A landlord can ask to see your photo ID to confirm you are who the application says. Keeping a copy is a different question. In Canada, the federal privacy regulator says a landlord confirming identity likely does not need a copy, and BC's regulator says to view the ID and hand it back. In the US, few laws ban the copy, but holding it creates a data risk. This is information, not legal advice.
Can a landlord ask to see your ID?
Yes. Checking that the applicant is the person on the application is a normal part of screening, and it is the step that catches someone applying under another person's name. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada says privacy law does not prevent a landlord from asking to see a driver's licence, but the request is still a collection of personal information, so the landlord should say why they are asking.
The same page sets out what a credit check actually needs: at a minimum, name, address and date of birth. A driver's licence or passport is not needed for the check itself, though it can help make sure you are not confused with someone who shares your name and birthday.
Can a landlord keep a copy of your ID in Canada?
Usually they should not. The federal regulator's guidance says that a landlord who asks to see a driver's licence to confirm identity "likely do[es] not need to take a copy," and that landlords should not collect more than they need or keep it longer than necessary.
British Columbia is more direct. BC, Alberta and Quebec run their own private sector privacy laws, and the BC Information and Privacy Commissioner's landlord guidance says it is reasonable to collect information from government-issued photo ID, but a landlord should view the ID and return it, not copy or retain it. The Province's own listing guidance repeats the point: photo ID to confirm the name matches the application, no copy kept. Our post on what a BC rental application can ask covers the rest of that form.
Can a US landlord copy your driver's license?
In most states no statute forbids it, so a copy is often legal. The better question is whether you want to hold it. A file cabinet or shared inbox full of licence scans is exactly what identity thieves look for. The FTC's Consumer Sentinel Network took in 6.5 million consumer reports in 2024 on fraud, identity theft and related problems.
Local rules can also shape what you ask for. Some cities limit which IDs a landlord may demand, and our post on whether a landlord can require a Social Security number covers the places that require you to accept alternatives such as an ITIN or an expired passport.
How should a property manager verify ID without keeping a copy?
- Write down why you check ID: to confirm the applicant matches the application.
- Ask every applicant for the same thing, and accept the alternatives your local rules require.
- Record that the ID was checked, the type and the date, not the image.
- If a tool or screening provider does the check, ask what it stores and for how long.
- Delete anything you did keep once the tenancy decision is made.
How does ID verification work for self-showings?
A self-showing moves the ID check earlier, before anyone gets an access code. The point is the same as at the application stage: confirm the person is real and matches the booking. LetHub is AI leasing software for property managers: it answers rental inquiries by text, chat, email and phone in about 30 seconds, day and night, qualifies renters, books tours and runs ID-verified self-showings. Book a demo to see the check on your listings.
Copying ID for a rental: FAQ
Can a landlord take a photo of my driver's licence?
A photo is a copy. In Canada the privacy regulators say a landlord confirming identity likely does not need one, and BC's guidance says to view the ID and return it. In most US states a photo is not illegal, but you can ask why it is needed and how long it will be kept.
Does a landlord need my ID to run a credit check?
Not in Canada. The federal privacy regulator says a basic credit check needs, at a minimum, your name, address and date of birth. An ID number can help a credit bureau match the right file, but the regulator says it is not required for the check.
What can I do if a landlord insists on a copy?
Ask what the copy is for, who will see it and when it will be deleted, and offer to show the ID in person instead. In Canada you can raise a concern with the federal privacy regulator, or with the provincial one in BC, Alberta or Quebec.
