Something gone wrong?
My tenant won't leave
First, confirm you actually have an order — a notice or even a hearing date is not enough to remove anyone. Second, file the order for enforcement; the eviction itself is carried out by a court enforcement officer, not by you. Third, if the tenant broke a settlement or order rather than a lease term, there may be a faster application available.
Only the Sheriff can carry out an eviction
Even with an eviction order in hand, a landlord cannot change the locks or remove the tenant. In Ontario, "an eviction order can only be enforced by the Court Enforcement Office" — the Sheriff. Acting on your own instead can expose you to serious penalties and undo your case.
In Ontario
Once the LTB issues an eviction order, you file it with the Court Enforcement Office, and the Sheriff schedules and carries out the eviction. The landlord is never the one to physically remove the tenant.
If the tenant broke a mediated settlement or an LTB order — a missed payment plan, for instance — the L4 application is the route, and it can produce an order without a hearing. It must be filed within 30 days of the breach.
Other provinces
Outside Ontario, the enforcement office differs by province, but the rule holds: the tribunal’s order is enforced through the court process, not by the landlord. Start with your province’s tribunal for the enforcement step after an order.
Common Questions
My tenant won’t leave after an eviction order — what now?
You cannot remove them yourself. In Ontario, "only the Sheriff can evict a tenant," and "an eviction order can only be enforced by the Court Enforcement Office." Once you have an order, you file it for enforcement and the Sheriff carries out the eviction on a scheduled date.
What is an L4 for?
The L4 is used when a tenant breaks a term of a mediated settlement or an LTB order — for example, a payment plan agreed at the Board and then missed. It can produce an order without a hearing (ex parte), and it must be filed within 30 days of the breach. See our L4 explainer for the tenant’s S2 set-aside right, too.
How is an eviction enforced outside Ontario?
The specific enforcement office differs by province, but the principle is the same everywhere: the tribunal’s order is enforced through the court process, not by the landlord. Contact your provincial tribunal for the enforcement step that follows an order.
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Guidepost is not a law firm, and this is general information, not legal advice. Enforcement steps depend on your province and your order — for advice, contact your provincial tribunal or a paralegal/lawyer. Full disclaimer. Last updated: July 2026.