Odours and neighbours

What are my rights?

I've heard that if my neighbour's cannabis smoke or cooking smells drift into my home, there's nothing I can do. Is that right?
  • Yes
  • No

You're sitting outside on your patio, or maybe you’re inside with the windows open. Next thing you know, the air is filled with a smell coming from your neighbour’s home. Yikes! While we can choose where we live, we can’t choose our neighbours. But there are ways to make things better. Learn how to deal with a neighbour’s odours.

What you should know

Work out problems

Common questions

Who can help

  • This information applies to British Columbia, Canada
  • Reviewed for legal accuracy in July 2022
  • Time to read: 13 minutes

Reviewed for legal accuracy by

Lisa Frey, Lawson Lundell LLP

Lisa Frey

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Still not sure what to do?

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Options for legal help

We are grateful to work on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, whose Peoples continue to live on and care for these lands.