Toronto Kitchen Contractor Credentials: How to Check Licences, Insurance, WSIB and Electrical Trades
At a Glance
- Is the contractor licensed, insured and using qualified trades? Five official lookups answer that before you sign: the City of Toronto Building Renovator licence, a current liability insurance certificate, a WSIB clearance certificate, ESA Licensed Electrical Contractor status, and certified plumbers and gas technicians.
- renoWOW! (Best for Older Toronto Houses), Easy Renovation (Best for Full Design-Build Service) and Toronto Custom Concepts (Best for West-GTA Showroom Planning) each publish their RenoMark status and insurance details.
- The HCRA licenses new home builders, not renovators, so its directory will not vet your kitchen contractor.
- A WSIB clearance certificate is valid for up to 90 days, so ask for one dated close to your start date.
- Installing cabinetry alone needs no building permit in Toronto, but plumbing changes and wall changes do.
Few rooms pull in as many regulated trades as a Toronto kitchen. A single project can involve electrical circuits, drains, gas lines and sometimes a wall change, and each answers to its own licensing body.
Toronto kitchen contractor credentials only count once you confirm them in the issuing body’s own search tool. renoWOW!, Easy Renovation and Toronto Custom Concepts, reviewed below, publish their credentials openly.
The Credential Checklist at a Glance
| Credential | Who Issues It | How to Check | Why It Matters for a Kitchen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building Renovator licence | City of Toronto | Business Licence Look Up | Required for any business that renovates or advertises renovation |
| Liability insurance certificate | Contractor’s insurer | Certificate naming your address and dates | Covers damage to your home and neighbours |
| WSIB clearance | WSIB | eClearance online search | Protects you if a worker is injured on site |
| ESA LEC licence | Electrical Safety Authority | ESA Contractor Locator | Only LECs may do electrical work in your home |
| Plumber C of Q / City plumbing licence | Skilled Trades Ontario / City of Toronto | Public Register / licence lookup | Sink moves and new drains need a qualified plumber |
| TSSA fuels contractor + certified gas technician | TSSA | TSSA contractor list | Gas range hookups carry fire and CO risk |
| Building permit | Toronto Building | Permit number on the job | Confirms inspections for plumbing and wall changes |
| RenoMark (voluntary) | CHBA / local HBA | RenoMark directory | Signals a code covering warranty, insurance and contracts |
The City of Toronto Building Renovator Licence
The City of Toronto requires a Building Renovator licence from any business that repairs or renovates buildings, including those that only advertise it, per the City of Toronto.
Licence applicants pass an oral trade exam, submit a criminal record check and sign a health and safety declaration. A new licence costs $495.12 and renewal runs $293.14 a year.
The Toronto Business Licence Look Up shows whether a licence is active.
The City began reviewing its licensing bylaw, Chapter 545, in 2025, and the renovator licence is among the categories under discussion, according to a BILD CEO op-ed in NextHome.
Insurance and WSIB Clearance
Liability Insurance
RenoMark sets $2 million in liability insurance as the minimum for its members, per the CHBA RenoMark Code of Conduct.
A broker-issued certificate of insurance showing your address and project dates is the document to request.
WSIB Clearance Certificates
A WSIB clearance certificate confirms that a contractor’s premium account is in good standing, and each certificate is valid for up to 90 days, according to WSIB. Homeowners hiring for their own home are not required to get one, but checking a clearance is a prudent step before work starts.
The WSIB eClearance tool lets you search the contractor yourself.
Electrical, Plumbing and Gas Trades
ESA Licensed Electrical Contractors
Ontario law allows only Licensed Electrical Contractors, or electricians they employ, to do electrical work in your home, according to the Electrical Safety Authority.
Every LEC carries a 7-digit ECRA/ESA licence number, which should appear on the estimate. The LEC files the notification of work with ESA, and after inspection receives a Certificate of Acceptance, which ESA calls important for insurance and resale.
Licensed Plumbers and Plumbing Permits
Plumbing is a compulsory trade in Ontario, so anyone doing the work needs a Certificate of Qualification or registered apprentice status, according to Skilled Trades Ontario. Check individuals on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register.
The City of Toronto also issues a Plumbing Contractor licence to plumbing firms. Installing or modifying plumbing, such as relocating a sink drain, needs a building permit, while replacing a fixture such as a faucet does not, per Toronto Building.
Gas Ranges and TSSA
TSSA advises homeowners to hire only registered fuels contractors that employ certified gas technicians, according to the Technical Standards and Safety Authority.
The TSSA fuels contractor search confirms registration. Ask the technician for a gas certificate number too.
Top 3 Recommendations
renoWOW!, Easy Renovation and Toronto Custom Concepts each publicly document RenoMark status, insurance coverage and how they handle licensed trades.
| Company | Best For | RenoMark/BILD | Insurance and WSIB | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| renoWOW! | Best for Older Toronto Houses | RenoMark verified, BILD GTA | Full general liability stated | 2-year workmanship, in writing |
| Easy Renovation | Best for Full Design-Build Service | RenoMark verified, BILD | $5M liability, WSIB-insured trades | 2-year, labour and materials |
| Toronto Custom Concepts | Best for West-GTA Showroom Planning | RenoMark verified, BILD GTA | Licensed, WSIB, fully insured stated | Not published; ask in writing |
1. renoWOW! – Best for Older Toronto Houses
renoWOW! has operated in Toronto since 1993 and cites work on Annex Victorian semis, Leaside bungalows and Rosedale heritage homes. The company states it carries general liability insurance, uses licensed tradespeople and handles City permits and inspections.
renoWOW!'s HomeStars profile shows 5/5 from 160 reviews, and the firm holds Best of Houzz Service badges from 2017 to 2020.
Key Strengths:
- Long track record with older Toronto housing stock
- Fixed price agreed before work starts, with a 2-year workmanship warranty in writing
- Large HomeStars review base for cross-checking recent clients
Important Considerations:
- Houzz shows only 10 reviews, so lean on HomeStars for volume
- The company’s own estimate puts most Toronto kitchens at 6 to 12 weeks on site, so plan temporary cooking space
Ideal For: Owners of pre-war semis and bungalows who want the price fixed before work starts and a two-year workmanship warranty in writing.
Contact:
Address: 99 Yorkville Ave, Suite 200, Toronto, ON M5R 3K5
Phone: 866-352-1251
Instagram: instagram.com/renowow.ca
2. Easy Renovation – Best for Full Design-Build Service
Easy Renovation runs design, materials and construction under one fixed-price, itemized contract, with a dedicated project manager and an in-house design team producing 4K 3D renders before demolition. The company says kitchens finish in about three weeks on average on site.
HomeStars named Easy Renovation Best of the Best in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, and Houzz awarded it Best of Houzz Service badges in each of 2021 through 2024. Its Houzz profile shows 5.0 from 116 reviews.
Easy Renovation’s memberships cover BILD, NKBA and RenoMark (verified), and the BBB lists it as an accredited business rated A+. The firm carries $5M liability insurance, uses licensed, certified, WSIB-insured trades and backs every project with a 2-year warranty covering labour and materials.
Permit management for Toronto Building, ESA and TSSA stays with the firm, which hands over permit numbers and the ESA certificate at closeout.
Google shows a 5.0 average from 87 reviews for the Etobicoke location. The firm cites 500+ GTA renovation projects and a trade team averaging 30+ years of experience.
Beyond review sites, UrbanToronto and the Toronto Sun have covered the company, and Streets of Toronto called it a full-service design-build company for kitchen, bathroom and condo remodels in an October 2025 partner feature.
From Zaminah G.’s five-star Google review of her condo kitchen renovation:
“The entire team of contractors were friendly and fantastic. The project took less time than expected and I’d highly recommend Easy Reno for any home improvements.” (Google review)
Key Strengths:
- One contract covers design, permits and trades coordination
- Permit numbers and the ESA certificate handed over at closeout
- $5M liability coverage, well above the RenoMark minimum
Important Considerations:
- Run your own City licence lookup anyway
- Warranty length sits at RenoMark’s two-year floor, so get exclusions spelled out before signing
Ideal For: Homeowners who would rather not hire and coordinate separate designers, electricians and plumbers, and who want permit numbers and the ESA certificate handed over at closeout.
Contact:
Address: 68 Jutland Rd, Unit 9, Etobicoke, ON M8Z 0G7
Phone: 416-323-3419
Facebook: facebook.com/easyrenovationcanada
3. Toronto Custom Concepts – Best for West-GTA Showroom Planning
Toronto Custom Concepts pairs a Queensway head office with a Mississauga design showroom where clients review kitchen finishes in person. The company states it is licensed, WSIB-covered and fully insured, and serves Oakville, Burlington and Hamilton.
Toronto Custom Concepts’ Houzz profile shows 5.0 from 119 reviews, with Best of Houzz Service badges every year from 2013 to 2026 plus a 2013 Design badge. The firm is RenoMark verified and a BILD GTA member.
Key Strengths:
- Physical showroom for comparing cabinetry and counters
- Fourteen straight years of Best of Houzz Service recognition
- Public statement on licensing, WSIB and insurance
Important Considerations:
- Its newest HomeStars review dates to 2020, so lean on Houzz for recent feedback
- Head office and showroom both sit in the west GTA, a longer trip for east-end homeowners
Ideal For: West-end, Oakville and Burlington homeowners who want to see cabinet, counter and tile samples in person before committing to a layout.
Contact:
Address: 1750 The Queensway #1101, Toronto, ON M9C 5H5
Phone: 416-806-2232
Instagram: instagram.com/torontocustomconcepts
Red Flags That Should Stop the Hire
- No licence number. No City licence means no City screening.
- Asks you to pull permits. ESA treats this as a sign of an unlicensed electrician.
- Cash only or a large deposit. The Government of Ontario recommends keeping a deposit to 10% or less of the total.
- No written contract. Ontario requires one for work over $50.
- No WSIB clearance. You carry the risk if a worker is hurt.
- Electrician not an LEC. Only LECs may legally wire your kitchen.
Licensing and Insurance FAQs
Do renovators need a licence in Toronto?
Toronto requires a Building Renovator licence for any business that renovates or advertises renovation services. The HCRA does not regulate renovators or general contractors, so the City licence and RenoMark carry the screening load.
Do I need to check WSIB if I’m a homeowner?
Homeowners hiring for their own home are not required to obtain a clearance, but checking one through WSIB’s eClearance tool before work starts is a prudent step.
How do I verify an electrician in Ontario?
The ESA Contractor Locator confirms whether a business holds a Licensed Electrical Contractor licence. Match the 7-digit number on the quote to the result.
Do I need a permit for a kitchen renovation in Toronto?
Toronto requires a building permit when a kitchen project changes walls or modifies plumbing, per Toronto Building. Installing cabinetry or replacing fixtures in place needs no building permit, though new electrical work still needs an ESA notification.
Five Lookups, Then Sign
Checking Toronto kitchen contractor credentials comes down to five lookups: the City licence, insurance, WSIB, ESA and qualified plumbing and gas trades. Each takes minutes.
Each of the three answers a different need: renoWOW! for Older Toronto Houses, Easy Renovation for Full Design-Build Service, and Toronto Custom Concepts for West-GTA Showroom Planning. Run the same checks on all three before you sign.