What Calgary Homeowners Should Know Before Hiring a Contractor in 2026
Calgary police are investigating multiple renovation fraud cases. Here's how to verify a contractor's licence, insurance, and permits before you hire.
Calgary police announced in 2026 that they're investigating six separate home improvement fraud cases targeting older adults across the city. According to CTV News Calgary, the combined losses exceeded $116,000. In each case, individuals representing two different companies approached homeowners door-to-door, pointed out visible damage or referenced nearby projects to justify urgent repair work, collected payment, and then disappeared. The phone numbers and websites went offline shortly after.
Separately, CTV News Calgary reported on a residential renovation dispute where construction began before the city issued a building permit, a gas line was struck during excavation, and the project ballooned from a $50,000 quote to over $76,000. The City of Calgary launched an investigation into the contractor's business licence.
These aren't isolated incidents. A national CTV News/Nanos Research poll released in July 2026 found that 26.7 per cent of Canadians have experienced, or know someone who experienced, a renovation where payment was taken but work wasn't completed. Calgary's local cases fit a pattern that extends across the country.
The good news is that Alberta has specific tools and resources that let you verify a contractor's credentials before you sign anything.
How to Verify a Contractor's Business Licence in Calgary
The City of Calgary requires contractors to hold a municipal business licence for most construction and renovation work. Specialty trade contractors (electricians, plumbers, carpenters), excavation services, and general contractors all fall under this requirement.
The City of Calgary publishes a public inquiry tool through its Development and Building Approvals services where you can search for a contractor by name and verify their licence status. The database includes the trade name, business location, licence creation date, and current status. If a contractor can't be found in the database, that's information worth having before you hand over a deposit.
Service Alberta adds another layer: contractors who accept payment before completing work and negotiate away from their business location must hold a provincial licence and post security through Service Alberta. You can verify provincial licensing status through Service Alberta's website or by calling 1-877-427-4088.
How to Check WCB Coverage for Alberta Contractors
WCB Alberta advises homeowners to request a clearance letter before hiring a contractor. A clearance letter confirms whether the contractor has active Workers' Compensation Board coverage and whether their account is in good standing.
This matters for a practical reason: according to WCB Alberta, if you don't have a clearance letter and the contractor hasn't paid their premiums, you may be held liable for those premiums. That's a financial exposure most homeowners don't realize they're carrying.
You can request a clearance letter through the myWCB online portal or the myWCB mobile app. WCB Alberta also advises requesting an updated clearance letter before each payment installment, not just at the start of the project.
Why You Need Proof of Contractor Liability Insurance
Service Alberta advises homeowners to request an insurance certificate proving the contractor carries public liability and property damage coverage. This is separate from WCB coverage. Liability insurance covers damage to your property during the renovation. Without it, if a worker accidentally damages your home's foundation, plumbing, or electrical system, the financial responsibility may fall to you.
Ask for a certificate of insurance naming you as the certificate holder. This is standard practice in commercial construction, and reputable residential contractors carry this coverage as a matter of course.
How to Confirm Building Permits in Calgary Before Work Starts
CTV News Calgary's March 2026 reporting documented a case where renovation work began before the required building permit was issued. According to the report, provincial regulations prohibit permit-required construction from starting before official approval.
Service Alberta notes that the responsibility for permits and inspections ultimately rests with the homeowner. Even if your contractor agrees to pull the permits, you can confirm their status through the City of Calgary's online building permit portal. If the permit hasn't been issued and work has started, that's a conversation to have immediately.
Not all renovations require a permit. Cosmetic work like painting, flooring, and cabinet refacing typically doesn't. But anything structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical almost certainly does. When in doubt, the City of Calgary's Planning and Development Services can advise.
How to Look Up a Contractor on the Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau of Alberta and East Kootenay maintains profiles and complaint histories for businesses in the region. A BBB profile won't tell you everything about a contractor, but the absence of a profile, or a profile with unresolved complaints, tells you something.
In the Calgary fraud cases reported by CTV News, the companies involved lacked verifiable business credentials. A quick BBB search, combined with the licence and WCB checks above, creates a baseline picture of whether a contractor operates as a legitimate, established business.
Door-to-Door Contractor Warning Signs Calgary Homeowners Should Know
Service Alberta's contractor hiring guide states that "most problems" with contractors originate from door-to-door solicitation. The six fraud cases investigated by Calgary police all followed this pattern: unsolicited visits, urgency framing, and payment requests before any work materialized.
Service Alberta's guide specifically flags these patterns as warning signs: contractors who offer discounts for using your home as an advertisement, who provide quotes without inspecting the site, who request large down payments to purchase materials, who refuse to provide written contracts, or who list only a post office box or answering service as their contact information.
None of these patterns are exclusive to Calgary. But Calgary's recent cases demonstrate how consistently they appear when fraud does occur.
How to Structure a Renovation Payment Schedule
Service Alberta advises that every contractor agreement should include "a clearly itemized payment schedule." The guide also advises that any changes to the contract should have your written approval and a signed statement from the contractor documenting the cost adjustment.
A reasonable payment structure for a residential renovation ties each payment to a specific, verifiable milestone. A deposit of 10 to 15 per cent at signing, a progress payment when work reaches a defined stage, and a final payment on completion and inspection. If a contractor asks for 50 per cent or more before starting work, that's a departure from established industry practice and worth questioning.
Milestone-based payment isn't adversarial. It's the same structure that commercial construction has used for decades, and it aligns both parties' incentives with completing the project on time and to spec.
What Your Contractor Agreement Should Include in Alberta
Service Alberta's contractor hiring guide lists the minimum contents of a written contract: a detailed work description with blueprints if needed, material specifications, identification of any subcontracted work, a statement of who handles permits and inspections, a commitment to local code compliance, debris removal responsibility, an itemized payment schedule, warranty details, an insurance certificate, a WCB number, a cancellation rights statement, and a dispute resolution process.
That's a long list. But each item exists because its absence has caused a real dispute between a real homeowner and a real contractor. The contract is the document that turns a handshake into something enforceable.
Service Alberta also advises filling any blank spaces in the contract with "NA" and initialling all changes alongside the contractor's signature. If the contract involves substantial money, Service Alberta recommends having it reviewed by a lawyer before signing.
Calgary and Alberta Contractor Verification Resources
Here's where to verify credentials and get help in Calgary:
City of Calgary Business Licence Lookup: The Development and Building Approvals public inquiry tool lets you search for licensed contractors by name. Available online through the City of Calgary's DBA Services portal.
WCB Alberta Clearance Letters: Request clearance through myWCB.ab.ca or the myWCB mobile app. Clearance confirms active coverage and good standing.
Service Alberta Consumer Protection: For questions about contractor licensing, filing complaints, or verifying prepaid contractor registration, call 1-877-427-4088 or visit Alberta.ca.
Better Business Bureau of Alberta and East Kootenay: Search business profiles and complaint histories at bbb.org. The Calgary office serves the Alberta and East Kootenay region.
City of Calgary Building Permits: Check permit status through the City's online Development and Building Approvals portal. For questions about whether your renovation requires a permit, contact Planning and Development Services.
Calgary Police Non-Emergency Line: If you suspect contractor fraud, report it to Calgary Police at 403-266-1234. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or through the P3 Tips app.
Your Complete Calgary Contractor Pre-Hire Checklist
Before you sign a contract or hand over a deposit:
Write a detailed scope describing the work you want done, including dimensions, materials, and finishes. Send the same scope to every contractor you're considering. Look up each contractor's business licence through the City of Calgary's public inquiry tool. Request a WCB clearance letter from WCB Alberta's portal. Ask for a certificate of insurance showing liability and property damage coverage. Check BBB profiles for complaint history. Confirm that required permits will be pulled before work starts. Negotiate a milestone-based payment schedule tied to verifiable stages of completion. Get everything in a written contract that covers the items outlined in Service Alberta's guide.
That process doesn't take specialized knowledge. It takes time, a few free online tools, and the discipline to verify before you sign. Calgary has the resources in place. The question is whether you use them.
buy better® was built for exactly this moment - before you sign. Our SafeSelect Contract Risk Review flags hidden fees, unusual payment terms, and missing clauses in contractor quotes and contracts. If you want expert support at every stage of your renovation, our DIWY (Do It With You) service puts a real advocate in your corner from quote to completion.
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Sources
Source | Data Referenced |
|---|---|
Calgary police investigating six home improvement fraud cases targeting older adults; $116,000+ in losses; door-to-door operators vanished after payment | |
Calgary renovation dispute: construction before permit issued, gas line struck, $50,000 quote ballooned to $76,000+, City investigating business licence | |
26.7% of Canadians experienced or know someone who experienced unfinished renovation work where payment was taken | |
 | Contractor hiring guide: written estimate requirements, prepaid contractor licensing, WCB verification, contract requirements, door-to-door solicitation warning, permit responsibility, complaint line (1-877-427-4088) |
Clearance letter process: confirms contractor coverage and good standing; homeowner liability if contractor lacks coverage | |
Clearance advised before hiring and before each payment installment | |
Public business licence inquiry tool for verifying contractor licensing status | |
Contractor business licence and City Qualified Trade (CQT) requirements | |
Business profiles and complaint records for Alberta contractors |
This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or planning advice. buy better does not provide price quotes, cost benchmarks, or contractor recommendations. Municipal bylaws, provincial regulations, and permit requirements change frequently. Consult the City of Calgary’s Planning and Development Services and a qualified legal professional for advice specific to your project.
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