourned only in exceptional circumstances.
Orders, costs and fixing typos (Rules 22–24)
- Reasons. Request them at the hearing, or in writing up to 30 days after an order that came without reasons (Rule 22.2).
- Costs. A winning applicant can recover the filing fee from the respondent (Rule 23.1); representation and preparation costs top out at $100 an hour and $700 overall (Rule 23.2).
- Clerical mistakes. A Request to Amend an Order fixes them, filed within 30 days (Rule 24.1).
Stays and the Sheriff (Rule 25)
Filed a set-aside motion? Obtained a stay, or a notice declaring an eviction order void? Take a copy to the Court Enforcement Office without delay. Details in the Enforcement Office guide.
Reviews (Rule 26)
The review window is 15 days for any order issued from July 1, 2026 (Rule 26.5; RTA s. 209(3)) and stays at 30 days for earlier orders. Rule 26.7 sets the format: signed, fee included, at least 12-point type, a left margin near 40 mm, and a 10-page cap on double-spaced argument (the form, evidence and cases don't count). Rule 26.8 requires the request to fit one of the O. Reg. 178/26 situations: no reasonable chance to participate, a serious error behind the order, or fresh evidence unobtainable earlier that would likely have changed the result. A preliminary review can end it without a hearing, and Rule 26.18 forbids a second review of the same order. See Request to Review an Order.
FAQ
When does my evidence have to be in?
Seven days or more before the hearing for your own evidence, sent to the other parties and the Board; five days or more for evidence that answers theirs. The Board can set different timing (Rule 19).
What is the deadline to request a review?
For orders issued from July 1, 2026, fifteen days, with a $58 fee.
How early must a request to reschedule be made?
At least 5 business days before the hearing, with every party on board and each one's unavailable dates for the next three months included (Rules 21.1, 21.3). Late or disputed requests only succeed where meeting the rule wasn't reasonably possible.
When is something sent by mail or courier treated as served?
Mailed documents: on the fifth day after posting. Couriered documents: the next day, rolling forward to the next business day if that next day is a Saturday, Sunday or holiday (Rule 3.9). Count these days into any notice period.
Can I say no to a video hearing?
You can object, in writing, by the deadline in the notice of hearing, and you'll need to show the electronic format would significantly prejudice you (Rule 7.2).