Alberta
How to check a contractor in Alberta
These are the steps Jay runs for a Alberta contractor, in order, with the official source for each. Do them yourself for free, or let Jay do them and write up what the records show.
The steps, in order
1. Start with the exact name on the quote
Write down the business name exactly as the quote prints it, including Ltd., Inc. or a number. A trade name, a numbered company and a sole proprietorship can all be registered under other words, so if a search shows nothing, ask the contractor which name and number appear on their registration or licence before you read anything into it.
2. Check the business is registered in Alberta
Alberta's corporate registry is searched through an authorized registry agent, for a fee; the registry agent prints the record with the registration number and status. Canada's Business Registries search also lists Alberta corporations and is free to look at first.
Official source: Find a business registry (authorized registry agents) (Government of Alberta; checked 2026-10-20).
3. Money before the work is done: check the prepaid contracting licence
A business that takes a deposit or any payment before the work is complete may need a prepaid contracting business licence from the Government of Alberta. Use the find-out-if-a-business-is-licensed search for the exact name and read the licence type, status and expiry.
Official source: Find out if a business is licensed (Government of Alberta (Service Alberta); checked 2026-10-20).
4. Check the city business licence
Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer and Lethbridge each publish business-licence information on the city's site. Search the exact name and the trade name, and read the licence type and expiry.
Official source: Business licences (City of Calgary; checked 2026-10-20).
5. Compulsory trades: check the tradesperson's credentials
Electrical, plumbing, gasfitting and other compulsory trades in Alberta need certified tradespeople. The Tradesperson Lookup Tool checks a person's credentials by name.
Official source: Tradesperson Lookup Tool (Government of Alberta, Apprenticeship and Industry Training; checked 2026-07-15).
6. New homes: check the Builder Registry
Builders of new homes in Alberta are licensed under the Residential Protection Program; its public Builder Registry shows the licence status. A renovation usually does not need it; the registry page says when it applies.
Official source: Builder Registry (public search) (Alberta Municipal Affairs, Residential Protection Program; checked 2026-07-15).
7. Search public tribunal and court decisions for the business name
Search CanLII for Alberta court and tribunal decisions under the exact business name. A decision names the parties and what was found; read it in full before drawing anything from it.
Official source: Canadian court and tribunal decisions (CanLII; checked 2026-10-20).
8. Ask for the certificate of insurance from the broker
Ask the contractor to have their insurance broker send the certificate of insurance straight to you. Check that the named insured matches the business on the quote, that the policy is in force for the dates of your project, and that the coverage type is liability for the work being done. A photo of a certificate from the contractor's phone is weaker evidence than one sent by the broker.
9. Read the quote for what it leaves out
A quote you can compare names the parties, the scope of work, what is excluded, allowances, payment stages, the change process and warranty wording. Note anything missing as a question to ask before you sign; a missing line is a question, not a finding.
10. Look at the deposit before you pay it
Work out the deposit as a percentage of the total and ask what it pays for and when the next payment is due. In Alberta, a business that takes money before the work is done may need a prepaid contracting licence; the Government of Alberta's page says who needs one. Jay's free deposit checker runs in your browser and keeps nothing you type.
Official source: Prepaid contracting licence (Government of Alberta; checked 2026-07-15).
Guides for Alberta
Questions people ask
Does a contractor in Alberta need a licence?
It depends on the work and on how they take payment. A business that takes money before the work is complete may need a prepaid contracting licence; compulsory trades need certified tradespeople; new-home builders need a Residential Protection Program licence; most cities require a business licence. The official pages linked above say what applies.
The registry shows nothing under the name on my quote. What does that mean?
On its own, nothing. A business can be registered under a different legal name, as a numbered company, or as a sole proprietorship under the owner's name. Ask the contractor which name and number appear on their registration, and search that.
How much deposit is normal?
There is no single number that fits every job. Ask what the deposit pays for, when the next payment is due, and whether materials are ordered with it. The province's consumer-protection pages explain your rights; Jay's free deposit checker works the percentage out for you.
What does Jay check that I cannot do myself?
Nothing you could not do with time. Jay does these steps in minutes, records the source and date for each, reads the quote and the insurance certificate against the registry record in the Full Check, and a person reviews the report before it goes out.
Or ask Jay
Jay does these steps for you and writes up what the records show, with the source and date for each finding. The $39 Full Check (no tax added) also reads your quote and insurance papers, and a person reviews every Full Check before it goes out. The $19 Quick Check is opening soon.
Order a Full CheckSee a sample Full Check
Three quotes. One Jay check. Then the deposit.
Information, not a verdict. A record that is not found is not evidence of wrongdoing, and nothing here is legal, insurance or safety advice.