Do You Need an ESA Permit? A Homeowner's Guide to Electrical Work in Ontario

Most electrical work in an Ontario home needs a notification of work, usually called a permit, filed with the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). Who files it, and who is allowed to do the work at all, depends on whether you hire someone or do it yourself. Here is what the rules say, in plain terms.

Almost all electrical work needs a notification

ESA says the Ontario Electrical Safety Code requires almost all electrical work to be reported to ESA by filing a notification of work before the work starts. That includes small jobs: ESA specifically mentions pot lights. The notification creates a permanent record of the work and triggers ESA’s review.

A few points that catch people out:

• It is not a building permit. ESA says having a building permit is not the same as filing an electrical notification, and you may need both.
• The person doing the work files it. If you hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC), they file it. If you do the work yourself, you file it. ESA says never take out a notification on behalf of someone else.
• There is a narrow exception. ESA says you may not need a notification if you own and live in an owner-occupied single-family home, can legally do electrical work there, and are replacing certain light fixtures and switches. ESA asks you to call 1-877-ESA-SAFE (372-7233) to confirm whether your job qualifies.

If you hire someone, it must be a Licensed Electrical Contractor

Ontario’s licensing rules sit under the Electricity Act, 1998 in O. Reg. 570/05, which says no person shall operate an electrical contracting business without an electrical contractor licence. ESA puts it simply: if you hire someone to do electrical work in your home, by law it must be an LEC.

That rules out some people you might expect to be fine:

• Master Electricians and certified electricians cannot be hired directly. ESA explains that they work for Licensed Electrical Contracting businesses.
• Handymen and general contractors cannot do electrical work unless they hold an ECRA/ESA licence. If a general contractor runs your renovation, ESA says to make sure they hire an LEC and that the electrical work gets its own permit.

The regulation also sets requirements a business must meet to get a licence. These include being, or employing and designating, a Master Electrician, and carrying at least $2,000,000 in public liability and property damage insurance. A contractor must show its licence number in correspondence, contracts and advertising and on business vehicles.

How to check a contractor’s licence

Ask for the 7-digit ECRA/ESA licence number, then look it up on ESA’s Contractor Locator Tool at licensing.esasafe.com (some ESA pages call it the Find a Contractor tool). You do not need an account. You can search by business name, licence number or phone number, and filter for a valid licence and residential work. A contractor’s profile shows the licence type and status, and the tool also shows compliance actions such as licence conditions, convictions and administrative penalties. ESA’s own FAQ says that if a contractor does not appear, they are not licensed.

You are welcome to check ours: Borealis Electric is ECRA/ESA licence 7017294.

ESA also lists red flags, including a contractor who:

• asks you to take out the notification yourself
• has no ECRA/ESA licence number on their vehicle or estimate
• offers a cash discount or will not give a receipt
• says you do not need to involve your local utility to change your panel or upgrade your service (see our panel upgrade guide)
• says, “If anyone asks, tell them you did the work yourself.”

Doing it yourself: what ESA allows

O. Reg. 570/05 does not apply to work on electrical equipment or installations within a residential dwelling when it is done by an owner or occupant of that dwelling. ESA’s DIY guidance attaches conditions:

• Only you can do the work. Friends, family members and neighbours cannot.
• Tenants may do electrical work in their rental, but ESA says to check with your property manager first.
• File a notification before you start, even for little jobs. ESA says fees vary with the job, but for many small residential projects they can be less than $100. You file by downloading a form or calling ESA; notification forms cannot be submitted directly through ESA’s website.
• Follow the current Ontario Electrical Safety Code. ESA says it is updated every three years, and the newest edition took effect on May 1, 2025.
• Do not cover the work before ESA has reviewed it.

ESA also says residential notifications are valid for 12 months. If no inspections happen in that time, the notification expires and ESA refunds the inspection fees less a processing fee.

ESA’s own advice is to consider hiring an LEC, and we agree. Electrical mistakes can cause fires and shocks.

What the inspection means

ESA’s review can happen at several stages. A rough-in inspection is done once branch wiring and boxes are in, before insulation, vapour barrier or drywall hides them, which matters for any basement renovation. There can also be underground, service and final inspections. ESA decides which installations to inspect, and it may accept some without a site visit.

If the work does not comply, the inspector issues a defect notice listing the corrections needed. Once the work has been reviewed and passed, ESA issues a Certificate of Acceptance to whoever filed the notification. If your contractor filed it, ask for a copy, or call ESA.

You may also hear about a “general inspection.” ESA says its General Inspections are now done only for Fire Code compliance, which applies to multi-unit dwellings. If you need an existing home checked for insurance or a real estate deal, ESA points you to an Electrical System Safety Assessment done by an LEC. Any repairs it turns up need their own notification.

Why permits matter for insurance and resale

ESA calls the Certificate of Acceptance an important document for insurance purposes and resale. It also warns that if an insurance claim is linked to work done by an unlicensed electrician, the claim may be denied, and that if an unlicensed worker is hurt on the job, you may be responsible. Ask your insurer what they need to see for past and planned electrical work.

When you buy, ESA suggests having your lawyer request a Search of Records to find open notifications on the property (outstanding notifications to correct defects). ESA’s records go back to 2000, fees apply, and they cover work done with an ESA notification, so unpermitted work will not show up.

Whether it is a new circuit, an EV charger or a full renovation in Cambridge, Kitchener or Guelph, hiring a licensed contractor means the notification is filed for you and you get a copy of the Certificate of Acceptance at the end. See our residential services, or contact us for a free quote.