{"generated":"2026-09-28","index":[{"type":"project","id":"build-a-deck","title":"Build a deck","url":"/project/build-a-deck/","blurb":"The one project where the legal step most people skip is free, and takes a phone call.","tier":"A","state":"current","keywords":["deck","patio","porch","footings","fence","digging","locate","one call","post holes","railing","ledger","pergola","gazebo"],"text":"Decks bring together three separate things homeowners tend to miss: a locate before you dig, a building permit that depends on height and size, and zoning setbacks that are a different question from the Building Code. The locate is free, required by law, and the step most often skipped — Ontario One Call exists precisely because people put fence posts and deck footings through buried gas and telecom lines every spring. Zoning and Building Code are two different approvals from the same building department, and a deck can satisfy one while failing the other. Ask about both by name. Who is calling Ontario One Call, and when? How deep are the footings going? Does this need a permit at this height and size? How is the ledger attached to the house, and how is it flashed? Are we within the zoning setbacks for this lot? Digging starts without a locate. Deck blocks on grade for a large or elevated structure. \"Permits are only for decks over a certain size, and yours is under.\"","referral":["general-contractor","designer-engineer"]},{"type":"project","id":"finish-a-basement","title":"Finish a basement","url":"/project/finish-a-basement/","blurb":"Framing, insulation, electrical, sometimes plumbing — and a set of requirements around egress and fire separation that catch people out.","tier":"A","state":"current","keywords":["basement","cellar","finish","finished basement","rec room","underpin","lower level","egress window","basement apartment","secondary suite","in-law suite","ceiling height"],"text":"Finishing a basement almost always engages the Building Code, even when no exterior walls change and nothing structural moves. The work involves framing, insulation and vapour control, electrical, often plumbing, and — depending on what the space becomes — requirements for escape windows and fire separation. A contractor telling you no permit is needed because \"we're not moving walls\" is making a claim your municipality is the one to confirm. The 2024 Ontario Building Code has been in force since 1 January 2025 and raised expectations in areas that bear directly on basement work — ventilation, and fire separation where a secondary suite is involved. If you are working from advice given before 2025, or from a contractor quoting practice from a few years ago, check it. Who is pulling the permit, and is the fee in your price? What is the finished ceiling height going to be, measured? Is there an escape window requirement for how we're using this space? What is your ECRA/ESA licence number, or who is your electrical subtrade? If this becomes a rental unit later, what changes? \"You don't need a permit for this.\" Suggests the permit go in your name rather than theirs. Cash discount for skipping the paperwork. No written contract for a five-figure job. Wants 50% up front.","referral":["general-contractor","designer-engineer","licensed-electrician"]},{"type":"project","id":"ev-charger","title":"Install an EV charger","url":"/project/ev-charger/","blurb":"A new circuit, an ESA notification, and a question about whether your panel can actually carry it.","tier":"A","state":"current","keywords":["ev charger","electric vehicle","level 2","tesla","charger","240v","car charger","load calculation","ev"],"text":"A level 2 EV charger is a new dedicated circuit, which means it is electrical work notified to the Electrical Safety Authority and inspected. The question that decides the price is not the charger — it is whether your existing electrical service has the capacity for it. On older Ontario homes with 100A service, the answer is often that a load calculation is needed first, and sometimes that a service upgrade comes with it. Charger rebate and utility programs change frequently and are not building law. Verify any incentive directly with the program or your utility rather than relying on an installer's summary. Did you do a load calculation on my service? Are you filing the ESA notification? Could a load management device avoid a service upgrade here? Where exactly is the cable running, and is any of it outside? \"No permit needed, it just plugs in.\" No load calculation mentioned on an older home. Quote is dramatically cheaper than others.","referral":["licensed-electrician"]},{"type":"project","id":"kitchen-renovation","title":"Renovate a kitchen","url":"/project/kitchen-renovation/","blurb":"Multiple trades, a long timeline, and the highest change-order risk of any common project.","tier":"A","state":"current","keywords":["kitchen","cabinets","countertop","range hood","backsplash","island","renovation","reno","change order","gas range","dishwasher"],"text":"A kitchen touches electrical, plumbing, ventilation, and often gas, over a schedule long enough that the price at the end frequently differs from the price at the start. The regulatory picture is less complicated than a basement, but the contractual picture is worse: this is the project where change orders, deposits, and payment schedules cause the most disputes. The single most valuable thing you can do before signing is agree in writing how a change gets priced and approved. If an estimate is included in your contract, the final price for all goods and services cannot be more than 10% over it unless you agreed to new work or a new price. That protection depends on the estimate being in the contract — not in an email, not in a conversation. How do change orders work, exactly? Is the range hood ducted to the outside? What is the cabinet lead time, and when do you order? Who is doing the plumbing and electrical, and are they licensed? Is the payment schedule tied to milestones or dates? Large deposit with no material order attached to it. No written change-order process. Payment schedule front-loaded well ahead of progress. No estimate written into the contract.","referral":["general-contractor","licensed-plumber","licensed-electrician"]},{"type":"project","id":"replace-furnace-or-ac","title":"Replace a furnace, AC, or heat pump","url":"/project/replace-furnace-or-ac/","blurb":"The one job where a homeowner has no DIY path at all, and where sizing matters more than brand.","tier":"A","state":"current","keywords":["furnace","air conditioner","ac","heat pump","hvac","boiler","heating","cooling","replace furnace","new furnace","ductwork","tssa","gas","high efficiency"],"text":"Heating and cooling replacement is the most common four-figure home decision in Ontario, and the one most often sold under time pressure — usually in January, usually when the old unit has just failed. Gas work is strictly regulated: it must be done by a TSSA-certified technician working for a registered contractor. There is no homeowner self-work path here, unlike electrical. The single biggest quality variable is not the brand on the box, it is whether anyone calculated what size your house actually needs. This category is heavily rebate-driven, and rebate programs change on their own schedule, independent of building law. Confirm any rebate directly with the program before you let it affect your decision — do not take the contractor's word for what is currently available. Did you do a heat loss calculation, and can I see it? What is the technician's TSSA certification? Is the existing venting being reused? What is the labour warranty, separate from the manufacturer's? What happens if this fails on the coldest night of the year? Unsolicited visit or call about your furnace, especially offering an inspection. Price only valid today. A rental or lease agreement presented as though it were a purchase. Quote with no model number. No mention of a heat loss calculation.","referral":["hvac-contractor","gas-technician"]},{"type":"project","id":"panel-or-service-upgrade","title":"Upgrade the electrical panel or service","url":"/project/panel-or-service-upgrade/","blurb":"Two different jobs that get quoted as one, at very different prices.","tier":"A","state":"current","keywords":["panel","electrical panel","service upgrade","100 amp","200 amp","breaker box","fuse box","knob and tube","aluminum wiring","mast","meter","amperage"],"text":"\"Panel upgrade\" and \"service upgrade\" are often used interchangeably and are not the same work. Replacing the panel changes the distribution equipment inside your house. Upgrading the service changes the capacity coming in from the utility — a larger mast, meter base, and utility coordination. The second is substantially more expensive and involves the local distribution company as well as the ESA. Getting a quote that does not say which one you are buying is the most common problem in this category. If your home still has knob-and-tube or aluminum branch wiring, that is an insurance conversation as well as an electrical one. Some insurers will not write a policy without remediation, and finding out during the work is worse than finding out before. Is this a panel change or a service upgrade? Say which. What is your ECRA/ESA licence number? Who coordinates with the utility, and how long is power off? What happens if you find knob-and-tube or aluminum behind the walls? Will I get documentation of the ESA inspection? No ESA notification, or an offer to skip it for a discount. Can't produce a licence number. Quote doesn't distinguish panel from service.","referral":["licensed-electrician"]},{"type":"system","id":"electrical","title":"Electrical","url":"/system/electrical/","blurb":"The one regulated system where Ontario does let you work on your own home — with conditions.","tier":"C","state":"current","keywords":["electrical","panel","breaker","amps","wiring","outlet","knob and tube","aluminum","fuse","esa","circuit","grounding","gfci","do my own electrical","diy electrical","electrical permit","certificate of acceptance","notification"],"text":"Your service entrance, meter, panel, and the branch circuits running through the house. Capacity is measured in amps: 60A on very old homes, 100A commonly, 200A on newer or upgraded ones. Capacity is what determines whether you can add an EV charger, a heat pump, or a basement suite without further work. Conditional, and the conditions are narrower than most people assume. You may do electrical work in your own home, but you must file a notification with the ESA before starting — even for small jobs — and have the work reviewed once it is complete. Doing it yourself removes the contractor, not the notification. Two details that catch people out. First, the permission is personal: the ESA's position is that only you can do the work in your home — a handy friend, a family member, or a neighbour cannot, even for free. Second, when the work passes review the ESA issues a Certificate of Acceptance, and that document matters later for insurance and at resale. General AI answers usually miss both, and often claim either that homeowners cannot touch electrical at all or that they can do whatever they like on their own property. Neither is right. Breakers that trip repeatedly on the same circuit Warm or discoloured outlets, switches, or the panel itself Lights dimming when a large appliance starts Two-prong outlets throughout, indicating no ground A burning or fishy smell near outlets or the panel Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels, which have a documented history of failing to trip","referral":["licensed-electrician"]},{"type":"system","id":"heating-cooling","title":"Heating and cooling","url":"/system/heating-cooling/","blurb":"Strictly regulated on the gas side, and usually oversized on the sizing side.","tier":"C","state":"current","keywords":["furnace","heat pump","air conditioning","ac","hvac","boiler","ductwork","venting","carbon monoxide","thermostat","heating","cooling","gas"],"text":"In most Ontario homes: a natural gas forced-air furnace, often with central air conditioning sharing the ductwork, and increasingly a heat pump either replacing or supplementing the furnace. Plus the venting that takes combustion gases outside, and the ventilation that brings fresh air in. No. Gas work in Ontario must be done by a TSSA-certified technician working for a registered contractor. There is no homeowner self-work path, regardless of skill or experience. Filter changes and thermostat swaps are yours; anything touching gas, venting, or combustion is not. This is the clearest bright line in Ontario home systems, and it differs sharply from electrical — which is why answers that lump 'the trades' together get it wrong. Short cycling — turning on and off frequently rather than running steady Rooms that never reach temperature while others overshoot Rising bills with no change in habits Rust, soot, or moisture around the furnace or venting A yellow rather than blue burner flame A carbon monoxide alarm sounding, ever, which is an evacuate-and-call situation","referral":["hvac-contractor","gas-technician"]},{"type":"system","id":"plumbing","title":"Plumbing","url":"/system/plumbing/","blurb":"Supply in, drain out, and the one valve that decides whether a heavy rain reaches your basement.","tier":"C","state":"current","keywords":["plumbing","drain","water heater","leak","backwater valve","sump pump","pipes","galvanized","copper","sewer","pressure","flooding"],"text":"Water supply from the municipal main or a well, distribution through the house, and the drain-waste-vent system carrying it away. Plus the water heater, and — in a lot of Ontario housing stock — a backwater valve and sump arrangement that determines how the house handles heavy rain. Partly. Minor fixture work is generally homeowner territory. Drain, waste, and vent work, fixture relocation, and anything that will be inspected under the plumbing sections of the Building Code should go to a licensed plumber and may need a permit. The consequence of getting drainage and venting wrong is not a leak — it is sewer gas, or a system that siphons traps dry. This is a poor area for improvisation. Falling water pressure across multiple fixtures Discoloured water, particularly after the supply has been off Slow drains in more than one place at once, suggesting a main line issue Damp or staining on basement walls after heavy rain A water heater past its badge date, or showing rust at the base","referral":["licensed-plumber"]},{"type":"system","id":"roof","title":"Roof","url":"/system/roof/","blurb":"Usually replaced because of age, occasionally because of a storm, and frequently oversold at the door.","tier":"C","state":"current","keywords":["roof","shingles","flashing","ice dam","attic","ventilation","leak","eavestrough","gutter","soffit","underlayment"],"text":"Covering, underlayment, flashing at every penetration and junction, and the ventilation that keeps the assembly dry. In Ontario, ice damming at the eaves is a recurring winter failure mode driven as much by attic heat loss and ventilation as by the roof covering itself. Technically permitted in many cases, practically a bad idea. Fall risk aside, the parts that fail are the flashing details, which are also the parts hardest to get right without experience. If your ice damming is severe, the roof covering may not be the actual problem — attic insulation and ventilation often are. A roofer who only quotes shingles has not diagnosed anything. Granule accumulation in gutters Curling, cupping, or missing shingles Staining on ceilings or at the top of exterior walls Ice damming at the eaves in winter Daylight visible in the attic, or frost on the underside of the sheathing","referral":["general-contractor","home-inspector"]},{"type":"system","id":"envelope","title":"Windows, insulation, and air sealing","url":"/system/envelope/","blurb":"The system where the cheapest measure usually outperforms the most expensive one.","tier":"C","state":"current","keywords":["window","windows","insulation","air sealing","draft","attic","condensation","energy","efficiency","envelope","doors","weatherstripping"],"text":"Everything separating conditioned space from outside: windows and doors, insulation in walls and attic, and the air barrier. The 2024 Ontario Building Code raised minimum performance expectations here, which affects renovations as well as new construction. Largely yes for air sealing and attic top-ups. Window replacement is usually a contractor job, and structural changes to openings need a permit. Air sealing is consistently the highest return per dollar in this category and is almost always cheaper than window replacement. A contractor who leads with windows before addressing air sealing is selling the expensive answer first. Condensation or fogging between panes, indicating a failed seal Drafts at outlets, baseboards, and window trim Uneven snow melt on the roof, indicating heat escaping into the attic Cold interior wall surfaces in winter Rooms that are persistently harder to heat than the rest of the house","referral":["general-contractor","home-inspector"]},{"type":"system","id":"drainage","title":"Drainage and water management","url":"/system/drainage/","blurb":"Where most basement water problems are actually solved, and it is rarely inside the basement.","tier":"C","state":"current","keywords":["drainage","basement water","flooding","sump pump","weeping tile","grading","downspout","waterproofing","backwater valve","wet basement","efflorescence","foundation"],"text":"Grading around the house, eavestroughs and downspout discharge, weeping tile, sump arrangement, and the backwater valve. Together these decide where rain and meltwater go. Mostly yes for the cheap, effective measures: extending downspouts, correcting grade, clearing eavestroughs. Interior or exterior waterproofing systems and backwater valve installation are contractor work and may need a permit. The expensive interior waterproofing sale is frequently made to homeowners whose actual problem is a downspout discharging against the foundation. Exhaust the cheap exterior measures before buying the expensive interior one. Water or staining on basement walls or floor after heavy rain Efflorescence — white mineral deposits — on foundation walls Soil sloping toward the house rather than away Downspouts discharging within a foot of the foundation A sump pump that runs constantly, or one that has never run at all","referral":["licensed-plumber","home-inspector"]},{"type":"right","id":"written-contract","title":"Contracts over $50 must be in writing","url":"/rights/#written-contract","blurb":"If your renovation or repair job is worth more than $50, Ontario law requires the agreement to be in writing. A verbal deal and a number scribbled on the back of a card is not a contract that protects you.","tier":"A","state":"current","keywords":["contract","written","verbal","agreement","handshake","in writing","$50"],"text":"If your renovation or repair job is worth more than $50, Ontario law requires the agreement to be in writing. A verbal deal and a number scribbled on the back of a card is not a contract that protects you. A written contract is also where the scope, the permit responsibility, the payment schedule, and the change-order process get pinned down. Most disputes that reach small claims are disputes about what was actually agreed.","referral":["construction-lawyer"]},{"type":"right","id":"cooling-off","title":"Ten days to cancel a contract you signed at home","url":"/rights/#cooling-off","blurb":"If you signed a renovation or repair contract worth $50 or more in your own home, you have a 10 calendar-day cooling-off period. You can cancel for any reason, without paying a cancellation fee.","tier":"A","state":"current","keywords":["cooling off","cancel","10 days","back out","change my mind","door to door","signed at home","pressure"],"text":"If you signed a renovation or repair contract worth $50 or more in your own home, you have a 10 calendar-day cooling-off period. You can cancel for any reason, without paying a cancellation fee. This exists because contracts signed at the kitchen table, often under pressure, are a different situation from contracts you sought out and signed at a business. The clock is calendar days, not business days.","referral":["construction-lawyer"]},{"type":"right","id":"estimate-cap","title":"An estimate in the contract caps the final price at 10% over","url":"/rights/#estimate-cap","blurb":"If your contract includes an estimate, the final price cannot exceed that estimate by more than 10% — unless you agreed to additional work or a new price.","tier":"A","state":"current","keywords":["estimate","over budget","overrun","10 percent","final price","quote went up","more than quoted"],"text":"If your contract includes an estimate, the final price cannot exceed that estimate by more than 10% — unless you agreed to additional work or a new price. This is one of the strongest and least-known protections a homeowner has. It is also the reason a contractor may resist putting an estimate in the contract at all. If the number lives only in an email and never in the agreement, this protection is harder to rely on.","referral":["construction-lawyer"]},{"type":"right","id":"deposits","title":"Keep the deposit small","url":"/rights/#deposits","blurb":"Ontario's own guidance recommends keeping down payments to no more than 10%. A contractor asking for half up front is asking you to finance their business and carry the risk.","tier":"A","state":"current","keywords":["deposit","down payment","up front","50% up front","half down","advance"],"text":"Ontario's own guidance recommends keeping down payments to no more than 10%. A contractor asking for half up front is asking you to finance their business and carry the risk. There are legitimate reasons for a larger deposit — a custom order, special-order windows, long-lead equipment. Ask what specifically the deposit is buying and when it will be spent. A deposit tied to a named material order is different from a deposit tied to nothing.","referral":["construction-lawyer"]},{"type":"right","id":"holdback-and-liens","title":"The holdback is what protects you from a subcontractor's lien","url":"/rights/#holdback-and-liens","blurb":"Ontario's Construction Act requires an owner to retain a statutory holdback from payment, and gives unpaid contractors and subcontractors a window to register a lien against the property.","tier":"A","state":"current","keywords":["holdback","lien","subcontractor","unpaid","final payment","construction lien","title"],"text":"Ontario's Construction Act requires an owner to retain a statutory holdback from payment, and gives unpaid contractors and subcontractors a window to register a lien against the property. The trap: an unpaid subcontractor can lien your home even if you paid your general contractor in full. Retaining the holdback for the required period is the mechanism that limits your exposure. The exact percentage and the number of days are set by the Act and have been amended — confirm the current figures with a construction lawyer or the Act itself before relying on a number.","referral":["construction-lawyer"]},{"type":"right","id":"no-general-contractor-licence","title":"Ontario has no province-wide general contractor licence","url":"/rights/#no-general-contractor-licence","blurb":"There is no single provincial licence that makes someone a legitimate general contractor for renovation work. Anyone telling you they are \"licensed by the province\" as a general renovator is describing something that does not exist.","tier":"A","state":"current","keywords":["licensed contractor","general contractor licence","is he licensed","licence number","certified contractor","registered"],"text":"There is no single provincial licence that makes someone a legitimate general contractor for renovation work. Anyone telling you they are \"licensed by the province\" as a general renovator is describing something that does not exist. What does exist: specific trades are regulated (electrical through the ESA, gas through the TSSA), new home builders are licensed by the HCRA, and some municipalities — Toronto among them — run their own contractor or renovator licensing. So the right question is not \"are you licensed?\" but \"licensed by whom, for what, and can I see the number?\"","referral":["construction-lawyer"]}],"projects":[{"id":"build-a-deck","title":"Build a deck","tier":"A","blurb":"The one project where the legal step most people skip is free, and takes a phone call.","summary":"Decks bring together three separate things homeowners tend to miss: a locate before you dig, a building permit that depends on height and size, and zoning setbacks that are a different question from the Building Code. The locate is free, required by law, and the step most often skipped — Ontario One Call exists precisely because people put fence posts and deck footings through buried gas and telecom lines every spring.","systems":["drainage"],"obligations":[{"authority":"one-call","what":"A utility locate before any digging","who_files":"Whoever is digging — including you.","note":"Free, and required by law under the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012. Submit the request ahead of your dig date; locates are not instant."},{"authority":"municipal-building","what":"A building permit, depending on height, area, and whether it is attached","who_files":"The contractor, or you if building it yourself.","note":"Thresholds vary by municipality. Zoning setbacks are a separate question from the Building Code and are also handled locally."}],"credentials":[{"trade":"General","authority":null,"what":"No province-wide licence; check municipal requirements","ask":"What does this municipality require for this kind of work, and do you carry it?"},{"trade":"Electrical","authority":"esa","what":"ECRA/ESA licensed contractor if adding lighting or outlets","ask":"Who is doing the electrical for the deck lighting?"}],"quote_should_include":["Who is calling in the locate, and confirmation it will be done before digging","Footing depth and type, stated explicitly","Whether a permit is required and who pulls it","Guard and railing heights, and stair details","Ledger attachment method where the deck attaches to the house","Species and grade of lumber, or the specific composite product","Grading and drainage where the deck changes how water moves"],"ask":[{"q":"Who is calling Ontario One Call, and when?","good":"Names who is doing it and builds the wait into the schedule.","bad":"Has never mentioned it, or says they know where the lines are."},{"q":"How deep are the footings going?","good":"A specific depth, with a reason tied to frost.","bad":"Whatever's easiest, or deck blocks on grade for a structure that needs more."},{"q":"Does this need a permit at this height and size?","good":"Knows the local threshold and offers to confirm with the municipality.","bad":"Says decks never need permits."},{"q":"How is the ledger attached to the house, and how is it flashed?","good":"Describes the fastening and the flashing that keeps water out of the wall.","bad":"Doesn't distinguish attachment from flashing. Ledger failures are a known cause of deck collapse."},{"q":"Are we within the zoning setbacks for this lot?","good":"Treats zoning as a separate check from the Building Code.","bad":"Conflates the two, or assumes."}],"red_flags":[{"flag":"Digging starts without a locate.","severity":"high","counter":"None. It is free and it is the law. Striking a gas line is a life-safety event."},{"flag":"Deck blocks on grade for a large or elevated structure.","severity":"medium","counter":"Legitimate for small ground-level platforms in some municipalities. Not a universal shortcut — ask what the local requirement is for your height and size."},{"flag":"\"Permits are only for decks over a certain size, and yours is under.\"","severity":"medium","counter":"Often true — thresholds exist. The way to settle it is confirming the threshold with your municipality rather than accepting the claim."}],"watch_for":"Zoning and Building Code are two different approvals from the same building department, and a deck can satisfy one while failing the other. Ask about both by name.","keywords":["deck","patio","porch","footings","fence","digging","locate","one call","post holes","railing","ledger","pergola","gazebo"],"referral":["general-contractor","designer-engineer"],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"Ontario One Call — homeowners","url":"https://ontarioonecall.ca/homeowners/","instrument":"Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012","retrieved":"2026-09-10"},{"tier":"primary","title":"2024 Ontario Building Code","url":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/2024-ontario-building-code","instrument":"O. Reg. 332/12 (2024 edition)","in_force_from":"2025-01-01","retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"kind":"project","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","next_review":"2027-03-09","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"finish-a-basement","title":"Finish a basement","tier":"A","blurb":"Framing, insulation, electrical, sometimes plumbing — and a set of requirements around egress and fire separation that catch people out.","summary":"Finishing a basement almost always engages the Building Code, even when no exterior walls change and nothing structural moves. The work involves framing, insulation and vapour control, electrical, often plumbing, and — depending on what the space becomes — requirements for escape windows and fire separation. A contractor telling you no permit is needed because \"we're not moving walls\" is making a claim your municipality is the one to confirm.","systems":["electrical","heating-cooling","plumbing"],"obligations":[{"authority":"municipal-building","what":"A building permit for the finishing work","who_files":"Usually the contractor, but confirm in writing — a permit in your name leaves the compliance obligation with you.","note":"Your municipality decides whether your specific scope needs one. This is the call to make first."},{"authority":"esa","what":"Notification of the electrical work","who_files":"The licensed electrical contractor, or you if you are doing the work on your own home.","note":"Separate from the building permit. New circuits, pot lights, and outlets all count."},{"authority":"tssa","what":"Certified technician for any gas work","who_files":"The registered fuel contractor.","note":"Relocating a gas line for a furnace or moving a gas fireplace is TSSA territory, not general-contractor territory."},{"authority":"mltsd","what":"Designated substance survey where demolition is involved in an older home","who_files":"The contractor arranges it; you as owner are expected to provide the information.","note":"Relevant to pre-1990 construction. A contractor raising this is following the regulation."}],"credentials":[{"trade":"Electrical","authority":"esa","what":"ECRA/ESA licensed electrical contractor","ask":"What is your ECRA/ESA licence number?"},{"trade":"Gas","authority":"tssa","what":"TSSA-certified gas technician with a registered contractor","ask":"Who is doing the gas work and what is their TSSA certification?"},{"trade":"General","authority":null,"what":"No province-wide licence exists; check your municipality","ask":"What licensing does this municipality require for renovation work, and do you hold it?"}],"quote_should_include":["A scope description specific enough that you could hand it to a different contractor and get a comparable price","Who pulls the permit, and whether the permit fee is in the price","Named subtrades for electrical and any gas work, with their licence or certification numbers","Ceiling height and egress treatment, stated explicitly rather than assumed","How change orders are priced and approved, in writing, before work starts","A payment schedule tied to milestones rather than dates","What happens to the schedule if an inspection fails"],"ask":[{"q":"Who is pulling the permit, and is the fee in your price?","good":"Names themselves, gives the municipality, and the fee is a line item.","bad":"Suggests you pull it yourself to save money, or says permits aren't needed for this."},{"q":"What is the finished ceiling height going to be, measured?","good":"A measured number, and a note on how ductwork and beams are handled.","bad":"A vague reassurance that it will be fine."},{"q":"Is there an escape window requirement for how we're using this space?","good":"Distinguishes a rec room from a bedroom or a separate suite, and knows the requirement differs.","bad":"Says it doesn't matter because it's just a basement."},{"q":"What is your ECRA/ESA licence number, or who is your electrical subtrade?","good":"Provides a number you can check on the ESA directory.","bad":"Says their guy handles it and doesn't need to be licensed for residential."},{"q":"If this becomes a rental unit later, what changes?","good":"Raises fire separation, egress, and a separate permit path honestly.","bad":"Says nobody checks."}],"red_flags":[{"flag":"\"You don't need a permit for this.\"","severity":"high","counter":"Occasionally true for genuinely cosmetic work — paint, flooring, trim. The way to settle it is a call to the building department with the actual scope, not a debate with the contractor."},{"flag":"Suggests the permit go in your name rather than theirs.","severity":"high","counter":"Sometimes legitimate for an owner acting as their own general contractor. But understand that it moves the compliance obligation onto you."},{"flag":"Cash discount for skipping the paperwork.","severity":"high","counter":"There is no innocent version of this one where the paperwork in question is a permit or an ESA notification."},{"flag":"No written contract for a five-figure job.","severity":"high","counter":"None. Ontario requires contracts over $50 to be in writing."},{"flag":"Wants 50% up front.","severity":"medium","counter":"Can be legitimate where long-lead materials are being ordered — ask what specifically the deposit buys. Ontario's guidance recommends keeping deposits to no more than 10%."}],"watch_for":"The 2024 Ontario Building Code has been in force since 1 January 2025 and raised expectations in areas that bear directly on basement work — ventilation, and fire separation where a secondary suite is involved. If you are working from advice given before 2025, or from a contractor quoting practice from a few years ago, check it.","keywords":["basement","cellar","finish","finished basement","rec room","underpin","lower level","egress window","basement apartment","secondary suite","in-law suite","ceiling height"],"referral":["general-contractor","designer-engineer","licensed-electrician"],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"2024 Ontario Building Code","url":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/2024-ontario-building-code","instrument":"O. Reg. 332/12 (2024 edition)","in_force_from":"2025-01-01","retrieved":"2026-09-10"},{"tier":"primary","title":"ESA — DIY electrical work","url":"https://esasafe.com/compliance/diy-electrical-work/","instrument":"Ontario Electrical Safety Code","retrieved":"2026-09-10"},{"tier":"primary","title":"Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs","url":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/your-rights-when-starting-home-renovations-or-repairs","instrument":"Consumer Protection Act, 2002","retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"kind":"project","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","next_review":"2027-03-09","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"ev-charger","title":"Install an EV charger","tier":"A","blurb":"A new circuit, an ESA notification, and a question about whether your panel can actually carry it.","summary":"A level 2 EV charger is a new dedicated circuit, which means it is electrical work notified to the Electrical Safety Authority and inspected. The question that decides the price is not the charger — it is whether your existing electrical service has the capacity for it. On older Ontario homes with 100A service, the answer is often that a load calculation is needed first, and sometimes that a service upgrade comes with it.","systems":["electrical"],"obligations":[{"authority":"esa","what":"Notification of the electrical work, and inspection","who_files":"The licensed electrical contractor, or you if doing the work on your own home.","note":"This is the core requirement. A charger installed without it has no inspection record, which matters at resale and can matter to your insurer."},{"authority":"municipal-building","what":"Permit may apply if the work involves structural or exterior alterations","who_files":"The contractor.","note":"Usually not required for the circuit itself. Confirm locally if anything is being cut or built."}],"credentials":[{"trade":"Electrical","authority":"esa","what":"ECRA/ESA licensed electrical contractor","ask":"What is your ECRA/ESA licence number, and will you be filing the notification?"}],"quote_should_include":["A load calculation for your existing service, stated as a result not an assumption","The ESA notification fee, or a clear statement that it is included","Cable route, length, and whether any of it is exterior or underground","The breaker size and the charger's configured output — these must match your service capacity","Whether a load management device is being used instead of a service upgrade","What happens to the price if the panel turns out to need work"],"ask":[{"q":"Did you do a load calculation on my service?","good":"Gives you a number and explains the headroom your panel has.","bad":"Says 100A is fine for everything, or doesn't mention it."},{"q":"Are you filing the ESA notification?","good":"Yes, and can tell you what the inspection covers.","bad":"Says it isn't needed for a plug-in unit, or that nobody bothers."},{"q":"Could a load management device avoid a service upgrade here?","good":"Knows the option and can say whether it applies to your situation.","bad":"Has never heard of it and defaults straight to a costly service upgrade."},{"q":"Where exactly is the cable running, and is any of it outside?","good":"Walks the route with you.","bad":"Will figure it out on the day."}],"red_flags":[{"flag":"\"No permit needed, it just plugs in.\"","severity":"high","counter":"A genuinely portable level 1 cord into an existing, unmodified outlet is different from a level 2 install. But if any wiring is being added or changed, notification applies."},{"flag":"No load calculation mentioned on an older home.","severity":"high","counter":"None on a 100A service. This is the number that determines whether the install is safe."},{"flag":"Quote is dramatically cheaper than others.","severity":"medium","counter":"Could be a short, simple cable run — genuinely cheaper. Compare what each quote says about the notification fee and the cable route before assuming."}],"watch_for":"Charger rebate and utility programs change frequently and are not building law. Verify any incentive directly with the program or your utility rather than relying on an installer's summary.","keywords":["ev charger","electric vehicle","level 2","tesla","charger","240v","car charger","load calculation","ev"],"referral":["licensed-electrician"],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"ESA — DIY electrical work","url":"https://esasafe.com/compliance/diy-electrical-work/","instrument":"Ontario Electrical Safety Code","retrieved":"2026-09-10"},{"tier":"primary","title":"ESA — find a licensed electrical contractor","url":"https://esasafe.com/contractors/find-a-licensed-electrical-contractor/","instrument":null,"retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"kind":"project","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","next_review":"2027-03-09","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"kitchen-renovation","title":"Renovate a kitchen","tier":"A","blurb":"Multiple trades, a long timeline, and the highest change-order risk of any common project.","summary":"A kitchen touches electrical, plumbing, ventilation, and often gas, over a schedule long enough that the price at the end frequently differs from the price at the start. The regulatory picture is less complicated than a basement, but the contractual picture is worse: this is the project where change orders, deposits, and payment schedules cause the most disputes. The single most valuable thing you can do before signing is agree in writing how a change gets priced and approved.","systems":["electrical","plumbing","heating-cooling"],"obligations":[{"authority":"municipal-building","what":"Permit where plumbing is relocated, walls change, or structure is altered","who_files":"The contractor.","note":"A cosmetic refit that reuses every existing location often does not need one. Moving a sink usually does. Confirm your scope locally."},{"authority":"esa","what":"Notification for new or altered circuits","who_files":"The licensed electrical contractor.","note":"Kitchens involve dedicated appliance circuits and counter receptacles with specific requirements. Almost every kitchen renovation triggers this."},{"authority":"tssa","what":"Certified technician for any gas range or cooktop connection","who_files":"The registered contractor.","note":"Applies to moving a gas line for a range, not just installing the appliance."},{"authority":"mltsd","what":"Designated substance survey where demolition is involved in an older home","who_files":"The contractor arranges it.","note":"Older kitchens can carry asbestos in flooring and adhesives."}],"credentials":[{"trade":"Electrical","authority":"esa","what":"ECRA/ESA licensed electrical contractor","ask":"What is your ECRA/ESA licence number?"},{"trade":"Plumbing","authority":"municipal-building","what":"Licensed plumber for drain, waste, and vent work","ask":"Who is doing the plumbing, and are they licensed?"},{"trade":"Gas","authority":"tssa","what":"TSSA-certified technician for gas connections","ask":"Who connects the gas range, and what is their certification?"}],"quote_should_include":["A written change-order process: how a change is priced, who approves it, and that no change proceeds without written approval","A payment schedule tied to milestones rather than calendar dates","Cabinet make and model, or a specification detailed enough to price elsewhere","Countertop material, edge profile, and who templates it","Appliance responsibility — who supplies, who installs, who connects gas","Range hood ventilation: where it exhausts and whether it is ducted outside","A realistic schedule including cabinet lead time, which is usually the long pole","Named subtrades for electrical, plumbing, and gas"],"ask":[{"q":"How do change orders work, exactly?","good":"A written process, priced before work proceeds, approved by you.","bad":"We'll sort it out as we go. This is where kitchen budgets die."},{"q":"Is the range hood ducted to the outside?","good":"Yes, with a route — or a clear explanation of why recirculating is what the space allows.","bad":"Doesn't distinguish ducted from recirculating."},{"q":"What is the cabinet lead time, and when do you order?","good":"A specific number of weeks, and ordering tied to a deposit milestone.","bad":"Vague, which usually means the schedule is fiction."},{"q":"Who is doing the plumbing and electrical, and are they licensed?","good":"Names the companies and gives numbers.","bad":"Our guys handle everything."},{"q":"Is the payment schedule tied to milestones or dates?","good":"Milestones, with a final payment after completion and any inspection.","bad":"Calendar dates regardless of progress."}],"red_flags":[{"flag":"Large deposit with no material order attached to it.","severity":"high","counter":"A cabinet order is a legitimate reason for a substantial deposit. Ask what specifically is being ordered and when. Ontario's guidance recommends keeping deposits to no more than 10%."},{"flag":"No written change-order process.","severity":"high","counter":"None on a project this long. This is the number one cause of kitchen disputes."},{"flag":"Payment schedule front-loaded well ahead of progress.","severity":"high","counter":"None. Money should follow work."},{"flag":"No estimate written into the contract.","severity":"medium","counter":"Sometimes the job genuinely is time-and-materials — but understand that without an estimate in the contract, the 10% overrun protection is much harder to rely on."}],"watch_for":"If an estimate is included in your contract, the final price for all goods and services cannot be more than 10% over it unless you agreed to new work or a new price. That protection depends on the estimate being in the contract — not in an email, not in a conversation.","keywords":["kitchen","cabinets","countertop","range hood","backsplash","island","renovation","reno","change order","gas range","dishwasher"],"referral":["general-contractor","licensed-plumber","licensed-electrician"],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs","url":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/your-rights-when-starting-home-renovations-or-repairs","instrument":"Consumer Protection Act, 2002","quote":"the final price for all goods and services cannot be more than 10% over the original estimate unless you have agreed to new work or a new price","retrieved":"2026-09-10"},{"tier":"primary","title":"2024 Ontario Building Code","url":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/2024-ontario-building-code","instrument":"O. Reg. 332/12 (2024 edition)","in_force_from":"2025-01-01","retrieved":"2026-09-10"},{"tier":"primary","title":"ESA — DIY electrical work","url":"https://esasafe.com/compliance/diy-electrical-work/","instrument":"Ontario Electrical Safety Code","retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"kind":"project","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","next_review":"2027-03-09","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"replace-furnace-or-ac","title":"Replace a furnace, AC, or heat pump","tier":"A","blurb":"The one job where a homeowner has no DIY path at all, and where sizing matters more than brand.","summary":"Heating and cooling replacement is the most common four-figure home decision in Ontario, and the one most often sold under time pressure — usually in January, usually when the old unit has just failed. Gas work is strictly regulated: it must be done by a TSSA-certified technician working for a registered contractor. There is no homeowner self-work path here, unlike electrical. The single biggest quality variable is not the brand on the box, it is whether anyone calculated what size your house actually needs.","systems":["heating-cooling","electrical"],"obligations":[{"authority":"tssa","what":"Certified gas technician from a registered contractor","who_files":"The contractor holds the registration; the technician holds the certification.","note":"Applies to the appliance, the gas line, and the venting. Not optional and not delegable to a general handyman."},{"authority":"esa","what":"Notification for associated electrical work","who_files":"The licensed electrical contractor.","note":"Comes up on heat pump and AC installs that need a new circuit or a disconnect."},{"authority":"municipal-building","what":"Permit may apply depending on scope and municipality","who_files":"The contractor, where required.","note":"Straight like-for-like swaps often do not need a building permit, but venting changes and fuel conversions can. Confirm locally."}],"credentials":[{"trade":"Gas","authority":"tssa","what":"TSSA gas technician certification (G1, G2, or G3) and a registered contractor","ask":"Can I see the technician's TSSA certificate and your contractor registration?"},{"trade":"Electrical","authority":"esa","what":"ECRA/ESA licensed electrical contractor for any new circuit","ask":"Who is doing the electrical, and what is their ESA licence number?"}],"quote_should_include":["A heat loss and heat gain calculation for your house — not a size copied from the old unit","The specific model number and its efficiency rating, not just a tier name like \"mid-range\"","Whether the existing venting is being reused, modified, or replaced","Whether existing ductwork is adequate for the new equipment's airflow","Permit and inspection responsibility","Manufacturer warranty terms and what registration is required to activate them","Labour warranty, stated separately from the manufacturer warranty","Removal and disposal of the old equipment","Any available rebate the equipment qualifies for, and who files it"],"ask":[{"q":"Did you do a heat loss calculation, and can I see it?","good":"Produces an actual calculation based on your house's size, insulation, and windows.","bad":"Sized it from the old unit, or from square footage alone. Oversizing is the most common defect in Ontario residential HVAC and it causes short cycling, humidity problems, and premature failure."},{"q":"What is the technician's TSSA certification?","good":"Names the certification level and the registered contractor.","bad":"Deflects, or says certification isn't needed for a straight swap."},{"q":"Is the existing venting being reused?","good":"Explains what was inspected and why it is or isn't adequate for the new appliance.","bad":"Doesn't mention venting at all."},{"q":"What is the labour warranty, separate from the manufacturer's?","good":"A stated number of years for their own workmanship.","bad":"Points only at the manufacturer warranty."},{"q":"What happens if this fails on the coldest night of the year?","good":"A stated response commitment.","bad":"Vague reassurance."}],"red_flags":[{"flag":"Unsolicited visit or call about your furnace, especially offering an inspection.","severity":"high","counter":"Ontario restricted unsolicited door-to-door sales of home comfort equipment after sustained abuse in exactly this category. If they came to you unprompted, be sceptical."},{"flag":"Price only valid today.","severity":"high","counter":"None that survives scrutiny on a five-figure decision. If you signed in your home, you have a 10 calendar-day cooling-off period."},{"flag":"A rental or lease agreement presented as though it were a purchase.","severity":"high","counter":"Rentals can be legitimate, but they can attach to your title and complicate a future sale. Read what you are signing, and know it is a rental."},{"flag":"Quote with no model number.","severity":"medium","counter":"Sometimes an early ballpark. Insist on the model number before you sign."},{"flag":"No mention of a heat loss calculation.","severity":"medium","counter":"Very common practice, which does not make it right. Ask for it."}],"watch_for":"This category is heavily rebate-driven, and rebate programs change on their own schedule, independent of building law. Confirm any rebate directly with the program before you let it affect your decision — do not take the contractor's word for what is currently available.","keywords":["furnace","air conditioner","ac","heat pump","hvac","boiler","heating","cooling","replace furnace","new furnace","ductwork","tssa","gas","high efficiency"],"referral":["hvac-contractor","gas-technician"],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"TSSA — fuels industry professionals","url":"https://www.tssa.org/fuels-industry-professional","instrument":"Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000","retrieved":"2026-09-10"},{"tier":"primary","title":"Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs","url":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/your-rights-when-starting-home-renovations-or-repairs","instrument":"Consumer Protection Act, 2002","retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"kind":"project","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","next_review":"2027-03-09","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"panel-or-service-upgrade","title":"Upgrade the electrical panel or service","tier":"A","blurb":"Two different jobs that get quoted as one, at very different prices.","summary":"\"Panel upgrade\" and \"service upgrade\" are often used interchangeably and are not the same work. Replacing the panel changes the distribution equipment inside your house. Upgrading the service changes the capacity coming in from the utility — a larger mast, meter base, and utility coordination. The second is substantially more expensive and involves the local distribution company as well as the ESA. Getting a quote that does not say which one you are buying is the most common problem in this category.","systems":["electrical"],"obligations":[{"authority":"esa","what":"Notification and inspection","who_files":"The licensed electrical contractor, or you if doing the work on your own home.","note":"Mandatory. The ESA inspection record is what proves the work was done properly, and it is what a buyer's lawyer may ask for later."},{"authority":"municipal-building","what":"Permit may apply where the mast, structure, or exterior is altered","who_files":"The contractor.","note":"Confirm locally."}],"credentials":[{"trade":"Electrical","authority":"esa","what":"ECRA/ESA licensed electrical contractor","ask":"What is your ECRA/ESA licence number? I want to check it on the ESA directory."}],"quote_should_include":["An explicit statement of whether this is a panel replacement, a service upgrade, or both","The resulting service capacity in amps","Coordination with the local distribution company where the service is changing, and who arranges the disconnect","The ESA notification fee","How long power will be off","Whether existing branch circuits are being reused, and what happens if any fail inspection","Treatment of any knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring found during the work"],"ask":[{"q":"Is this a panel change or a service upgrade? Say which.","good":"Answers plainly and prices them separately if both.","bad":"Uses the terms interchangeably."},{"q":"What is your ECRA/ESA licence number?","good":"Gives it without hesitation.","bad":"Says they work under someone else's, or that residential doesn't require one."},{"q":"Who coordinates with the utility, and how long is power off?","good":"Owns the coordination and gives a realistic window.","bad":"Hasn't considered it."},{"q":"What happens if you find knob-and-tube or aluminum behind the walls?","good":"Explains how it would be priced and that it may affect insurance.","bad":"Says it won't come up."},{"q":"Will I get documentation of the ESA inspection?","good":"Yes, and explains what it is.","bad":"Doesn't think you need it. You do — at resale."}],"red_flags":[{"flag":"No ESA notification, or an offer to skip it for a discount.","severity":"high","counter":"None. An uninspected panel is both a safety and a resale problem, and can affect an insurance claim."},{"flag":"Can't produce a licence number.","severity":"high","counter":"A journeyperson working for a licensed contractor won't have their own contractor number — but the company must. Ask for the company's."},{"flag":"Quote doesn't distinguish panel from service.","severity":"medium","counter":"Sometimes just loose language. Ask them to write down which one it is."}],"watch_for":"If your home still has knob-and-tube or aluminum branch wiring, that is an insurance conversation as well as an electrical one. Some insurers will not write a policy without remediation, and finding out during the work is worse than finding out before.","keywords":["panel","electrical panel","service upgrade","100 amp","200 amp","breaker box","fuse box","knob and tube","aluminum wiring","mast","meter","amperage"],"referral":["licensed-electrician"],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"ESA — DIY electrical work","url":"https://esasafe.com/compliance/diy-electrical-work/","instrument":"Ontario Electrical Safety Code","retrieved":"2026-09-10"},{"tier":"primary","title":"ESA — find a licensed electrical contractor","url":"https://esasafe.com/contractors/find-a-licensed-electrical-contractor/","instrument":null,"retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"kind":"project","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","next_review":"2027-03-09","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}}],"systems":[{"id":"electrical","title":"Electrical","tier":"C","blurb":"The one regulated system where Ontario does let you work on your own home — with conditions.","what_it_is":"Your service entrance, meter, panel, and the branch circuits running through the house. Capacity is measured in amps: 60A on very old homes, 100A commonly, 200A on newer or upgraded ones. Capacity is what determines whether you can add an EV charger, a heat pump, or a basement suite without further work.","typical_life":"Panels and breakers commonly serve 25–40 years. The wiring itself can last much longer, but wiring types matter more than age: knob-and-tube and aluminum branch wiring both carry insurance implications.","warning_signs":["Breakers that trip repeatedly on the same circuit","Warm or discoloured outlets, switches, or the panel itself","Lights dimming when a large appliance starts","Two-prong outlets throughout, indicating no ground","A burning or fishy smell near outlets or the panel","Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels, which have a documented history of failing to trip"],"diy_status":"Conditional, and the conditions are narrower than most people assume. You may do electrical work in your own home, but you must file a notification with the ESA before starting — even for small jobs — and have the work reviewed once it is complete. Doing it yourself removes the contractor, not the notification.","diy_note":"Two details that catch people out. First, the permission is personal: the ESA's position is that only you can do the work in your home — a handy friend, a family member, or a neighbour cannot, even for free. Second, when the work passes review the ESA issues a Certificate of Acceptance, and that document matters later for insurance and at resale. General AI answers usually miss both, and often claim either that homeowners cannot touch electrical at all or that they can do whatever they like on their own property. Neither is right.","questions":["What is my service size, and how much headroom is left on it?","Is there any knob-and-tube or aluminum branch wiring in this house?","Was the panel ever inspected, and is there a Certificate of Acceptance on file?"],"authority":"esa","keywords":["electrical","panel","breaker","amps","wiring","outlet","knob and tube","aluminum","fuse","esa","circuit","grounding","gfci","do my own electrical","diy electrical","electrical permit","certificate of acceptance","notification"],"referral":["licensed-electrician"],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"ESA — DIY electrical work","url":"https://esasafe.com/compliance/diy-electrical-work/","instrument":"Ontario Electrical Safety Code","quote":"Only you can do electrical work in your home, but you must file a notification with ESA. Friends, family members or neighbours cannot perform electrical work in your home.","retrieved":"2026-09-10"},{"tier":"primary","title":"ESA — DIY electrical work (inspection and certificate)","url":"https://esasafe.com/compliance/diy-electrical-work/","instrument":"Ontario Electrical Safety Code","quote":"You must get your work reviewed by ESA as soon as it is complete.","retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"kind":"system","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","next_review":"2027-09-10","sla_days":365,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer served; card queued for review.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"heating-cooling","title":"Heating and cooling","tier":"C","blurb":"Strictly regulated on the gas side, and usually oversized on the sizing side.","what_it_is":"In most Ontario homes: a natural gas forced-air furnace, often with central air conditioning sharing the ductwork, and increasingly a heat pump either replacing or supplementing the furnace. Plus the venting that takes combustion gases outside, and the ventilation that brings fresh air in.","typical_life":"Furnaces commonly 15–20 years, air conditioners 12–18, heat pumps 12–18, tank water heaters 8–12. These are ranges, not deadlines — maintenance and installation quality move them substantially.","warning_signs":["Short cycling — turning on and off frequently rather than running steady","Rooms that never reach temperature while others overshoot","Rising bills with no change in habits","Rust, soot, or moisture around the furnace or venting","A yellow rather than blue burner flame","A carbon monoxide alarm sounding, ever, which is an evacuate-and-call situation"],"diy_status":"No. Gas work in Ontario must be done by a TSSA-certified technician working for a registered contractor. There is no homeowner self-work path, regardless of skill or experience. Filter changes and thermostat swaps are yours; anything touching gas, venting, or combustion is not.","diy_note":"This is the clearest bright line in Ontario home systems, and it differs sharply from electrical — which is why answers that lump 'the trades' together get it wrong.","questions":["How old is the furnace, and has anyone done a heat loss calculation for this house?","Where does the range hood and bathroom ventilation actually exhaust?","When was the venting last inspected?"],"authority":"tssa","keywords":["furnace","heat pump","air conditioning","ac","hvac","boiler","ductwork","venting","carbon monoxide","thermostat","heating","cooling","gas"],"referral":["hvac-contractor","gas-technician"],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"TSSA — fuels industry professionals","url":"https://www.tssa.org/fuels-industry-professional","instrument":"Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000","retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"kind":"system","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","next_review":"2027-09-10","sla_days":365,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer served; card queued for review.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"plumbing","title":"Plumbing","tier":"C","blurb":"Supply in, drain out, and the one valve that decides whether a heavy rain reaches your basement.","what_it_is":"Water supply from the municipal main or a well, distribution through the house, and the drain-waste-vent system carrying it away. Plus the water heater, and — in a lot of Ontario housing stock — a backwater valve and sump arrangement that determines how the house handles heavy rain.","typical_life":"Copper supply lines often 50+ years; older galvanized steel much less and usually overdue. Tank water heaters 8–12 years. Cast iron drains vary widely and can fail invisibly from the inside.","warning_signs":["Falling water pressure across multiple fixtures","Discoloured water, particularly after the supply has been off","Slow drains in more than one place at once, suggesting a main line issue","Damp or staining on basement walls after heavy rain","A water heater past its badge date, or showing rust at the base"],"diy_status":"Partly. Minor fixture work is generally homeowner territory. Drain, waste, and vent work, fixture relocation, and anything that will be inspected under the plumbing sections of the Building Code should go to a licensed plumber and may need a permit.","diy_note":"The consequence of getting drainage and venting wrong is not a leak — it is sewer gas, or a system that siphons traps dry. This is a poor area for improvisation.","questions":["Is there a backwater valve, and has it ever been serviced?","What is the supply pipe material, and is any of it galvanized?","How old is the water heater, and is it owned or rented?"],"authority":"municipal-building","keywords":["plumbing","drain","water heater","leak","backwater valve","sump pump","pipes","galvanized","copper","sewer","pressure","flooding"],"referral":["licensed-plumber"],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"2024 Ontario Building Code","url":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/2024-ontario-building-code","instrument":"O. Reg. 332/12 (2024 edition)","in_force_from":"2025-01-01","retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"kind":"system","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","next_review":"2027-09-10","sla_days":365,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer served; card queued for review.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"roof","title":"Roof","tier":"C","blurb":"Usually replaced because of age, occasionally because of a storm, and frequently oversold at the door.","what_it_is":"Covering, underlayment, flashing at every penetration and junction, and the ventilation that keeps the assembly dry. In Ontario, ice damming at the eaves is a recurring winter failure mode driven as much by attic heat loss and ventilation as by the roof covering itself.","typical_life":"Asphalt shingles commonly 15–25 years depending on grade and exposure; metal considerably longer. Flashing often outlives one covering and fails during the next.","warning_signs":["Granule accumulation in gutters","Curling, cupping, or missing shingles","Staining on ceilings or at the top of exterior walls","Ice damming at the eaves in winter","Daylight visible in the attic, or frost on the underside of the sheathing"],"diy_status":"Technically permitted in many cases, practically a bad idea. Fall risk aside, the parts that fail are the flashing details, which are also the parts hardest to get right without experience.","diy_note":"If your ice damming is severe, the roof covering may not be the actual problem — attic insulation and ventilation often are. A roofer who only quotes shingles has not diagnosed anything.","questions":["Is the underlayment and flashing being replaced, or only the shingles?","Is the attic ventilation adequate, and was it assessed?","How many layers are currently up there, and is anything being torn off?"],"authority":"municipal-building","keywords":["roof","shingles","flashing","ice dam","attic","ventilation","leak","eavestrough","gutter","soffit","underlayment"],"referral":["general-contractor","home-inspector"],"reviewer":"jc","last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"2024 Ontario Building Code","url":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/2024-ontario-building-code","instrument":"O. Reg. 332/12 (2024 edition)","in_force_from":"2025-01-01","retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"kind":"system","review":{"reviewer":"jc","reviewer_name":"Justin Challenger","unsigned":false,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","next_review":"2027-09-10","sla_days":365,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer served; card queued for review.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"envelope","title":"Windows, insulation, and air sealing","tier":"C","blurb":"The system where the cheapest measure usually outperforms the most expensive one.","what_it_is":"Everything separating conditioned space from outside: windows and doors, insulation in walls and attic, and the air barrier. The 2024 Ontario Building Code raised minimum performance expectations here, which affects renovations as well as new construction.","typical_life":"Windows commonly 20–30 years, with seal failure showing first. Insulation does not wear out but settles, gets disturbed, and is frequently inadequate by current standards in older homes.","warning_signs":["Condensation or fogging between panes, indicating a failed seal","Drafts at outlets, baseboards, and window trim","Uneven snow melt on the roof, indicating heat escaping into the attic","Cold interior wall surfaces in winter","Rooms that are persistently harder to heat than the rest of the house"],"diy_status":"Largely yes for air sealing and attic top-ups. Window replacement is usually a contractor job, and structural changes to openings need a permit.","diy_note":"Air sealing is consistently the highest return per dollar in this category and is almost always cheaper than window replacement. A contractor who leads with windows before addressing air sealing is selling the expensive answer first.","questions":["Where is this house actually losing air, and has anyone tested rather than guessed?","What is the attic insulation depth now?","Are the windows failed, or just old?"],"authority":"municipal-building","keywords":["window","windows","insulation","air sealing","draft","attic","condensation","energy","efficiency","envelope","doors","weatherstripping"],"referral":["general-contractor","home-inspector"],"reviewer":"jc","last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"2024 Ontario Building Code","url":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/2024-ontario-building-code","instrument":"O. Reg. 332/12 (2024 edition)","in_force_from":"2025-01-01","retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"kind":"system","review":{"reviewer":"jc","reviewer_name":"Justin Challenger","unsigned":false,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","next_review":"2027-09-10","sla_days":365,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer served; card queued for review.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"drainage","title":"Drainage and water management","tier":"C","blurb":"Where most basement water problems are actually solved, and it is rarely inside the basement.","what_it_is":"Grading around the house, eavestroughs and downspout discharge, weeping tile, sump arrangement, and the backwater valve. Together these decide where rain and meltwater go.","typical_life":"Grading degrades over years as soil settles. Weeping tile can clog or collapse. Sump pumps commonly 7–10 years, and they fail when they are needed most.","warning_signs":["Water or staining on basement walls or floor after heavy rain","Efflorescence — white mineral deposits — on foundation walls","Soil sloping toward the house rather than away","Downspouts discharging within a foot of the foundation","A sump pump that runs constantly, or one that has never run at all"],"diy_status":"Mostly yes for the cheap, effective measures: extending downspouts, correcting grade, clearing eavestroughs. Interior or exterior waterproofing systems and backwater valve installation are contractor work and may need a permit.","diy_note":"The expensive interior waterproofing sale is frequently made to homeowners whose actual problem is a downspout discharging against the foundation. Exhaust the cheap exterior measures before buying the expensive interior one.","questions":["Does the ground slope away from the house on all sides?","Where do the downspouts actually discharge?","Is there a backwater valve, and does the municipality offer a subsidy for installing one?"],"authority":"municipal-building","keywords":["drainage","basement water","flooding","sump pump","weeping tile","grading","downspout","waterproofing","backwater valve","wet basement","efflorescence","foundation"],"referral":["licensed-plumber","home-inspector"],"reviewer":"jc","last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"2024 Ontario Building Code","url":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/2024-ontario-building-code","instrument":"O. Reg. 332/12 (2024 edition)","in_force_from":"2025-01-01","retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"kind":"system","review":{"reviewer":"jc","reviewer_name":"Justin Challenger","unsigned":false,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","next_review":"2027-09-10","sla_days":365,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer served; card queued for review.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}}],"rights":[{"id":"written-contract","title":"Contracts over $50 must be in writing","tier":"A","plain":"If your renovation or repair job is worth more than $50, Ontario law requires the agreement to be in writing. A verbal deal and a number scribbled on the back of a card is not a contract that protects you.","detail":"A written contract is also where the scope, the permit responsibility, the payment schedule, and the change-order process get pinned down. Most disputes that reach small claims are disputes about what was actually agreed.","instrument":"Consumer Protection Act, 2002","in_force_from":null,"superseded_by":null,"pending_successor":"Consumer Protection Act, 2023 — passed, awaiting proclamation. Not yet governing.","authority":"consumer-protection-ontario","keywords":["contract","written","verbal","agreement","handshake","in writing","$50"],"reviewer":"jc","last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs","url":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/your-rights-when-starting-home-renovations-or-repairs","instrument":"Consumer Protection Act, 2002","quote":"Contracts worth more than $50 must be in writing.","retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"kind":"right","review":{"reviewer":"jc","reviewer_name":"Justin Challenger","unsigned":false,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","next_review":"2027-03-09","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"cooling-off","title":"Ten days to cancel a contract you signed at home","tier":"A","plain":"If you signed a renovation or repair contract worth $50 or more in your own home, you have a 10 calendar-day cooling-off period. You can cancel for any reason, without paying a cancellation fee.","detail":"This exists because contracts signed at the kitchen table, often under pressure, are a different situation from contracts you sought out and signed at a business. The clock is calendar days, not business days.","instrument":"Consumer Protection Act, 2002","in_force_from":null,"superseded_by":null,"pending_successor":"Consumer Protection Act, 2023 — passed, awaiting proclamation. Not yet governing.","authority":"consumer-protection-ontario","keywords":["cooling off","cancel","10 days","back out","change my mind","door to door","signed at home","pressure"],"reviewer":"jc","last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs","url":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/your-rights-when-starting-home-renovations-or-repairs","instrument":"Consumer Protection Act, 2002","quote":"the right to a 10 calendar-day cooling-off period","retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"kind":"right","review":{"reviewer":"jc","reviewer_name":"Justin Challenger","unsigned":false,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","next_review":"2027-03-09","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"estimate-cap","title":"An estimate in the contract caps the final price at 10% over","tier":"A","plain":"If your contract includes an estimate, the final price cannot exceed that estimate by more than 10% — unless you agreed to additional work or a new price.","detail":"This is one of the strongest and least-known protections a homeowner has. It is also the reason a contractor may resist putting an estimate in the contract at all. If the number lives only in an email and never in the agreement, this protection is harder to rely on.","instrument":"Consumer Protection Act, 2002","in_force_from":null,"superseded_by":null,"pending_successor":"Consumer Protection Act, 2023 — passed, awaiting proclamation. Not yet governing.","authority":"consumer-protection-ontario","keywords":["estimate","over budget","overrun","10 percent","final price","quote went up","more than quoted"],"reviewer":"jc","last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs","url":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/your-rights-when-starting-home-renovations-or-repairs","instrument":"Consumer Protection Act, 2002","quote":"the final price for all goods and services cannot be more than 10% over the original estimate unless you have agreed to new work or a new price","retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"kind":"right","review":{"reviewer":"jc","reviewer_name":"Justin Challenger","unsigned":false,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","next_review":"2027-03-09","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"deposits","title":"Keep the deposit small","tier":"A","plain":"Ontario's own guidance recommends keeping down payments to no more than 10%. A contractor asking for half up front is asking you to finance their business and carry the risk.","detail":"There are legitimate reasons for a larger deposit — a custom order, special-order windows, long-lead equipment. Ask what specifically the deposit is buying and when it will be spent. A deposit tied to a named material order is different from a deposit tied to nothing.","instrument":"Consumer Protection Ontario guidance","in_force_from":null,"superseded_by":null,"pending_successor":null,"authority":"consumer-protection-ontario","keywords":["deposit","down payment","up front","50% up front","half down","advance"],"reviewer":"jc","last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs","url":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/your-rights-when-starting-home-renovations-or-repairs","instrument":"Consumer Protection Ontario guidance","quote":"keep down-payments to a minimum (we recommend no more than 10%)","retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"kind":"right","review":{"reviewer":"jc","reviewer_name":"Justin Challenger","unsigned":false,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","next_review":"2027-03-09","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"holdback-and-liens","title":"The holdback is what protects you from a subcontractor's lien","tier":"A","plain":"Ontario's Construction Act requires an owner to retain a statutory holdback from payment, and gives unpaid contractors and subcontractors a window to register a lien against the property.","detail":"The trap: an unpaid subcontractor can lien your home even if you paid your general contractor in full. Retaining the holdback for the required period is the mechanism that limits your exposure. The exact percentage and the number of days are set by the Act and have been amended — confirm the current figures with a construction lawyer or the Act itself before relying on a number.","instrument":"Construction Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.30","in_force_from":null,"superseded_by":null,"pending_successor":null,"authority":"construction-act","keywords":["holdback","lien","subcontractor","unpaid","final payment","construction lien","title"],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","confidence":"framework-only","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"Construction Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.30","url":"https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90c30","instrument":"R.S.O. 1990, c. C.30","retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"kind":"right","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","next_review":"2027-03-09","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"no-general-contractor-licence","title":"Ontario has no province-wide general contractor licence","tier":"A","plain":"There is no single provincial licence that makes someone a legitimate general contractor for renovation work. Anyone telling you they are \"licensed by the province\" as a general renovator is describing something that does not exist.","detail":"What does exist: specific trades are regulated (electrical through the ESA, gas through the TSSA), new home builders are licensed by the HCRA, and some municipalities — Toronto among them — run their own contractor or renovator licensing. So the right question is not \"are you licensed?\" but \"licensed by whom, for what, and can I see the number?\"","instrument":null,"in_force_from":null,"superseded_by":null,"pending_successor":null,"authority":"municipal-building","keywords":["licensed contractor","general contractor licence","is he licensed","licence number","certified contractor","registered"],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"Electrical Safety Authority — find a licensed electrical contractor","url":"https://esasafe.com/contractors/find-a-licensed-electrical-contractor/","instrument":null,"retrieved":"2026-09-10"},{"tier":"primary","title":"HCRA — Ontario Builder Directory","url":"https://obd.hcraontario.ca/","instrument":"New Home Construction Licensing Act, 2017","retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"kind":"right","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-10","next_review":"2027-03-09","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}}],"authorities":[{"id":"municipal-building","name":"Your municipal building department","abbr":"Building dept.","domain":"Building permits, inspections, local administration of the Ontario Building Code","binding":true,"role":"Issues and closes building permits, carries out inspections, and applies the Ontario Building Code to your specific address. This is the only body whose answer binds on whether your project needs a permit.","homeowner_use":"Call with your address and describe the scope. Ask whether a permit is required, who is expected to pull it, and what inspections it will need.","verify_url":null,"verify_label":"Find your municipality's building department","tier":"A","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"2024 Ontario Building Code","url":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/2024-ontario-building-code","instrument":"O. Reg. 332/12 (2024 edition)","in_force_from":"2025-01-01","retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-28","kind":"authority","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-28","next_review":"2027-03-27","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"esa","name":"Electrical Safety Authority","abbr":"ESA","domain":"Ontario Electrical Safety Code, electrical contractor licensing, notifications and inspection","binding":true,"role":"Licenses electrical contractors (ECRA/ESA licence), receives notification of electrical work, and inspects it. Electrical work is notified to the ESA, separately from any municipal building permit.","homeowner_use":"Verify that your electrical contractor holds a current ECRA/ESA licence, and confirm a notification was filed for your job. If you do work yourself on your own home, you file the notification.","verify_url":"https://esasafe.com/contractors/find-a-licensed-electrical-contractor/","verify_label":"Find a licensed electrical contractor (ESA)","tier":"A","notable":"A homeowner may do electrical work on their own home, but the work must still be notified to the ESA and must still meet the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. Doing the work yourself does not remove the notification or the inspection.","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"ESA — DIY electrical work","url":"https://esasafe.com/compliance/diy-electrical-work/","instrument":"Ontario Electrical Safety Code","in_force_from":null,"retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-28","kind":"authority","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-28","next_review":"2027-03-27","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"tssa","name":"Technical Standards and Safety Authority","abbr":"TSSA","domain":"Fuels and gas, gas technician certification (G1/G2/G3), registered contractors","binding":true,"role":"Certifies gas technicians and registers fuel contractors. Gas work in Ontario must be carried out by a certified technician working for a registered contractor.","homeowner_use":"Ask for the technician's TSSA certificate and the company's contractor registration before any gas appliance, gas line, or venting work.","verify_url":"https://www.tssa.org/","verify_label":"TSSA — fuels safety","tier":"A","notable":"This is not a homeowner-DIY area. Unlike electrical, there is no self-work path for gas: a homeowner cannot lawfully do their own gas work regardless of skill.","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"TSSA — fuels industry professionals","url":"https://www.tssa.org/fuels-industry-professional","instrument":"Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000","in_force_from":null,"retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-28","kind":"authority","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-28","next_review":"2027-03-27","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"mltsd","name":"Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development","abbr":"MLITSD","domain":"Asbestos and designated substances on construction projects, worker safety","binding":true,"role":"Administers O. Reg. 278/05, which governs how asbestos-containing materials are identified and handled on construction projects, including work in homes.","homeowner_use":"In an older home, expect a contractor to raise a designated substance survey before demolition work. A contractor who asks for one is following the regulation, not padding the quote.","verify_url":"https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/050278","verify_label":"O. Reg. 278/05 — full text","tier":"A","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"O. Reg. 278/05 — Designated Substance: Asbestos","url":"https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/050278","instrument":"O. Reg. 278/05","in_force_from":null,"retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-28","kind":"authority","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-28","next_review":"2027-03-27","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"one-call","name":"Ontario One Call","abbr":"One Call","domain":"Locating buried utilities before excavation","binding":true,"role":"Single point of contact for utility locates. Contacting One Call before digging is required by law in Ontario under the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012.","homeowner_use":"Request a free locate before digging deck footings, fence posts, a new garden bed, or anything else that breaks ground. Submit the request ahead of your dig date — locates are not instant.","verify_url":"https://ontarioonecall.ca/homeowners/","verify_label":"Request a locate (Ontario One Call)","tier":"A","notable":"This applies to homeowners doing their own digging, not only to contractors. It is free.","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"Ontario One Call — homeowners","url":"https://ontarioonecall.ca/homeowners/","instrument":"Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012","in_force_from":null,"retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-28","kind":"authority","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-28","next_review":"2027-03-27","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"hcra","name":"Home Construction Regulatory Authority","abbr":"HCRA","domain":"Licensing of new home builders and vendors; the Ontario Builder Directory","binding":true,"role":"Licenses anyone who builds or sells new homes in Ontario, and publishes the Ontario Builder Directory. Tarion administers the warranty once a home is enrolled.","homeowner_use":"Before signing with a builder on a new build or a custom home, search the Ontario Builder Directory to confirm the licence.","verify_url":"https://obd.hcraontario.ca/","verify_label":"Search the Ontario Builder Directory","tier":"A","notable":"This covers new home construction, not ordinary renovation. A renovator working on your existing house is generally not HCRA-licensed, and that is not a red flag.","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"HCRA — expectations for your builder","url":"https://www.hcraontario.ca/new-home-buyer/expectations-for-your-builder/","instrument":"New Home Construction Licensing Act, 2017","in_force_from":null,"retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-28","kind":"authority","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-28","next_review":"2027-03-27","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"wsib","name":"Workplace Safety and Insurance Board","abbr":"WSIB","domain":"Workplace injury coverage in construction; clearance certificates","binding":true,"role":"Coverage in construction is generally compulsory, including for many independent operators. A clearance certificate confirms an account is in good standing.","homeowner_use":"Ask for a WSIB clearance certificate before work starts, particularly where a crew will be on site.","verify_url":"https://www.wsib.ca/en/businesses/premiums-and-payment/clearances","verify_label":"WSIB clearances","tier":"A","notable":"Read the absence of coverage carefully. Ontario exempts independent operators who do exclusively home renovation work, directly for the person living in the home, with no employees. A lawful sole proprietor may have no clearance certificate. Treat it as a question to ask, not a verdict.","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"WSIB — expanded compulsory coverage in construction FAQs","url":"https://www.wsib.ca/en/expanded-compulsory-coverage-construction-faqs","instrument":"Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997","in_force_from":null,"retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-28","kind":"authority","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-28","next_review":"2027-03-27","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"consumer-protection-ontario","name":"Consumer Protection Ontario","abbr":"CPO","domain":"Consumer contracts, direct agreements, estimates, cancellation rights","binding":false,"role":"Administers Ontario's consumer protection law and handles complaints about contracts and business conduct. Does not rule on construction quality or code compliance.","homeowner_use":"Understand your contract rights before you sign, and file a complaint if a business breaks them.","verify_url":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/your-rights-when-starting-home-renovations-or-repairs","verify_label":"Your rights when starting home renovations","tier":"A","notable":"Ontario passed a Consumer Protection Act, 2023, but as of this card's review date the 2002 Act is still the one Ontario's own homeowner guidance cites. General AI answers frequently cite the 2023 Act as though it governs. It does not yet.","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs","url":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/your-rights-when-starting-home-renovations-or-repairs","instrument":"Consumer Protection Act, 2002","in_force_from":null,"retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-28","kind":"authority","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-28","next_review":"2027-03-27","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}},{"id":"construction-act","name":"Construction Act (Ontario)","abbr":"Construction Act","domain":"Statutory holdback, construction liens","binding":false,"role":"Sets out the holdback an owner retains from payment, and the window in which an unpaid contractor or subcontractor can register a lien against the property.","homeowner_use":"Understand why a holdback is retained from the final payment, and why an unpaid subcontractor can lien a home whose owner already paid the general contractor in full.","verify_url":"https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90c30","verify_label":"Construction Act — full text","tier":"A","notable":"Paying your general contractor in full does not by itself protect you from a subcontractor's lien. The holdback is the mechanism that does.","sources":[{"tier":"primary","title":"Construction Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.30","url":"https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90c30","instrument":"R.S.O. 1990, c. C.30","in_force_from":null,"retrieved":"2026-09-10"}],"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","last_reviewed":"2026-09-28","kind":"authority","review":{"reviewer":"trade-reviewer-tbd","reviewer_name":"Trade reviewer (to be appointed)","unsigned":true,"last_reviewed":"2026-09-28","next_review":"2027-03-27","sla_days":180,"state":"current","on_breach":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","overdue_by":0,"pending_note":null}}],"referral":{"policy":{"note":"Referral is offered, never injected. It appears in exactly two places: when the homeowner asks to speak to someone, and when the assistant cannot answer from the corpus. It is never blended into a sourced answer, never ranked by payment, and never presented as the app's recommendation on a question the corpus could have answered.","triggers":["user-requested","refusal-handoff"],"never":["Injected into an answer the corpus could satisfy","Ranked or ordered by payment","Presented as an endorsement of a specific firm","Triggered by a question the homeowner did not ask to escalate"],"open_decision":"Whether the network pays for placement is an unresolved business decision. If it ever does, that fact has to be disclosed on this surface in plain language, or the neutrality that makes the rest of the site worth reading is gone."},"categories":[{"id":"licensed-electrician","label":"Licensed electrical contractor","authority":"esa","needs":["electrical","panel","ev-charger","wiring","outlets","knob and tube","aluminum wiring"],"when":"Any work on the permanent electrical installation, or an inspection of existing wiring you are worried about.","verify_first":"Confirm the ECRA/ESA licence number before work starts."},{"id":"gas-technician","label":"TSSA-certified gas technician","authority":"tssa","needs":["furnace","gas","boiler","water heater","fireplace","venting","carbon monoxide"],"when":"Anything involving a gas appliance, gas line, or venting. There is no homeowner-DIY path here.","verify_first":"Ask for the technician's TSSA certificate and the company's contractor registration."},{"id":"hvac-contractor","label":"HVAC contractor","authority":"tssa","needs":["heat pump","air conditioning","ductwork","ventilation","hrv","heating"],"when":"Sizing, replacing, or designing a heating and cooling system, including heat pump conversions.","verify_first":"Ask whether the load calculation is included, and who is certified for the gas side of the work."},{"id":"licensed-plumber","label":"Licensed plumber","authority":"municipal-building","needs":["plumbing","drain","leak","backwater valve","sump","water heater","bathroom"],"when":"Drain, waste, and vent work, fixture relocation, or anything that will be inspected under the plumbing sections of the Building Code."},{"id":"home-inspector","label":"Registered home inspector","authority":null,"needs":["inspection","buying","assessment","overall condition","second opinion","unsure"],"when":"You need someone to actually look at the property before making a decision. This is the right answer whenever a question cannot be settled without seeing the house."},{"id":"designer-engineer","label":"Designer or structural engineer","authority":"municipal-building","needs":["load bearing","structural","beam","addition","drawings","permit drawings","removing a wall"],"when":"Removing or altering structure, or a permit application that requires stamped drawings."},{"id":"abatement","label":"Asbestos or designated substance specialist","authority":"mltsd","needs":["asbestos","vermiculite","lead paint","designated substance","survey","older home","popcorn ceiling"],"when":"A pre-1990 home facing demolition work, or a survey that came back positive."},{"id":"construction-lawyer","label":"Construction or consumer lawyer","authority":null,"needs":["lien","dispute","contract","sue","deposit lost","abandoned","legal"],"when":"A live dispute, a lien registered against your title, or a contract you have already signed and want out of. The site can describe the framework; it cannot advise you on your matter."},{"id":"general-contractor","label":"General contractor","authority":null,"needs":["renovation","basement","kitchen","addition","multiple trades","project management"],"when":"A multi-trade project that needs someone coordinating the whole scope.","verify_first":"Remember there is no province-wide general contractor licence — ask what they are licensed for, by whom, and check the municipal requirement where you live."}]},"policy":{"note":"Review tiers set how often a card must be re-checked against its primary sources, and what happens to an answer when that deadline passes. Enforced by scripts/build.mjs at build time — a Tier A breach fails the build.","tiers":{"A":{"label":"Statutory and licensing","sla_days":180,"on_breach":"withhold","on_breach_label":"Answer withheld; the assistant refuses and offers a referral instead.","build":"fail"},"B":{"label":"Municipal specifics","sla_days":90,"on_breach":"notice","on_breach_label":"Answer served behind a staleness notice with a link to the municipal page.","build":"warn"},"C":{"label":"System literacy","sla_days":365,"on_breach":"queue","on_breach_label":"Answer served; card queued for review.","build":"warn"}},"change_control":{"note":"Detected upstream changes never publish themselves. scripts/watch-sources.mjs records a content hash for every watched source URL. When a hash moves, the affected cards are written to content/pending-changes.json and the build marks them 'pending review'. A named reviewer must confirm the change and re-date the card before it is served again.","states":["current","pending-review","stale","withheld"]}}}