Hiring a contractor

What goes in the contract?Ontario

A written agreement is needed for any contract worth more than $50. The Province's guide for renovation and roofing businesses lists what a contract generally includes:

• The business's name, address and contact
• The work, the materials, an itemized list
• Warranties on goods and labour
• The total cost, with taxes
• Start and completion dates
• Any sub-trades, and who pays them
• A payment schedule and the deposit
• Who prepares and cleans up

The guide's own words

• “your name and your business name, business address and other contact information”
• “a fair and accurate description of the work that the customer is agreeing to have completed, including the materials to be used and an itemized list of products and services”
• “a clear description of any warranties on goods or the labour required to install them”
• “the total cost and terms of payment with all applicable taxes”
• “a work schedule, including start and completion dates”
• “any sub-trades that will be contracted out, who the sub-contractors are, and who will pay for those sub-trades”
• “a payment schedule, including the deposit amount (we recommend that deposits are not more than 10% of the total project cost)”
• “who is responsible for preparing the work area and cleaning up after the job is complete”

• Permits are the customer's responsibility, “but many contractors offer to do this for them.”

Government of Ontario: Guide to home renovation and roofing businesses (25 September 2024). Read 6 November 2026.

Can the bill go up?Ontario

When a contract includes an estimate, the business can't charge more than 10% above it:

Government of Ontario: Guide to home renovation and roofing businesses (25 September 2024). Read 6 November 2026.

Signed at home?Ontario

1. A written copyThe 10 days start the day you receive a written copy of the agreement.
2. 10 daysCancel without any reason.
3. 15 daysA renovation business refunds everything, deposits included, within 15 days of the notice.
4. One yearNo written contract, information missing, or a false or misleading statement: cancel within one year.

Government of Ontario: Door-to-door sales and home service contracts (19 June 2026) · Government of Ontario: Guide to home renovation and roofing businesses (25 September 2024). Read 6 November 2026.

Sold at the door?Ontario

These can't be offered or sold at your home unless you started it:

• Furnaces
• Air conditioners
• Air cleaners
• Air purifiers
• Water heaters
• Water treatment devices
• Water purifiers
• Water filters
• Water softeners
• Duct cleaning

If one is sold anyway

• The contract is void
• You keep the goods, without obligation
• No lien on title for consumer goods
• Photo ID, the person's and the business's names

The Province's own words

• “furnaces”
• “air conditioners”
• “air cleaners”
• “air purifiers”
• “water heaters”
• “water treatment devices”
• “water purifiers”
• “water filters”
• “water softeners”
• “duct cleaning services”
• “the contract will be considered void and you can keep the goods or services without obligation”
• “you can keep the goods or services without obligation”
• “The Act prohibits the registration of Notices of Security Interest (NOSIs) for consumer goods.”
• “ask for photo ID and get the name of the person and the business”

Government of Ontario: Door-to-door sales and home service contracts (19 June 2026). Read 6 November 2026.

Licensed?

Free registers that show who may do the work:

• OntarioPublic registerSkilled Trades Ontario

  Confirms that a skilled trades professional or apprentice can legally work in a compulsory trade.

• OntarioFind a ContractorElectrical Safety Authority

  A licensed electrical contractor files the notification of work with the ESA, which means a permit, and gives an ESA Certificate of Acceptance.

• OntarioRegistered fuels contractorsTSSA

  The only businesses legally authorized to do fuels related work in Ontario; the list is updated each month.

• OntarioWSIB clearanceWSIB

  Shows a business is registered and up to date with the WSIB. Not required when a home's resident or their family hires a contractor for repairs or renovations.

  Free, valid up to 90 days
• AlbertaPrepaid contracting licenceGovernment of Alberta

  For a business that sells at your home and takes money before the work is done; its salespeople carry an ID card with the licence number.

• QuebecCheck a contractor's licenceRégie du bâtiment du Québec

  The licence holder's register shows the licence classes and subclasses, the financial guarantee and any claims.

Skilled Trades Ontario: Public register · Electrical Safety Authority: Hiring a licensed electrical contractor · TSSA: Fuels contractors · WSIB: Clearance FAQs (20 July 2026) · Government of Alberta: Prepaid contracting licence · Régie du bâtiment du Québec: Check a contractor's licence. Read 6 November 2026.

Hiring movers?

• The Office of Consumer Affairs lists estimates “from at least three reputable movers”.
• It lists getting the costs, terms and conditions of the move in writing, and asking whether a deposit is refundable.
• And checking whether the mover is certified by the Canadian Association of Movers.

Office of Consumer Affairs, Government of Canada: Moving advice (4 April 2025). Read 6 November 2026.