How to Check a Contractor's WSIB Status in Ontario

You can check a contractor’s WSIB status for free through WSIB online services. Search by business name, phone number, address, city or postal code, then confirm the account is in good standing and ask to see a current clearance certificate. Liability insurance is a separate check: you ask for a Certificate of Insurance. Do both before anyone picks up a tool in your home.

This guide shows the steps, explains what the paperwork means, covers the exemptions that confuse many homeowners, and lists what to do when something does not add up.

TL;DR

• WSIB covers workers if they are hurt on the job. Liability insurance covers damage and injury claims from third parties. They are different protections, and a reputable contractor can show both.
• Search the contractor in WSIB online services, or ask for a clearance certificate. A certificate is valid for up to 90 days, so check the dates.
• A homeowner hiring directly for work on their own home is generally not required to obtain a clearance, but the check still tells you how the contractor runs the business.
• Ask for a Certificate of Insurance, put the insurer and policy number in the contract, and call your own home insurer before work begins.
• If the contractor has no coverage, an expired clearance, or a vague “I’m exempt” answer, get it in writing or walk away.

Table of Contents

• What WSIB coverage is and why homeowners ask about it
• How to check a contractor’s WSIB status
• Does a homeowner actually need a clearance?
• When a contractor says “I don’t need WSIB”
• Liability insurance is a separate check
• A worked example: finishing a basement
• What to do when something doesn’t check out
• Beyond paperwork: what else to look at
• Our perspective
• Renovation work in Durham Region, done with the paperwork in the open
• FAQ
• Sources

What WSIB coverage is and why homeowners ask about it

WSIB is Ontario’s workplace insurance board. Construction businesses pay premiums, and in return workers who are injured on the job receive benefits. When a contractor’s account is current, an injury on your driveway or in your basement is handled through that system.

Homeowners search for this because they want to know who pays if something goes wrong on their property. A contractor with a current account has a recorded, verifiable relationship with the board. A contractor who cannot or will not show it may be cutting corners elsewhere too. That is not proof of bad work, but it is a reason to ask more questions.

How to check a contractor’s WSIB status

There are two routes: look them up yourself, or ask them to provide a clearance certificate. Do both when the project is large.

Step 1: Get the legal business name

Ask for the exact registered name, not just the trade name on the truck. Also ask for the business phone number and address. WSIB lets you search by business name, telephone, CRA business name, address, city or postal code, according to its clearance questions and answers, so having several details helps when a name is common.

Step 2: Search in WSIB online services

Use the clearance search in WSIB online services. You do not need an account of your own to look up whether a business is registered and in good standing. Run the search with the details from step 1 and note what comes back: the business name, whether a clearance is available, and the dates.

Step 3: Ask for the certificate itself

A clearance certificate is the document proving the account is in good standing on the day it was issued. WSIB says a certificate is valid for up to 90 days from the date of issue (WSIB). Check these items:

1. The business name matches the name on your contract and quote.
2. The issue date and the expiry date. If the project will run longer than the certificate, you will need a refreshed one.
3. The clearance number, which you can verify against the WSIB record rather than trusting a PDF alone.

Step 4: Record and keep what you find

Take a screenshot or save the certificate with your contract. WSIB’s policy says principals and contractors must keep records of clearance certificates for at least three years from the date obtained (WSIB policy). That rule is aimed at businesses, but a homeowner who keeps the same file is better protected if questions come up later.

Step 5: Recheck on long projects

A clearance must stay in effect for the entire job. WSIB’s construction policy says to obtain a new one if it expires or is revoked (WSIB). On a project that runs past 90 days, such as a full basement finish or a multi-stage renovation, put a recheck on your calendar around the three-month mark.

Does a homeowner actually need a clearance?

This is where most online advice goes wrong. Some pages tell homeowners they will be personally liable for any injured worker. The official position is more specific.

WSIB’s policy says a principal who directly retains a contractor for construction work must obtain and maintain a clearance confirming the contractor is in good standing, and that starting work without one is an offence. The policy lists exemptions, including certain exempt home renovations on a private residence that is occupied or intended to be occupied (WSIB policy). WSIB’s clearance FAQ also says a clearance is not required when a contractor or subcontractor is hired by a home’s resident, occupant or family member for home repairs or renovations (WSIB).

In plain terms: if you live in the house and hire the contractor yourself, the law generally does not require you to collect a clearance. You are still free to ask for one, and many homeowners do because it is a fast signal of how organized the business is.

The picture changes if you are not the occupant. Landlords, developers, and businesses hiring contractors for non-exempt construction work are in a different position. If that is you, read the policy page above or call WSIB. The same policy states that without a clearance, the principal may be liable for the contractor’s payment obligations to WSIB, up to the value of the labour portion of the contract.

When a contractor says “I don’t need WSIB”

Sometimes that is true, and sometimes it is not. Here is how the exemption works.

WSIB states that a business performing only home repairs or renovations on private residences, hired and paid directly by the homeowner, generally does not need coverage for itself, although its employees still require coverage. It also says a sole proprietor or sole executive officer doing qualifying construction work may be required to have coverage (WSIB, independent operators).

Two rules matter for you:

• One non-exempt job changes everything. If a contractor takes on even one contract that is not exempt home renovation work, they must register with WSIB and report earnings for all construction work (WSIB policy in practice). A contractor who also builds for commercial clients or developers should therefore have an account.
• The exemption does not pass down. The home renovation exemption does not apply to subcontractors retained by the primary contractor (same WSIB source). If your contractor brings in a drywaller, tile setter or electrician’s helper, those subcontractors are not covered by the exemption the way you might assume.

So a fair follow-up question is: “Do you have employees or subcontractors on my job, and are they covered?” A straightforward contractor answers that without hesitation.

What to say to a contractor who claims an exemption

Keep it friendly and specific:

• “Do you or your crew have WSIB coverage for this job?”
• “If you’re relying on the home renovation exemption, who on site is an employee, and who is a subcontractor?”
• “Can you put the coverage position in the contract?”

A vague answer, or irritation at being asked, is useful information.

Liability insurance is a separate check

WSIB covers workers. It does not pay for a ladder that cracks your neighbour’s fence or a burst pipe that floods your finished floor. That is the job of the contractor’s commercial general liability insurance, the policy readers often search for as contractor liability insurance in Ontario.

The Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) says contractor liability insurance should cover public liability and property damage, including accidental damage to your home or a neighbour’s property and injuries caused by construction work. It advises asking for a Certificate of Insurance as proof and including it in your contract (CHBA).

What to request

The Canadian Red Cross contract checklist for repair and reconstruction says the agreement should identify the contractor’s insurer and policy number and, where applicable, include a Certificate of Insurance showing liability and property damage coverage (Canadian Red Cross). CHBA’s homeowner flyer asks for confirmation of business liability insurance protecting you or third parties such as neighbours, plus proof of Workers’ Compensation coverage (CHBA checklist).

Call your own insurer too

A contractor’s policy does not replace yours. CHBA advises homeowners to contact their insurer before work begins, explain the project and who will perform it, and confirm or update coverage for renovation-related risks (CHBA). A ten-minute call before demolition begins is cheap compared with learning about a gap after a loss. Ask in particular whether a vacant or partly gutted room changes your coverage, and whether your insurer wants to see the contractor’s certificate.

A worked example: finishing a basement

Say you are finishing a basement in Clarington. The job involves framing, drywall, flooring, trim and some waterproofing, over perhaps eight to twelve weeks, with several people on site at different stages.

Here is a sensible sequence:

1. Before signing, ask for the legal business name and search it in WSIB online services.
2. Ask for the current clearance certificate and the Certificate of Insurance. Note both sets of dates.
3. Ask who will be on site: the contractor’s own employees, or subcontractors. Ask how each is covered.
4. Put the insurer name, policy number and the fact that coverage will stay in force through completion into the contract.
5. Call your home insurer and describe the project.
6. Set a reminder to ask for a refreshed clearance if the work runs beyond the 90-day window.
7. File everything with your contract and payment records.

None of this slows a good contractor down. The documents already exist, and sending them is a matter of minutes.

What to do when something doesn’t check out

If the discrepancy is serious, such as a contractor refusing to show any insurance, the safe choice is a different contractor. For a question about your own obligations as a landlord or business owner, contact WSIB directly or speak to a lawyer.

Beyond paperwork: what else to look at

Coverage documents show a contractor is set up properly. They do not show the work will be good. Pair the checks with a written scope, a clear payment schedule and references. Our contractor verified renovation checklist walks through those questions, and our piece on written scope for interior painters shows what a clear scope of work looks like in practice.

Our perspective

We work in Bowmanville, Clarington and across Durham Region, and the same pattern comes up on first visits: homeowners have been told to check one thing, such as a licence or a logo, and nobody has told them to check coverage and the contract together. Our view is simple. A contractor should be able to explain how the people working in your home are covered, what protects your property if something is damaged, and where each of those is written down.

We are a locally owned, fully insured contractor, and we think you should ask every company you are considering the same questions, including us. Clear communication starts before the quote. If a company becomes defensive when asked for documents, that tells you how it will handle a problem on week six.

One practical tip: ask for the paperwork at the quoting stage, not the day before work begins. That way you are comparing contractors on equal terms and there is no pressure to accept whoever is already at your door.

— Dylan Larocque

Renovation work in Durham Region, done with the paperwork in the open

If you are planning a bathroom, a finished basement, new flooring, a deck or a full home renovation, we can walk you through the project and the questions above during your quote. See our basement renovations and bathroom renovations pages, or start from the LA Rocks Renovations home page to see the full range of services, from painting and drywall to decks, fences and custom carpentry.

Send us your project details through the contact form and we will arrange a quote, with clear communication from first visit to final walkthrough.

FAQ

Can I check a contractor’s WSIB status without an account?

Yes. WSIB online services lets you search for a registered business by name, telephone, CRA business name, address, city or postal code. Gather as many details as you can from the contractor so the right business comes up. You can also simply ask them for their current clearance certificate.

How long is a WSIB clearance certificate valid?

Up to 90 days from the date of issue. Check the issue date, not just the existence of a certificate. On a long renovation, ask for a refreshed certificate when the first one runs out.

Am I liable if my contractor has no WSIB coverage?

For an owner-occupier hiring directly for home repairs or renovations, WSIB says a clearance is not required. The liability rules WSIB describes, where a principal may owe the contractor’s payments up to the labour value of the contract, apply to principals who need a clearance and do not obtain one. If you are a landlord or business owner, confirm your position with WSIB.

Is WSIB the same as contractor liability insurance?

No. WSIB provides workplace insurance for injured workers. Liability insurance covers third-party property damage and injury claims, such as damage to your home or a neighbour’s. Ask for a Certificate of Insurance in addition to any WSIB proof.

What should I do if a contractor says they don’t need WSIB?

Ask why, and whether employees or subcontractors will be on your job. WSIB says the home renovation exemption does not extend to subcontractors retained by the primary contractor, and a contractor who takes even one non-exempt job must register. Get the answer in writing and decide whether you are comfortable with it.

Sources

• Questions and answers: Clearances, WSIB
• Clearance Certificate in Construction, WSIB
• Clearance Certificate, WSIB
• Independent operators in construction, WSIB
• Policy in practice: Expanded Compulsory Coverage in Construction, WSIB
• Contracts: Get it In Writing, Canadian Home Builders’ Association
• Get It In Writing homeowner checklist, Canadian Home Builders’ Association

Recommended

• Contractor Verified Renovation Checklist