Contractor Credentials
In Ontario, most residential contractors do not need a licence. That makes insurance and verification the only real protection homeowners have.
Unlike electricians and plumbers, general renovation contractors in Ontario face no provincial licensing requirement. Here is what to check instead — and how to verify each one before work starts.
6 min read Ontario homeowners Updated 2026
The Ontario Reality
No licence does not mean no accountability — but it does mean verification is your job
A licensed trade in Ontario (electrician, plumber, gas fitter) operates under specific provincial oversight through the Ontario College of Trades or TSSA. General renovation contractors — decks, siding, painting, landscaping, basement finishing — do not require a provincial licence. This means the responsibility for verifying a contractor falls entirely on the homeowner. Here is the framework.
No
provincial licence required for most general renovation work in Ontario — verification is the homeowner's responsibility
$2M
minimum liability insurance threshold recommended for any residential project over $25,000
90 days
maximum age of a valid WSIB clearance certificate — older than this and you should request a new one
Verification Guide
What to verify, how to verify it, and how long it takes
What to verifyHow to verify itDifficulty
WSIB clearance certificateVisit wsib.ca — use the clearance certificate lookup with the contractor business name. Takes 2 minutes.Easy
Liability insuranceAsk for a Certificate of Insurance from the contractor. Call the insurer listed to confirm the policy is active and current.Moderate
HST/business registrationAsk for the business HST number. Verify at canada.ca/en/revenue-agency. Confirms they are a registered business.Easy
Trade-specific licencesElectrical: ESA registration at esasafe.com. Gas: TSSA credential at tssa.org. Plumbing: check their Ontario College of Trades number.Moderate
References and historySearch business name plus location on Google, BBB, and HomeStars. Request direct references from similar recent projects.Easy
"Asking a contractor for their certificate of insurance and WSIB clearance before hiring them is not unusual or insulting — it is exactly what any professional expects a careful homeowner to ask. The ones who resist are telling you something."
Verification Checklist
Check off each item before any deposit changes hands
WSIB clearance certificate confirmed at wsib.ca — dated within 90 days. For sole proprietors who are owner-operators, confirm their exempt status directly with WSIB if they cannot provide a certificate.
Certificate of liability insurance received — minimum $1M residential, $2M for projects over $25K. Confirm the policy number with the insurer directly if the project value is significant.
Business name and HST number provided. A registered business is traceable. If they operate cash-only with no HST number, that is a significant risk indicator.
Trade-specific credentials confirmed for licensed trades. If the project involves electrical, gas, or plumbing work, the sub-trades doing that work must hold the relevant Ontario licence.
At least one reference contacted from a similar recent project. A recent reference from a comparable project in your area is more useful than a list of names. Ask specifically about whether the project came in on budget and on schedule.
For projects requiring permits: Any project that requires a building permit (decks over 24 inches, additions, structural changes) should have the permit pulled before work starts. In Ontario, the homeowner is legally responsible if unpermitted work is done on their property — confirm with your contractor who is pulling the permit and ask to see it before work begins.
Credentials check out — but does the quote?
Contract Link verifies that quotes from licensed and insured Ontario contractors are also priced fairly, scoped completely, and structured to protect you.
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