Brampton, Ontario
How to check a contractor in Brampton
Brampton first, then the Ontario steps. Each one links the official source and the date it was checked. 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 Brampton business licence
The City of Brampton licenses building renovators (roofers included), HVAC, plumbing, driveway, fence and pool contractors, and publishes a list of licensed businesses by name and address. Search the list for the exact name on the quote; licences there expire each April 30.
Official source: Stationary business licensing (City of Brampton; checked 2026-10-22).
3. Check the business in the Ontario Business Registry
The Ontario Business Registry offers a free public search by business name. The record shows the type (corporation, business name, partnership), the number and the status.
Official source: Ontario Business Registry (Government of Ontario; checked 2026-10-20).
4. Electrical work: check the contractor with the Electrical Safety Authority
Electrical contractors in Ontario must be licensed by the ESA. Use its find-a-licensed-electrical-contractor search for the business name and read the licence number and status.
Official source: Find a Licensed Electrical Contractor (Electrical Safety Authority; checked 2026-07-15).
5. Compulsory trades: check Skilled Trades Ontario's public register
Plumbers, electricians and other compulsory trades in Ontario appear in Skilled Trades Ontario's public register by name.
Official source: Public Register (Skilled Trades Ontario; checked 2026-07-15).
6. New homes: check the Ontario Builder Directory
Builders and vendors of new homes in Ontario are licensed by the Home Construction Regulatory Authority; the Ontario Builder Directory shows the licence and its history. A renovation usually does not need it; the HCRA page says when it applies.
Official source: Ontario Builder Directory (Home Construction Regulatory Authority; checked 2026-07-15).
7. Search public tribunal and court decisions for the business name
Search Ontario's Consumer Beware List for the business name, then CanLII for tribunal and court decisions. A listing or a decision is a public record to read in full, not a conclusion.
Official source: Search the Consumer Beware List (Government of Ontario; checked 2026-07-15).
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. Ontario's consumer-protection pages explain your rights when starting home renovations and when signing or cancelling a contract. Jay's free deposit checker runs in your browser and keeps nothing you type.
Official source: Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs (Government of Ontario; checked 2026-07-15).
Guides for Brampton
Questions people ask
Does a contractor in Ontario need a licence?
It depends on the work and the city. Electrical contractors are licensed by the ESA; compulsory trades appear in Skilled Trades Ontario's register; new-home builders are licensed by the HCRA; Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton license building renovators and Hamilton licenses building repair. 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.