Permits & inspections · the paper trail
The permit is the point, not the paperwork
Every quote we write shows the ESA notification as its own line item, because that inspection is your proof — at claim time, at resale, and the day someone opens the wall. Here's how the process works in Ontario, step by step.
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01
We file the notification before work starts
In Ontario, electrical work is filed with the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) as a 'notification' — what most people call the permit. Licensed Electrical Contractors file it under their own licence number. You'll see the filing confirmation, and its cost is a printed line on your quote.
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The work is done to the current code
The Ontario Electrical Safety Code (based on the Canadian Electrical Code) sets the standard — conductor sizing, GFCI/AFCI protection, box fill, terminations. 'It worked fine before' is not a code chapter.
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03
An ESA inspector reviews the work
Depending on the job, that's a site visit or a documented review. Renovation rough-ins are inspected before insulation hides them; panel changes are checked before and after energization. We schedule it, attend it, and fix anything flagged at our cost — that's what the licence is for.
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04
You get the Certificate of Acceptance
The certificate is the paper trail proving the work was inspected. Keep it with the house documents — your insurer may ask for it, and the next buyer's lawyer definitely will.
The one red flag
"We can skip the permit and save you a few hundred bucks"
Whoever says it is offering to trade your insurance coverage and resale position for their convenience. The same goes for "just pull the homeowner permit yourself" on work a contractor is doing. A licensed contractor files under their own licence — that's what the licence is for. Decline politely, then call someone who files.
Common questions
Permits, plainly answered
Who's allowed to do electrical work in Ontario?
A Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC) — or a homeowner doing work in their own home under their own notification. What's never legal: an unlicensed 'guy who does electrical' working for pay. If a contractor suggests you pull the homeowner permit for their work, that's them transferring the liability to you. Decline.
What does the permit cost?
It varies by job scope — roughly $85 for small device work up to $400+ for a full rewire's multiple inspections. Whatever it is, it appears as its own line on our quotes. A quote with no permit line item for permit-required work is missing a cost you'll pay one way or another.
Does every job need one?
No — like-for-like swaps of a light fixture or a receptacle generally don't. New circuits, panel work, chargers, and renovation wiring do. We'll tell you which side of the line your job falls on, and if it needs one, filing it is not optional with us.
What happens to unpermitted work?
It surfaces — at sale, at claim time, or at the renovation that opens the wall. Insurers can deny claims tied to uninspected work, and buyers' inspectors flag it routinely. Retroactive inspections exist and we handle them, but it's always cheaper to file first.
This page describes the Ontario process in general terms for a fictional demonstration business — always confirm current requirements with the ESA and your municipality.
Planned work · no sirens
Work that comes with its certificate
Book a site visit and the quote you get will show the ESA line item — filed by us, inspected, and closed out with the paper your insurer wants.
Prefer a person? (905) 555-0177 — Sam answers weekdays 7:30–4:30.