How to hire a licensed
contractor in Ontario
Every year, GTA homeowners lose thousands of dollars to unlicensed contractors — unpermitted work, abandoned projects, and damage that voids insurance claims. This guide walks you through exactly what to check before anyone picks up a tool in your home.
The 5-step checklist
- 1Verify the trade licence directly with the provincial authority (ESA, TSSA, or OCOT)
- 2Request a current WSIB Clearance Certificate
- 3Review the Certificate of Insurance — minimum $2M liability, you as additional insured
- 4Get a detailed written quote covering scope, timeline, price, HST, and permits
- 5Confirm the contractor will pull all required permits before work begins
Verify the trade licence directly
Ontario regulates most trades through provincial authorities. Before any contractor touches your home, look up their licence directly — not just by asking them for the number.
Where to verify — by trade
ESA — Electrical Safety Authority
Electricians
TSSA — Technical Standards & Safety Authority
HVAC, gas fitters, plumbers (gas)
OCOT — Ontario College of Trades
Plumbers, carpenters, other regulated trades
Enter the contractor's licence number or business name. Confirm the licence is active — not expired, suspended, or cancelled. If a contractor is reluctant to provide their licence number, walk away.
Request a WSIB Clearance Certificate
WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) covers workers if they are injured on the job. Here's the part many homeowners don't know: if a contractor doesn't have WSIB coverage and a worker is hurt at your home, you could be personally liable.
Ask the contractor to provide a Clearance Certificate — a document issued by wsib.ca confirming their account is in good standing. You can also verify it yourself on the WSIB website at wsib.ca using their business name or registration number.
Clearance Certificates expire, so request one dated within the last 30 days. For sole proprietors doing very small jobs, some exemptions apply — but any contractor doing significant renovation work should carry WSIB.
Verify liability insurance
Every contractor doing work inside or on your home should carry general liability insurance. This protects you if they accidentally damage your property, a neighbour's property, or cause personal injury.
Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming you as an Additional Insured for the duration of the project. A minimum of $2,000,000 general liability coverage is standard for licensed trades in Ontario.
If a contractor says “don't worry about it” or can't produce a COI within 24 hours of request — that's a serious red flag. Legitimate contractors have this documentation readily available.
Get a detailed written quote
Never hire based on a verbal estimate. A written quote creates a clear record of what was agreed and protects both parties if a dispute arises.
A legitimate written quote includes:
- ✓Contractor's full legal name, business name, and contact information
- ✓Trade licence number and issuing authority
- ✓Full scope of work — what exactly will be done and what is excluded
- ✓Materials to be used (brand, grade, specifications)
- ✓Project start and estimated completion date
- ✓Total price broken out by labour and materials, HST applied separately
- ✓Payment schedule (avoid paying more than 10% upfront)
- ✓Who is responsible for pulling and paying for permits
Get at least two or three quotes for jobs over $2,000. A quote dramatically lower than all others is not a deal — it's a warning sign.
Confirm permits will be pulled
In Ontario, permits are legally required for electrical work, gas line work, plumbing rough-ins, HVAC system replacements, and structural changes. Permits exist to protect you: they ensure the work is inspected and meets Ontario Building Code standards.
Only licensed contractors can pull permits. If a contractor says they can do the work without permits to “save you money,” they are either unlicensed or asking you to break the law — often both.
Permit costs should be in your quote
Electrical, gas, and plumbing permits in Ontario typically cost $100 – $400depending on the municipality and scope of work. This cost is the contractor's responsibility to itemise in the written quote — you should not be surprised by it after the fact.
7 red flags — walk away immediately
If you notice any of these during the hiring process, stop.
Cash only
Legitimate businesses accept e-transfer and cheque and provide receipts for all payments.
No licence number provided
Any regulated trade contractor should quote their licence number without hesitation. Vague answers are a clear sign.
Pressure to start immediately
"I have a cancellation tomorrow — but you need to pay a deposit today." Urgency designed to stop you from doing due diligence.
Suggests skipping permits
"We can do it without a permit to save you money." This is illegal, voids your insurance, and creates problems when you sell your home.
No fixed business address
A sole proprietor operating from a phone number only with no verifiable address is harder to hold accountable if something goes wrong.
Reluctant to provide references or reviews
Any contractor with a track record of quality work is proud to share references from past customers.
Quote dramatically lower than all others
A quote 40–50% below market rate almost always means inferior materials, unlicensed labour, no permits, or work that stops mid-project when more money is demanded.
The shortcut
We check all of this
before they get a lead.
Every contractor on VerifiedPros has their trade licence confirmed directly with ESA, TSSA, or OCOT — plus WSIB clearance and insurance reviewed — before they ever see a homeowner's job. You don't have to do any of the above manually.
Free for homeowners. No credit card needed. Matched with one verified contractor, dispatched as soon as you post.
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FAQ
Common questions
How do I look up a contractor's licence in Ontario?
Go directly to the issuing authority's website: esa.on.ca for electricians, tssa.ca for HVAC and gas fitters, ocot.ca for other regulated trades. Enter the licence number or business name and confirm the status shows "active."
Is it illegal to hire an unlicensed contractor in Ontario?
For regulated trades — electrical, HVAC, gas, and plumbing — it is illegal under the Electricity Act, Technical Standards and Safety Act, and other provincial regulations to have work performed by an unlicensed contractor. You may also be unable to claim insurance for damage caused by unpermitted work, and the issue can complicate selling your home.
What is WSIB and why does it matter when hiring a contractor?
WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) covers workers injured on the job. If a contractor does not have WSIB coverage and a worker is injured at your home, you as the homeowner could be held personally liable for their medical costs and lost wages. Always request a WSIB Clearance Certificate, which you can verify at wsib.ca.
What should a legitimate contractor quote include?
A proper written quote includes: the contractor's full name and business name, their trade licence number, the complete scope of work (and what is not included), materials with specifications, project timeline, total price with HST broken out, payment schedule, and who is responsible for pulling and paying for permits.
Do all renovation jobs require permits in Ontario?
No, but many do. Electrical work (including EV charger installation and panel upgrades), gas line work, plumbing rough-ins, HVAC system replacements, and structural changes all require permits. Cosmetic work like painting, flooring, and cabinet replacement generally does not. When in doubt, contact your local municipality before work begins.
How does VerifiedPros verify contractors?
VerifiedPros checks each contractor's trade licence directly with the issuing Ontario authority — ESA for electricians, TSSA for HVAC and gas technicians, OCOT for other regulated trades — before they can receive any job leads. We also verify WSIB clearance and review their Certificate of Insurance. Contractors must maintain active status to remain on the platform.
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