ECRA/ESA Electrical Contractor Licence

What is an Electrical Contractor Licence?

This is a licence issued to an electrical contracting business authorizing them to engage in the business of carrying out Electrical work anywhere in Ontario.

Who Should Apply for an Electrical Contractor Licence?

Every electrical contracting business engaged in performing electrical work covered under the Electrical Safety Code will be required to hold a valid Electrical Contractor License (or Provisional Electrical Contractor Licence) effective January 1, 2007. To determine what qualifications permit you to do electrical work please contact the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities.

To be eligible for an ECRA/ESA Electrical Contractor Licence the applicant shall;

In the case of an individual, be at least 18 years of age;
Be a Master Electrician, or employ at all times at least one Designated Master Electrician;
Have a place of business in Ontario;
Have public liability and property damage insurance coverage of at least $2,000,000;
Be registered with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, if the applicant is required to register under the Work Place Safety and Insurance Act, 1997;
Not be in default of filing a return with the Minister of Finance or of paying any tax, penalty or interest assessed under the Retail Sales Tax Act or the Corporations Tax Act, if applicable, for which payment arrangements have not been made; and
Not owe the ESA any money for which payments arrangements have not been made.

Duties of an Electrical Contractor

An Electrical Contractor,

shall ensure that all electrical work carried out on the electrical contractor’s behalf is carried out in accordance with all applicable laws, including the Electrical Safety Code and the laws relating to health and safety, employment standards, consumer protection, business tax and business practices;
shall designate one or more master electricians to assume the master electrician responsibilities for the carrying out of electrical work on the contractor’s behalf; and
shall not designate a master electrician if the designation will result in the master electrician acting as a designated master electrician on behalf of more than one electrical contractor at the same time.

What type of work is excluded from this Licensing Regulation?

This Regulation does not apply to a person engaged in the following types of electrical work:

Work done on original equipment of a manufacturer if done by an employee or agent of the original equipment manufacturer who has been trained by the manufacturer to perform maintenance, service or repair on the equipment and if the work being done does not include extending or altering the equipment or installing, extending, altering or repairing any electrical wiring connected to that equipment.
Work done on equipment or electrical installations within an industrial establishment or a farm if done by an owner, operator or an employee of the owner or operator.
Work done on electrical equipment or installations within a residential dwelling if done by an owner or occupant of the dwelling.
Work done on the controls and equipment within refrigeration and air-conditioning units by a person authorized to do such work under Ontario Regulation 75/05 (Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic) made under the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act (TQAA).
Work done on fire protection alarm systems by a person authorized to do such work under Regulation 1078 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 (Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer) made under the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act (TQAA).
Work done on elevators and escalators by a person authorized to do such work under Regulation 209/01 (Elevating Devices) made under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000 (TSSA).
Work done on electrical components of appliances by a person authorized to do such work under Ontario Regulation 210/01 (Oil and Gas Pipeline Systems), 211/01 (Propane Storage and Handling) and 215/01 (Fuel Industry Certificates) made under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000 (TSSA).
Work done on electrical equipment that plugs into an electrical source if the work being done constitutes maintenance, service or repair of the equipment that does not include extending or altering the equipment or installing, extending, altering or repairing any electrical wiring connected to the equipment.
Work done that falls within the scope of Ontario Regulation 22/04 (Electrical Distribution Safety) made under the Electricity Act, 1998.
Work done on any electrical equipment or electrical installation that is specifically excluded by Rule 2-000 of the Electrical Safety Code.

Ministry of Government and Consumer Services

Owner, Officer, Director information of the Electrical Contracting Business
Designated Master Electrician information (Schedule “A”)
Certificate of $2,000,000 Liability Insurance
WSIB Employer Account number, if applicable
Master Business Registration (Ministry of Government Services)
Corporate Tax # and Retail Sales Tax # (If Required)
Copy of Articles of Incorporation (If Required)
Licence Fee (Cheque, money order or credit card) $365.00 + GST

Application Form and process on how to apply for an ECRA/ESA Electrical Contractor Licence
Application Form and process on how to apply for an ECRA/ESA Electrical Contractor Licence
French Version
Customer Credit Application Form A sample of the Contractor’s Licence can be viewed by clicking here

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