How to Check If a Contractor or Plumber Is Licensed in Ontario
Check a contractor, plumber, electrician, or new-home builder in Ontario: STO register, HCRA and Tarion directory, Toronto licence, ESA, WSIB, red flags.
Contractor Licence Cost in Ontario: What You Actually Pay (2026)
Ontario has no general contractor licence. Here's what you actually pay: Toronto's building renovator licence, trade certification fees, ESA electrical contractor licence, and HCRA new-home builder fees.
Applies in: Ontario
The short answer
Searching for the "cost of a contractor licence in Ontario" is the right instinct with the wrong target. Ontario does not issue a general contractor licence — no provincial credential exists for general contracting, and none of the sources that track this (the province's own guides, the insurers, the regulators) describe one. That is the most expensive misconception in this space: people either pay for a credential that doesn't exist or start work without the credentials that do.
What you actually pay for depends on what you do:
| What you do | Licence you actually need | Who issues it | What it costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renovations in Toronto | Building Renovator licence | City of Toronto | ~$234.62 to apply, $79.65 exam, $260.50 licence, $293.14 renewal |
| Compulsory trade work (plumbing, electrical, gas, refrigeration) | Certificate of Qualification | Skilled Trades Ontario | First exam attempt free (completed apprentices); $150 + HST per retry; $60 + HST/yr |
| Electrical contracting business | Electrical Contractor licence + designated Master Electrician | Electrical Safety Authority (ECRA) | $448/yr + HST (EC); $164 exam + $91/yr (ME) |
| Building or selling new homes | Builder/Vendor licence | HCRA | $3,525 new ($880 umbrella); $715/yr renewal; $170/home + HST |
| General contracting outside Toronto | No licence | — | $0 (but see business registration below) |
Working in British Columbia instead? BC is the opposite of Ontario: BC Housing's residential builder licence is a real provincial requirement ($600 to apply). See our BC contractor licence guide.
Municipal licences: the Toronto renovator licence
Ontario's licensing for renovators lives at the municipal level, and the cities don't coordinate. Toronto is the heavyweight:
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apply | $234.62 | Plus a criminal record check |
| Exam | $79.65 | Oral exam, about 30 minutes, covering business practice, bylaw knowledge, and technical competency — the only competency screen that applies to general renovators of existing homes in Ontario |
| Licence | $260.50 | — |
| Renewal | $293.14 | — |
The licence is required for every business that repairs or renovates buildings in Toronto, including any business that merely advertises renovation services. If your flyers or website say you do renovations and you work in Toronto without this licence, you're offside.
Other municipalities vary — Mississauga, Hamilton, Ottawa, and others each run their own business-licensing schemes with their own fee schedules. There is no province-wide shortcut: check the rules in every municipality you plan to work in. Budget roughly $200–$2,000+ per municipality depending on the business category.
Compulsory trades: Skilled Trades Ontario fees
If you (or your employees) do hands-on work in a compulsory trade, the individual tradesperson must be registered with Skilled Trades Ontario as an apprentice or hold a Certificate of Qualification. Compulsory trades include electricians, plumbers, gas technicians, and refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics. Voluntary trades — painting, cabinet making, roofing — don't require certification, though Red Seal endorsement is available and valued.
The actual costs:
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certifying exam | Free first attempt | For completed Ontario apprentices on or after January 1, 2025 — the waiver is automatic, no application needed. Take it soon after your program while the material is fresh |
| Exam retakes | $150 plus HST each | With a 30-day mandatory waiting period between attempts |
| Certificate of Qualification renewal | $60 plus HST every year | Journeypersons in compulsory trades must renew annually to stay on the public register — let it lapse and you drop off the register employers and inspectors check |
| Trade Equivalency Assessment | $265.55 (HST included) | The route for experienced tradespeople or those with out-of-province credentials to get assessed without a full apprenticeship |
Electrical contracting: the ESA licence
Electrical work in Ontario is regulated separately under the Electricity Act (ECRA), and this is one licence that genuinely covers the whole province:
| Fee | Amount (2026 fee schedule, effective April 1, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Electrical Contractor (EC) licence | $448 a year plus HST; late renewal $29; reinstatement $28 |
| Master Electrician exam | $164 (the business must designate at least one Master Electrician responsible for compliance) |
| Master Electrician licence | $91 a year |
| Required insurance | At least $2 million in public liability and property damage insurance (Ontario Regulation 570/05) |
| Coverage | Valid throughout Ontario — no separate licence is required in each municipality |
One rule catches general contractors out: you may only subcontract electrical work to another ECRA/ESA-licensed electrical contractor, and only licensed electrical contractors may advertise that they do electrical work. If you're a general contractor, your ads must state that you use ECRA/ESA-licensed electrical contractors for electrical work.
New home builders: HCRA fees
The Home Construction Regulatory Authority licenses builders and vendors of new homes — not renovators. Renovations or upgrades to an existing home typically don't make the home "new," so this licence is irrelevant for a renovation contractor. But if you build or sell new homes, the fees are the steepest in the sector:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| New standalone licence | $3,525 one-time (applicants with no prior licensing history) |
| New umbrella licence | $880 (tied to related companies sharing a principal, director, or officer) |
| Annual renewal | $715 every year; late renewal adds $705 on top |
| Regulatory oversight fee | $170 per home enrolled in the Tarion warranty program, plus HST |
These fees support HCRA's licensing, compliance, and enforcement work — the authority is not government-funded. Fees are paid through the HCRA Builder Portal, and must be paid within 10 business days of submission or the application is withdrawn.
Tarion enrolment and home warranty insurance are separate costs on top of these fees.
The baseline costs everyone pays
Beyond licences, every contracting business in Ontario has a short list of unavoidable costs:
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Business name registration | $60 online, valid for five years, through the Ontario Business Registry (required if you operate under any name other than your own legal name — this is name registration, not a licence to do the work) |
| CRA business number | Free |
| WSIB registration and clearance certificates | Free to register; clearances are issued at no charge, but most newly registered businesses needing a clearance at registration make a $250 advance payment, credited against future premiums. Premiums are charged as a percentage of payroll by classification rate group — construction rates are high, so factor this into your overhead before you quote |
| Liability insurance | Not a government fee, but $2 million in general liability is the minimum most contracts and the electrical licensing regulation require; premiums vary by trade, revenue, and claims history |
The numbers worth knowing
- Cost of Ontario's general contractor licence: doesn't exist — budget $0, and budget instead for what's below
- Toronto building renovator licence: $234.62 + $79.65 exam + $260.50 (renewal $293.14)
- STO certifying exam: free first attempt (post-2025 apprentices), then $150 + HST
- STO Certificate of Qualification renewal: $60 + HST per year
- ESA Electrical Contractor licence: $448/yr + HST (Master Electrician exam $164)
- HCRA new home builder licence: $3,525 new, $715/yr renewal, $170/home oversight
- Master Business Licence: $60 for five years
Related guides
- How to Get a Contractor Licence in Ontario: the companion process guide — the step-by-step application for each licence above (Toronto renovator exam, ESA licensing, HCRA builder licence, TSSA fuels registration).
- How to Get a Contractor Licence in BC: BC Housing's residential builder licence — the provincial credential Ontario doesn't have ($600 to apply).
- How to Start a Handyman Business in Ontario: the business setup around the licences above, including the Toronto renovator licence and WSIB.
- How to register a sole proprietorship and get a GST/HST number in Canada: the Master Business Licence, CRA business number, and tax paperwork behind any new contracting company.
- Sole prop or incorporated? Take the 5-question quiz — the business structure that sits behind every licence on this page.
Contractor licence costs in Ontario (2026), by licence you actually need
| Toronto Building Renovator licence, application | $234.62 |
|---|---|
| Toronto Building Renovator licence, exam | $79.65 |
| Toronto Building Renovator licence, licence fee | $260.50 |
| Toronto Building Renovator licence, renewal | $293.14 |
| Skilled Trades Ontario Certificate of Qualification renewal, per year | $60 + HST |
| ESA Electrical Contractor licence, per year | $448 + HST |
| HCRA new home builder licence, new standalone | $3,525 |
| HCRA new home builder licence, annual renewal | $715 |
Prices in Canadian dollars. Ontario has no general contractor licence; these are the licence fees that apply by work type, from the tables on this page. The Skilled Trades Ontario certifying exam is free on the first attempt for completed Ontario apprentices, then $150 plus HST per retake.
Questions people ask
Is there a general contractor licence in Ontario?
No. Ontario does not issue a single provincial 'general contractor licence.' Whether you need any licence at all depends on the work you do, the municipality you work in, whether you build new homes, and whether compulsory trades are involved. General contracting itself — coordinating and managing renovation work — is not a licensed trade.
How much is the City of Toronto building renovator licence?
The City of Toronto's published fees break down as $234.62 to apply, $79.65 for the exam, $260.50 for the licence itself, and $293.14 to renew. Applicants need a criminal record check and must pass an exam covering business practice, bylaw knowledge, and technical competency. The licence is required for every business that repairs or renovates buildings in Toronto, including businesses that advertise renovation services.
Do I need an HCRA licence for renovations in Ontario?
No. The Home Construction Regulatory Authority licenses builders and vendors of new homes. Renovations or upgrades to an existing home typically do not make the home 'new,' so a pure renovator does not need an HCRA licence. HCRA fees only apply if you build or sell new homes: $3,525 for a new standalone licence, $715 a year to renew, plus a $170 regulatory oversight fee per home enrolled in the warranty program.
What does an electrical contractor licence cost in Ontario?
An Electrical Contractor licence from the Electrical Safety Authority costs $448 a year plus HST under the 2026 fee schedule. The business must designate a Master Electrician (exam fee $164, annual licence $91) and carry at least $2 million in public liability and property damage insurance. The licence is valid province-wide — no separate municipal licence is needed for electrical work.
How much does a trade licence exam cost in Ontario?
For Skilled Trades Ontario compulsory trades, completed Ontario apprentices can take their first certifying exam attempt free under the fee waiver introduced for apprentices completing programs on or after January 1, 2025. Each additional attempt costs $150 plus HST. The Certificate of Qualification renews annually at $60 plus HST for journeypersons in compulsory trades. The Trade Equivalency Assessment for experienced out-of-province tradespeople is $265.55 including HST.
Do painters or roofers need a contractor licence in Ontario?
No. Painting, cabinet making, and roofing are voluntary trades in Ontario — certification exists but is not legally required to do the work. Only compulsory trades (including electricians, plumbers, gas technicians, and refrigeration mechanics) legally require a Certificate of Qualification or registered apprenticeship to work.
What does WSIB cost a contractor in Ontario?
Registering with WSIB is free, and clearances are issued at no charge — but most newly registered businesses that need a clearance at registration make a $250 advance payment, credited to their account against future premiums. The actual cost is the insurance premium, which is calculated as a percentage of your payroll (and assessable contractor payments) based on your classification rate group. Construction rates are among the highest, so get the quote from WSIB before pricing jobs — it can move your overhead rate materially.
Sources
- City of Toronto, Building Renovators — Toronto renovator fees ($234.62 application, $260.50 licence, $79.65 exam, $293.14 renewal), oral 30-minute exam, criminal record check (page modified October 1, 2026)
- Skilled Trades Ontario, Provisional Certificate of Qualification — first-exam fee waiver for apprentices completing on or after January 1, 2025, $150 + HST per retake, 30-day waiting period between attempts
- Skilled Trades Ontario, Certificate of Qualification — $60 + HST annual renewal for journeypersons in compulsory trades
- Skilled Trades Ontario, Trade Qualifier Application Guide — Trade Equivalency Assessment fee $265.55 (HST included)
- Electrical Safety Authority, 2026 Licensing Fees — Electrical Contractor licence $448 a year, Master Electrician exam $164, Master Electrician licence $91 a year, late fee $29, reinstatement $28 (effective April 1, 2026)
- Home Construction Regulatory Authority, Licensing Fees — new standalone licence $3,525, umbrella $880, renewal $715, late renewal $705, regulatory oversight fee $170 per home plus HST
- Home Construction Regulatory Authority, Apply or Renew a Home Builder Licence — fees paid through the Builder Portal; application terminated/withdrawn if payment is not received within 10 business days
- Ontario.ca, Cost and time required to register, change or search for a business name, corporation or not-for-profit — business-name registration $60 online (immediate) or by mail (15 business days), five-year term (fee chart updated September 29, 2026)
- WSIB, Questions and answers: Registration — registration is free; clearances at no charge; most newly registered businesses needing a clearance at registration make a $250 advance payment credited against future premiums
Fees are set by the regulators and municipalities named above and change over time. Verify current figures at the sources linked before budgeting or applying.