Before You Renovate: A Due-Diligence Checklist for Canadian Homeowners

Consumer protection rules for home renovations vary across Canadian provinces. Some jurisdictions require written contracts. Some require contractor licensing. Some offer statutory caps on cost overruns. Others rely on general consumer protection frameworks and leave the specifics to the homeowner.

The challenge isn't that rules don't exist. It's that they're different depending on where you live, and most homeowners don't know which ones apply until a project has already gone sideways. This checklist won't tell you what the rules are in your province — that's the job of your provincial consumer protection office. What it will do is give you the right questions to ask and the right sources to check before you sign a renovation contract.

The Checklist

1. Does Your Province Require Contractor Licensing?

What to check: Whether your province or municipality requires general contractors to hold a license for the type of work you need.

Where to look:

• Quebec: Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) — searchable public registry
• Other provinces: Check your provincial consumer protection office (listed below) for guidance on licensing requirements in your area
• Municipal level: Some cities require permits or registrations even when the province doesn't. Call your local building department.

Question to ask the contractor: "Are you licensed or registered for this type of work in this province/municipality?" Then verify independently.

2. Does Your Province Require a Written Contract?

What to check: Whether your province requires renovation contracts to be in writing above a certain dollar amount, and what that contract must include.

Where to look:

• Your provincial consumer protection office website (linked below)
• Provincial consumer protection legislation (your office can tell you which Act applies)

Question to ask yourself: "Do I have a written contract that specifies the scope, cost estimate, payment schedule, timeline, and warranty terms?" If not, insist on one — regardless of whether your province legally requires it.

3. Are There Caps on Cost Overruns?

What to check: Whether your province places a statutory limit on how much a renovation can exceed the original estimate without a signed change order.

Where to look:

• Your provincial consumer protection office
• Your contract itself — even if your province doesn't mandate a cap, you can include one in the agreement

Question to ask the contractor: "What happens if the project costs more than the estimate? Is there a written change order process?"

4. Is the Contractor Insured?

What to check: Whether the contractor carries commercial general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage.

How to verify: Ask for a certificate of insurance, then contact the insurer directly to confirm the policy is current and covers the type of work being performed. Don't rely on photocopies of policy documents provided by the contractor alone.

Question to ask the contractor: "Can you provide a certificate of insurance? Who is your insurer so I can confirm coverage?"

5. Is the Payment Schedule Milestone-Based?

What to check: Whether the proposed payment schedule ties payments to completed work rather than front-loading deposits.

What to look for: A standard structure is 10% to 15% deposit, progress payments at defined milestones (demolition complete, rough-in inspected, fixtures installed), and final payment on completion and walkthrough.

Question to ask the contractor: "Can you walk me through the payment schedule and what milestones each payment corresponds to?"

6. Is There a Written Warranty?

What to check: Whether the contractor offers a written warranty on workmanship and materials, and what it covers.

Where to look:

• The contract itself — the warranty should be specified in writing
• Your provincial consumer protection office, for guidance on any statutory warranty requirements that apply

Question to ask the contractor: "What warranty do you offer on workmanship? On materials? Is it in the contract?"

7. Have You Gotten Comparable Quotes?

What to check: Whether you've received at least three written quotes based on the same scope document.

Why it matters: When three contractors quote against the same written scope, their numbers become directly comparable. Without a shared scope, you're comparing different interpretations of a conversation at different price points.

Question to ask yourself: "Did I send the same written scope to every contractor I invited to quote?"

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Provincial Consumer Protection Offices

These are the offices that administer consumer protection rules in each province. They can tell you which rules apply to renovation contracts in your jurisdiction.

Province	Office	Website
Alberta	Service Alberta	alberta.ca/hiring-a-contractor
British Columbia	Consumer Protection BC	consumerprotectionbc.ca
Manitoba	Consumer Protection Office	manitoba.ca/cp
New Brunswick	Financial and Consumer Services Commission	fcnb.ca
Newfoundland and Labrador	Service NL	servicenl.gov.nl.ca
Nova Scotia	Service Nova Scotia	novascotia.ca/sns/access/individuals/consumer-awareness.asp
Ontario	Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery	ontario.ca/page/your-rights-under-consumer-protection-act
Prince Edward Island	Consumer, Corporate and Insurance Division	princeedwardisland.ca/en/topic/consumer-protection
Quebec	Office de la protection du consommateur	opc.gouv.qc.ca
Saskatchewan	Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority	fcaa.gov.sk.ca

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The Short Version

Before you sign a renovation contract, ask these questions:

1. Is the contractor licensed or registered where required?
2. Do I have a written contract with scope, cost, timeline, and payment terms?
3. Does the contract include a cap on overruns and a change order process?
4. Have I verified insurance independently?
5. Are payments tied to completed milestones?
6. Is the warranty in writing?
7. Did I get at least three quotes against the same written scope?

If the answer to any of these is no, the place to start is your provincial consumer protection office. They can tell you exactly which rules apply where you live and what your options are.

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Sources

Source	Data Referenced
Service Alberta	Provincial consumer guidance for hiring contractors and recommended contract elements
Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ)	Quebec contractor licensing and public registry
Ontario Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery	Ontario consumer protection framework for home renovation contracts

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This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, regulatory, or licensing advice. buy better does not provide legal interpretations, contractor licensing verification, or regulatory compliance services. Consumer protection rules vary by province and are subject to change. The checklist above is intended to help you identify the right questions to ask and the right offices to contact — not to explain or apply the rules themselves. Consult your provincial consumer protection office or a licensed legal professional for advice specific to your jurisdiction and circumstances.