The City of Sarnia is inviting residents and landlords to share their experiences with renovictions as municipal leaders work to develop a new by-law aimed at protecting tenants. The city has launched an online survey at speakupsarnia.ca/Renovictions, which will remain open until May 22, 2026. A public input session is also set for May 13, 2026, at the Pat Stapleton Arena from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The proposed by-law would require landlords to obtain a city licence before beginning any renovation or repair work that requires a building permit and forces a tenant to vacate the unit. This initiative follows a pattern of renoviction cases seen in Ontario, including incidents at the Village Green townhouses on Exmouth Street earlier in 2026, where tenants were offered $5,000 to vacate their homes.
While the city typically receives only one or two formal complaints annually regarding renovictions, Community Legal Assistance Sarnia reports seeing frequent cases involving eviction notices and a loss of affordable housing. City staff noted that official complaint numbers may be low because many of these situations are handled informally or go unreported.
Councillor Bill Dennis, who sponsored the motion for the by-law, noted that while many landlords act in good faith, additional rules are necessary to protect vulnerable residents. If the city moves forward with the policy, staff have recommended amending the current licensing by-law rather than creating a new, standalone one, similar to the approach used in Hamilton.
In addition to the local effort, Mayor Mike Bradley has expressed his intention to write to the provincial government to urge for stronger regulations on renovictions. While Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act currently provides tenants with the right to return to their unit at the same rent following renovations, officials remain concerned that many tenants are unaware of their rights or feel pressured to leave voluntarily.
