BC, Alberta and Ontario

How do I check a new-home builder's licence in BC, Alberta or Ontario?

Building a new home, or in some cases a major addition, needs a licensed builder in all three provinces. Each province publishes its own search, and each page says when the licence applies and when it does not.

The free steps

  1. 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. 2. British Columbia: BC Housing's Licensing and Consumer Services

    Builders of new homes in BC are licensed by BC Housing, which publishes its licensing information and the New Homes Registry. Search the business name and read the licence status; the page also says which projects need a licensed builder and home-warranty insurance.

    Official source: Licensing and consumer services (licensed residential builders) (BC Housing, Licensing and Consumer Services; checked 2026-10-20).

  3. 3. Alberta: the Builder Registry

    Builders of new homes in Alberta are licensed under the Residential Protection Program; its public Builder Registry shows the licence status and history by business name.

    Official source: Builder Registry (public search) (Alberta Municipal Affairs, Residential Protection Program; checked 2026-07-15).

  4. 4. Ontario: 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, its history and conditions.

    Official source: Ontario Builder Directory (Home Construction Regulatory Authority; checked 2026-07-15).

  5. 5. Does your project need it?

    A renovation usually does not need a new-home builder licence; a new house, and in some provinces a substantial reconstruction, does. Read the applicability section of the province's page rather than assuming either way.

  6. 6. If the business is not listed

    Ask whether the work will be contracted through a licensed builder, and get that builder's business name to search. A general contractor may not hold the licence themselves.

Questions people ask

Is a builder licence the same as a business licence?

No. The builder licence is a provincial consumer-protection requirement for new-home construction; the business licence comes from the city. Check both when both apply.

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.

Published 2026-10-20; sources last checked on the dates shown beside each step.