Electrical
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.
Can you do your own electrical work in Ontario?
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.
Authority: Electrical Safety Authority · Source: ESA — DIY electrical work (Ontario Electrical Safety Code) · Reviewed 2026-09-10 (reviewer placeholder — not credentialed sign-off)
Can you work on it yourself?
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.
Authority Electrical Safety Authority · Find a licensed electrical contractor (ESA)
How long it lasts
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.
What failure looks like
- 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
Worth knowing about your own house
- 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?
Project briefs that involve this system
Sources and review
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ESA — DIY electrical work
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.
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ESA — DIY electrical work (inspection and certificate)
You must get your work reviewed by ESA as soon as it is complete.
Reviewed Reviewed 2026-09-10 Next review 2027-09-10 Tier C · 365-day SLA Reviewer: Trade reviewer (to be appointed) (placeholder)