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Criminal Code

s. 348 Breaking and Entering

Breaking and entering with intent, committing offence or breaking out

  • Theft, Fraud & Property
  • Theft & Fraud
Maximum sentence
Life (dwelling-house) / 10 years (other)
Classification
Hybrid

Last verified: June 2026 · Source: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca

The law says

Criminal Code s. 348
Verify on justice.gc.ca(opens in a new tab)
  • (1)Every one who (a) breaks and enters a place with intent to commit an indictable offence therein, (b) breaks and enters a place and commits an indictable offence therein, or (c) breaks out of a place after (i) committing an indictable offence therein, or (ii) entering the place with intent to commit an indictable offence therein, is guilty (d) if the offence is committed in relation to a dwelling-house, of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for life, and (e) if the offence is committed in relation to a place other than a dwelling-house, of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or of an offence punishable on summary conviction.
  • (2)For the purposes of proceedings under this section, evidence that an accused (a) broke and entered a place or attempted to break and enter a place is, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, proof that he broke and entered the place or attempted to do so, as the case may be, with intent to commit an indictable offence therein; or
  • (b)broke out of a place is, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, proof that he broke out after (i) committing an indictable offence therein, or (ii) entering with intent to commit an indictable offence therein.
  • (3)For the purposes of this section and section 351, place means (a) a dwelling-house;
  • (b)a building or structure or any part thereof, other than a dwelling-house;
  • (c)a railway vehicle, a vessel, an aircraft or a trailer; or
  • (d)a pen or an enclosure in which fur-bearing animals are kept in captivity for breeding or commercial purposes.
Amendment History (3)
  • R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 348
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 47
  • 1997, c. 18, s. 20

Justice Laws is the authoritative version. If this copy and it ever differ, Justice Laws wins.

Immigration

Where this offence sits under IRPA

Break and enter of a home (a dwelling-house) must be charged by indictment and can bring a life sentence. That makes a conviction serious criminality under IRPA s.36(1). For any other place, the offence is hybrid, with a top sentence of 10 years. IRPA s.36(3)(a) treats it as indictable even on the summary track, so that is still serious criminality.

This is how the law sorts the offence, not a reading of any one record. An officer decides each case.

IRPA sections involved

Guides on offences like this one

No guide cites this section directly. These guides cite related offences.