Hiring Tips · 7 min read · 2025-04-01
Before hiring any contractor in Ontario, you must verify their insurance, WSIB, and credentials. This step-by-step guide shows you exactly how.
Ontario does not have a general contractor licence — meaning anyone can call themselves a contractor. This makes verification even more critical. Without a licensing body, it falls on you to confirm the person working on your home is legitimate, insured, and qualified.
CGL insurance protects you if the contractor damages your property or if someone is injured due to their work. Require a minimum of $2 million in coverage.
How to verify: Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI). Call the insurance company directly to confirm the policy is active. A legitimate contractor will provide this without hesitation.
WSIB coverage protects you from liability if a worker is injured on your property. Contractors with employees in construction are required to have WSIB coverage.
How to verify: Ask for a WSIB Clearance Certificate. You can also verify through the WSIB website using their company name or account number.
Every legitimate contractor should have a registered business. This provides legal accountability and recourse if something goes wrong.
How to verify: Search the Ontario Business Registry. If they charge over $30,000/year, they must be GST/HST registered — verify through the CRA registry.
Credentials confirm legitimacy; references confirm quality. Ask for 3–5 references from similar projects completed within the last 12 months. Check Google, HomeStars, and Facebook reviews for patterns.
If a contractor hesitates or refuses to provide insurance certificates, WSIB clearance, or business registration — do not hire them, regardless of price.
SimplifyReno eliminates this entire process. Every contractor on our platform has been personally vetted — insurance, WSIB, business registration, and trade credentials verified before they access a single project. Download free on iOS and Android.