Do roofers need a licence in Ontario?
Not as a trade. Skilled Trades Ontario classes Roofer (449A) as non-compulsory, so no Certificate of Qualification is needed to work legally, and roofers do not appear on its Public Register. The rules that do apply are about safety and insurance: a business in construction must carry WSIB coverage unless it does only home renovation work paid directly by the homeowner, and a worker who uses fall protection needs approved working at heights training.[1],[2],[3],[4],[5]
How to check
No public register lists roofers: because the trade is non-compulsory, they do not appear on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register. What you can check is WSIB standing. A clearance shows that a business is registered with the WSIB and current on its premiums and reporting, and it is valid for up to 90 days.[2],[6]
What Ontario's rules say
- Skilled Trades Ontario lists Roofer (449A) as a non-compulsory trade. Only compulsory trades require a person to be a registered apprentice or hold a Certificate of Qualification to work legally. Skilled Trades Ontario[1]
- Roofer is a non-compulsory trade in Ontario: Skilled Trades Ontario issues a Certificate of Qualification to someone who passes the certifying exam, but the certificate does not have to be renewed, and roofers do not appear on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register. Skilled Trades Ontario[2]
- People who own or run a business in construction, with or without employees, must have WSIB coverage and register with the WSIB, with some exceptions. A business has 10 calendar days from hiring its first employee to register. Workplace Safety and Insurance Board[3]
- The WSIB exempts individuals, partnerships and corporations that do only home renovation work and are hired and paid directly by the homeowner or resident. A home renovation business with employees must still register to insure them, and one non-renovation contract ends the exemption. Workplace Safety and Insurance Board[4]
- A WSIB clearance shows that a business, contractor or subcontractor is registered with the WSIB and up to date on its premium payments and reporting; only a business in good standing can get one, and it is valid for up to 90 days. Workplace Safety and Insurance Board[6]
- A worker on a construction project who must use fall protection, such as a fall arrest system, travel restraint or safety net, needs working at heights training approved by Ontario's Chief Prevention Officer before using it. The training is valid for 3 years, then needs a refresher. Government of Ontario[5]
- Ontario's labour ministry counts 224 critical injuries and 19 deaths from falls from heights in single-family residential construction from 2015 to 2023, and says it will keep focusing on fall hazards in residential construction and re-roofing. Government of Ontario[7]
- In Toronto, replacing existing roofing material does not need a building permit when no structural work is required, but a green roof or a rooftop storm water retention system does. City of Toronto[8]
- Renovators are not licensed or regulated by the Home Construction Regulatory Authority the way new home builders and sellers are. Home Construction Regulatory Authority[9]
Frequently asked questions
Does a roofer need a licence in Ontario?
No certificate is required to work in the trade. Roofer (449A) is non-compulsory, and only compulsory trades require a person to be a registered apprentice or a certificate holder. A roofer who passes the trade's certifying exam holds a Certificate of Qualification that never has to be renewed.[1],[2]
Does a roofing company need WSIB coverage?
The WSIB requires people who own or run a business in construction to have coverage, with or without employees. The exception is a business that does only home renovation work and is hired and paid directly by the homeowner or resident, and even then it must insure any employees it has.[3],[4]
Do roofers need working at heights training?
A worker on a construction project who must use fall protection, such as a fall arrest system or travel restraint, needs working at heights training approved by Ontario's Chief Prevention Officer first, and it is valid for 3 years. Ontario counts 224 critical injuries and 19 deaths from falls in single-family residential construction from 2015 to 2023.[5],[7]
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Toronto?
Not when no structural work is required: the City of Toronto lists replacing existing roofing material among the jobs that need no building permit. A green roof or a rooftop storm water retention system does need one.[8]
Is a roofing contractor licensed by the HCRA?
The Home Construction Regulatory Authority licenses and regulates builders and sellers of new homes. It says renovators are not licensed or regulated by it in the same way.[9]
Compare roofers in your city
Sources
- Skilled Trades Ontario, Apprenticeship programs quick facts chart (Updated June 2026). Accessed November 12, 2026.
- Skilled Trades Ontario, Roofer (trade information). Accessed November 12, 2026.
- Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, Expanded compulsory coverage in the construction industry (Updated March 24, 2026). Accessed November 12, 2026.
- Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, Questions and answers: Expanded compulsory coverage in construction (Updated July 20, 2026). Accessed November 12, 2026.
- Government of Ontario, Training for working at heights (Updated April 21, 2026). Accessed November 12, 2026.
- Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, Clearances (Updated May 5, 2026). Accessed November 12, 2026.
- Government of Ontario, Compliance campaign results: falls from heights in single family residential construction (Updated January 28, 2025). Accessed November 12, 2026.
- City of Toronto, When do I need a building permit? (Page modified July 21, 2026). Accessed November 12, 2026.
- Home Construction Regulatory Authority, Finding a renovator. 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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