To check a contractor in Ottawa before hiring, verify four things in writing: the trade licence (ESA ECRA/ESA number for electricians, TSSA registration for gas and HVAC fitters, a City of Ottawa business or trade licence where required), a certificate of general liability insurance of at least $2 million, a valid WSIB clearance certificate, and at least two recent local references you actually call. All four checks are free and most take under ten minutes online. In 2026, Ontario law still does not licence general contractors or renovators — only specific trades — so anyone can legally call t...
The single biggest misconception in Ottawa is that "licensed contractor" means one thing. It doesn't. Ontario licences specific trades, not general renovators. Electrical work must be performed by a contractor holding an ECRA/ESA licence issued by the Electrical Safety Authority — the seven-digit number must appear on their truck, quotes, and advertising, and you can look it up free on the ESA website. Gas fitting, HVAC, boilers, and fuel appliances fall under the Technical Standards and Safety ...
Separately from provincial trade licensing, the City of Ottawa licenses certain business categories under its Licensing By-law, and drain contractors and some specialty trades require a municipal licence. If a contractor is doing work in the City right-of-way or tying into City services, ask which m...
Never accept a verbal "yes, we're fully insured." Ask for a Certificate of Insurance issued directly by the contractor's insurance broker, showing general liability coverage — $2 million is the standard expectation for residential renovation work in Ottawa in 2026, and larger structural or multi-trade jobs often carry $5 million. Check the policy expiry date and confirm the named insured matches the legal business name on your quote, not a similar-sounding numbered company. Then request a WSIB C...
A licence and insurance certificate tell you the contractor is legitimate today; references tell you whether they finish work. Search the business name on the Ontario Business Registry to confirm the corporation or sole proprietorship actually exists and see how long it has been registered — a company incorporated three months ago running a large ad budget deserves extra scrutiny. Check the Better Business Bureau and the Ontario Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery's Consumer Beware ...
Photos can be borrowed from anywhere online. A confident Ottawa contractor will usually arrange for you to see a completed project in person or connect you with a homeowner in Barrhaven, Kanata, Orléans, or the Glebe who will speak candidly about the experience.
Certain behaviours reliably predict trouble. Walk away from any contractor who demands a large cash deposit — deposits above roughly 10–15% of the contract value are unusual in Ottawa residential work, and cash-only requests avoid a paper trail. Be equally wary of a quote that is dramatically below the other bids, since it usually signals missing scope, unlicensed subcontractors, or a plan to recover margin through change orders. Other warning signs: a bid that arrives as a single lump-sum numbe...
Every renovation over a few hundred dollars in Ottawa should have a written contract, and it should be specific enough that a stranger could read it and know exactly what you're buying. At minimum it must include the contractor's legal business name, address, phone, and HST number; a detailed scope of work with materials named by brand, model, and grade; the total price with HST shown separately; a payment schedule tied to completed milestones rather than dates; start and substantial-completion ...
If your project needs a City of Ottawa building permit, the permit itself is a verification tool: the City's inspections independently confirm framing, electrical, plumbing, and structural work meets the Ontario Building Code. A contractor who wants to skip permits is asking you to give up that free...
Run this before any deposit changes hands. One: ask which provincial licence the trade requires and get the number in writing — then verify the ECRA/ESA number on the Electrical Safety Authority site or the contractor registration with TSSA. Two: request a Certificate of Insurance emailed directly from the broker showing at least $2 million in general liability, and check the expiry date. Three: verify a current WSIB clearance certificate online using the legal business name. Four: look up the b...
Verify their trade licence (ESA for electrical, TSSA for gas and HVAC, City of Ottawa licence where required), request a Certificate of Insurance showing at least $2 million general liability, confirm a current WSIB clearance certificate, look up the business on the Ontario Business Registry and the Consumer Beware List, and call two recent local references. All of these checks are free.
It depends on the trade. Electricians must hold an ECRA/ESA licence you can verify free on the Electrical Safety Authority website, and gas or HVAC contractors must be registered with TSSA with certified G1/G2/G3 technicians. General contractors, renovators, deck builders, painters, and landscapers are not licensed in Ontario, so for those trades you verify business registration, insurance, and WSIB instead.
Ask for a WSIB Clearance Certificate and verify it yourself through WSIB's free online clearance service using the contractor's legal business name or account number. A valid clearance means their premiums are current and protects you from liability if a worker is injured on your property.
Two million dollars in general liability coverage is the standard expectation for residential renovation work in Ottawa in 2026, and $5 million is common on larger structural or multi-trade projects. Get the certificate from the broker, confirm the named insured matches the business on your quote, and check the expiry date.
Large cash-only deposits, quotes far below every other bid, lump-sum pricing with no breakdown, pressure to sign immediately, offers to skip the permit or avoid HST, no written contract, no fixed business address, and refusal to provide licence, insurance, or WSIB documentation. Door-to-door solicitation after a storm is another common warning sign.