WSIB Clearance — What GTA Homeowners Need to Know Before Hiring a Contractor
Most GTA homeowners have never heard of WSIB clearance. They hire a contractor, the work gets done, and nobody mentions it — until someone gets hurt on the job and the homeowner discovers they are liable for medical costs and lost wages because the contractor wasn't covered.
What is WSIB?
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)is Ontario's workers' compensation insurance program. It provides coverage for workers who are injured on the job — covering medical costs, lost wages, and rehabilitation.
Most employers in Ontario are required by law to register with WSIB and maintain coverage for their workers. This includes most trade contractors — electricians, plumbers, roofers, HVAC technicians, carpenters, and general contractors.
When a registered employer's worker is injured on a job, WSIB covers the costs and the employer pays into the program through premiums. The system is designed so that injured workers are compensated without needing to sue their employer — and employers are protected from large individual liability claims.
Why does WSIB matter to you as a homeowner?
This is the part most homeowners don't know: if a contractor without WSIB coverage is injured on your property, you — the property owner — can be held personally liable for their medical costs, lost wages, rehabilitation, and potentially legal fees.
This is not a technicality buried in fine print. It is established Ontario law. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Act places an obligation on the person who retained the contractor, not just the contractor themselves.
A hypothetical scenario that plays out regularly
A roofer you hired off Kijiji falls from your roof and breaks his back. He has no WSIB coverage because he never registered. He has no personal accident insurance either. WSIB investigates and determines that the worker was performing work for you without coverage. You receive a WSIB assessment notice — you are now responsible for the costs associated with his injury. Your home insurance policy may not cover this scenario, particularly if you knowingly or unknowingly hired an unregistered worker.
The contractor is injured. The contractor has no coverage. You pay.
How to verify WSIB clearance — step by step
Ask the contractor for their WSIB account number
Every registered employer has a WSIB account number. Ask before signing any contract. A legitimate contractor provides this immediately.
Go to wsib.ca
Navigate to the clearance certificate section. It is free to use and requires no account.
Click "Request a clearance certificate"
Enter the contractor's business name and WSIB account number.
Enter their account number and submit
WSIB sends the clearance certificate directly to your email address — not to the contractor. This is the critical part: the certificate goes to you, not them.
Confirm the certificate shows "In Good Standing"
The certificate confirms the contractor is registered and current with their WSIB premiums. "In Good Standing" means they have active coverage for their workers.
⚠️ Critical: never accept a certificate from the contractor
A contractor showing you their own WSIB clearance certificate proves nothing. Certificates can be photocopied from previous years, altered, or simply printed from a template. Always request your clearance certificate directly from wsib.ca — the email comes from WSIB to you, which cannot be faked or intercepted.
The WSIB exemption trap
Some sole proprietors and independent operators are legally exempt from mandatory WSIB coverage in Ontario. This exemption is not a protection for you — it simply means they were not required to register. If an exempt contractor is injured on your property, you can still be held responsible.
The recommendation for homeowners is clear: always request WSIB clearance regardless of business size. If a contractor is exempt, they will typically know this and can explain it clearly. More importantly, ask if they have personal accident or disability insurance as an alternative. If they have neither and are working on your property, you are carrying the risk.
This is why VerifiedPros verifies WSIB clearance directly through wsib.ca for every contractor on the platform — and why that clearance is a condition of onboarding, not an afterthought.
Other insurance to ask for
General liability insurance (minimum $2 million)
Liability insurance covers property damage and third-party injuries caused by the contractor's work. A minimum of $2 million in coverage is standard for licensed trades contractors in Ontario. Ask for a Certificate of Insurance issued directly by their broker — not a copy from the contractor. Call the broker to confirm the policy is active.
Errors and omissions (for design-build projects)
For larger renovation projects where the contractor is also providing design guidance or specifications, E&O insurance covers mistakes in the design itself. This is less commonly required for standard trades work but relevant for whole-home renovations.
How VerifiedPros handles WSIB verification
Every contractor on VerifiedPros has their WSIB clearance verified directly at wsib.ca before they receive a single job lead. This is not a self-reported process — we request the clearance certificate the same way a homeowner would, directly from WSIB to us, confirming the contractor is in good standing.
WSIB clearance is a condition of being listed on the platform. If a contractor's coverage lapses, they are removed from active dispatch until it is reinstated and re-verified.
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