Does a bathroom renovator need a licence in Ontario?
The renovator, no; the plumbing and electrical, yes. Renovators are not licensed the way new home builders and sellers are through the Home Construction Regulatory Authority. But plumber is a compulsory trade: whoever does the plumbing must hold a Certificate of Qualification, a provisional certificate or a registered training agreement and appear on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register. Anyone you hire for electrical work must be a Licensed Electrical Contractor.[1],[2],[3]
How to check
Search the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register by name or Skilled Trades Ontario ID to confirm the plumber on your job can legally work in the trade. For the renovation company, search Ontario's Consumer Beware List.[4],[5]
What Ontario's rules say
- Renovators are not licensed or regulated by the Home Construction Regulatory Authority the way new home builders and sellers are. Home Construction Regulatory Authority[1]
- Plumber is a compulsory trade in Ontario: to work legally, a plumber must hold a Certificate of Qualification, a Provisional Certificate of Qualification or a registered training agreement, and must appear on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register. Skilled Trades Ontario[2]
- Search the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register by name or Skilled Trades Ontario ID to confirm a plumber can legally work in the trade. Skilled Trades Ontario[4]
- By law, anyone you hire to do electrical work in your home in Ontario must be a Licensed Electrical Contractor, and the contractor files the notification and requests ESA's inspection. Electrical Safety Authority[3]
- In Toronto, installing or modifying a plumbing system, or installing a backwater valve, needs a building permit. City of Toronto[6]
- Before you hire, search Ontario's Consumer Beware List: the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery lists businesses that did not answer it after 2 notifications about a consumer complaint, or that have been charged or convicted in relation to the Consumer Protection Act or other acts of the ministry. A business stays on the list for 21 to 27 months. Government of Ontario[5]
Frequently asked questions
Does a bathroom renovator need a licence in Ontario?
Not from the Home Construction Regulatory Authority, which licenses and regulates new home builders and sellers but not renovators. The plumbing and electrical trades on the job are another matter.[1]
Does a licensed plumber have to do the bathroom plumbing?
Plumber is a compulsory trade, so practising it legally in Ontario takes a Certificate of Qualification, a Provisional Certificate of Qualification or a registered training agreement, and a listing on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register.[2]
Who can do the electrical work in a bathroom renovation?
A Licensed Electrical Contractor. Ontario law requires anyone you hire for electrical work in your home to be one; the contractor files the notification of work and requests the inspection.[3]
Does a bathroom renovation need a permit in Toronto?
Installing or modifying a plumbing system is on the City of Toronto's list of projects that need a building permit.[6]
How do I check the plumber on my bathroom job?
Search the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register with all or part of their first or last name, or their Skilled Trades Ontario ID or account number, to confirm they can legally work in the trade.[4]
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Sources
- Home Construction Regulatory Authority, Finding a renovator. Accessed October 19, 2026.
- Skilled Trades Ontario, Plumber (trade information). Accessed October 19, 2026.
- Electrical Safety Authority, Notifications and inspections. Accessed October 19, 2026.
- Skilled Trades Ontario, Public Register. Accessed October 19, 2026.
- Government of Ontario, Search the Consumer Beware List (Updated September 25, 2024). Accessed October 25, 2026.
- City of Toronto, When do I need a building permit? (Page modified July 21, 2026). Accessed October 19, 2026.
This guide restates what each source says; it is not legal advice. Rules change — the linked source is the authority.
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