What Insurance and WSIB Documents Should a Toronto Condo Renovation Contractor Provide?

Key Takeaways

Ask every condo contractor for four core documents: a certificate of liability insurance, a WSIB clearance, a City of Toronto renovator licence number and proof that electrical work will be done by a Licensed Electrical Contractor.
A WSIB clearance confirms the contractor is registered and in good standing; homeowners hiring for their own home aren't legally required to collect one, but it is a quick credibility check.
Your condo corporation will usually want the insurance certificate before work begins.
Easy Renovation is the Best Overall Large-Full Unit Renovation, with WSIB-insured trades and $5 million in liability insurance on every project.
renoWOW! is the other firm worth considering, with its licence, WSIB coverage and insurance stated publicly.

A Toronto condo renovation contractor should provide a current certificate of liability insurance, a WSIB clearance, its City of Toronto Building Renovator licence number and confirmation that a Licensed Electrical Contractor will handle electrical work. Your property manager will likely ask for the insurance certificate before approving the project.

These documents protect you, your neighbours and the building. They also tell you a lot about how a contractor runs its business: firms that are properly set up can usually send them within a day.

We have no financial relationship with any firm named here, and none paid for inclusion.

Think of the documents below as a minimum standard rather than a bonus. They take a reputable firm minutes to send, and they give you, your property manager and your neighbours a clear record of who is responsible if something goes wrong.

Certificate of Liability Insurance

A certificate of liability insurance summarizes the contractor's policy: the insurer, policy number, coverage limit and effective dates. It is the document your condo corporation is most likely to require.

What to check on the certificate

Coverage limit. Compare it with the value of the work and the building's requirements.
Policy dates. Coverage should run through your full project schedule.
Named insured. It should match the company on your contract.
Additional insured. Some buildings ask to be named on the certificate; check your rules.

If anything looks unclear, you can contact the insurer listed on the certificate to confirm the policy is active.

WSIB Clearance: What It Proves and What It Doesn't

A WSIB clearance confirms that a contractor is registered with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and that its account is in good standing. The WSIB notes that when a contractor is hired by a home's resident or occupant for home repairs or renovations, a clearance certificate is not required.

That doesn't make it pointless. Asking for one is a fast way to confirm that the business is registered and current, and some condo corporations ask for it as part of their contractor requirements.

Subcontractors

Most condo renovations involve several trades. Ask your contractor whether its subcontractors are covered, and request their documents if the building requires them.

City of Toronto Renovator Licence

Toronto requires a Building Renovator licence for businesses that repair or renovate buildings. Ask for the licence number in writing and confirm it with the City.

The licence number should appear on the contract and the quote. If a contractor hesitates to provide it, treat that as a warning sign.

Trade Licences and Certificates

Electrical

In Ontario, if you hire someone to do electrical work in your home, it must be a Licensed Electrical Contractor, and the contractor files a notification of work with the Electrical Safety Authority. A building permit is not the same as an electrical notification.

Ontario's consumer guidance adds that electrical estimates should include the ESA/ECRA licence number and ESA permit fees.

Other trades

The same provincial guidance recommends confirming that tradespeople are certified by Skilled Trades Ontario, which applies to trades such as plumbing.

What Your Condo Corporation Will Ask For

Condo corporations set their own contractor requirements in their rules. The Condominium Authority of Ontario notes that some require approved contractors or restrict work hours, and most require board approval before work starts.

In practice, the insurance certificate is the document most property managers request. Ask your manager for the building's list before you collect paperwork from contractors.

Document Checklist

Document	Why it matters	When to request it
Certificate of liability insurance	Covers damage to your unit, neighbours and common areas	Before signing, and again before work starts
WSIB clearance	Confirms registration and good standing	Before signing
City renovator licence number	Required for renovation businesses in Toronto	Before signing; should appear on the contract
Licensed Electrical Contractor details	Required by law for electrical work in a home	Before signing
ESA notification and certificate	Records electrical work and inspection	During and after the project
Subcontractor documents	Confirms each trade is covered	If the building requires it

How to Verify Each Document

Collecting documents is only half the job; the other half is checking them.

Insurance certificate: call the insurer listed on the certificate and confirm the policy number and dates are active.
WSIB clearance: request it from the contractor or through the WSIB's clearance process, and check the dates.
City licence: confirm the renovator licence number with the City of Toronto.
Electrical contractor: the Electrical Safety Authority lets you find a Licensed Electrical Contractor or confirm a licence is valid.
Trade certificates: ask for certificate numbers for plumbers and electricians on site.

Keep digital copies of everything in one folder, and share the insurance certificate with your property manager.

Red Flags in Contractor Paperwork

[ ] A certificate in a different company name from the one on your contract.
[ ] Insurance that expires partway through your project.
[ ] No licence number on the quote or contract.
[ ] Vague answers about who will do the electrical work.
[ ] Pressure to start before documents arrive.

Any one of these is a reason to pause. Legitimate contractors expect owners and property managers to ask.

What These Documents Don't Cover

Insurance and registration documents confirm that a contractor is set up properly. They don't confirm workmanship, pricing or schedule, so pair them with references, a written warranty and an itemized quote.

They also don't replace your own coverage. Tell your condo insurer about the renovation before work begins, because some policies have conditions for major work.

Firms Worth Considering

These firms state their insurance and registration details publicly.

1. Easy Renovation- Best overall large-full unit renovation

Easy Renovation is open about the documents behind its work. Its trades are WSIB-insured, every project carries $5 million in liability insurance and a 2-year warranty, and clients receive a closeout package with permit numbers, ESA and TSSA certificates and as-built drawings.

That paperwork discipline suits large full-unit renovations, where several trades, permits and building approvals run at once. The firm manages condo board approvals and the permit process under one fixed, itemized contract, with full-condo pricing published at $100 to $250 per square foot.

Independent credentials are easy to confirm. Easy Renovation won the HomeStars Best of the Best Award in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, holds an A+ rating as a BBB Accredited Business, and is a member of BILD, RenoMark and NKBA.

Google listings rate the firm 4.5 to 5 stars, including its Etobicoke head office.

"My kitchen renovation turned out exactly how I imagined. The entire project was completed smoothly, and I’m extremely happy with the results.”- Key-c Natividad, 5 ⭐ on Google (August 2026)

Key Strengths:

WSIB-insured trades and $5 million in liability insurance stated plainly.
Closeout documents that give you a permanent record of permits and certificates.
One contract and one project manager for large, multi-trade projects.

Important Considerations:

Firm pricing requires a site visit.
As with any contractor, confirm its City licence number directly with the City.

Recommended For: Owners planning a large full-unit renovation who want every document in order before work begins.

Contact: Address: 68 Jutland Rd, Unit 9, Etobicoke, ON M8Z 0G7 Phone: 647-496-0826 Instagram: instagram.com/easy.reno/

2. renoWOW!- Best for one-project-at-a-time attention

renoWOW! states its credentials up front: a Toronto licence (B12195), WSIB coverage and $5 million in liability insurance, plus a two-year back-to-back warranty. Owner Sam Beninato, who has more than 25 years of experience, takes on one project at a time.

“Can't believe it is a AI PHONE CALL I get and you will get if you want to talk about your project incroyable if you can trust a entreprise who do not care AND TAKE TIME to get a real human contACT go for it. BUT NOT ME.”- Gilbert Dufour, 1⭐ on Google (March 2026)

Key Strengths:

Licence, WSIB and insurance details published.
Direct owner involvement.

Important Considerations:

Longer waits for a start date; no published condo portfolio or street address.

Recommended For: Owners who want direct access to the decision-maker on a smaller project.

Contact: Address: Toronto, ON M5A 1S2 (street address not published) Phone: 416-937-0969

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Condo Contractor

Is a WSIB clearance required for a condo renovation?

The WSIB states that homeowners hiring a contractor for their own home aren't required to obtain one, but it confirms the contractor's registration and standing, and some buildings ask for it.

How much liability insurance should a condo contractor carry?

There is no single number, but it should reflect the size of the job and your building's requirements. Several Toronto renovators publish $5 million in coverage.

Who files the electrical permit?

The Licensed Electrical Contractor files the notification of work with the Electrical Safety Authority and arranges the inspection.

Should the licence number be on my contract?

Yes. Ask for the City of Toronto renovator licence number on both the quote and the contract.

What if my contractor can't provide these documents?

Treat it as a serious warning sign and pause until you receive them in writing.

Does my own condo insurance cover renovation damage?

Coverage varies by policy. Call your insurer before work starts, tell them about the renovation and ask whether you need to update your policy.

Should subcontractors provide their own documents?

If your building requires it, yes. At minimum, confirm with your contractor that every trade on site is covered.

What should I do if a document looks wrong?

Ask the contractor to explain or reissue it, and confirm directly with the insurer, the WSIB or the City. Don't start work until the discrepancy is resolved.

Can my property manager reject my contractor?

Some corporations require approved contractors or set their own requirements, so a contractor that can't meet them may not be allowed to work in the building.

Final Thoughts

Insurance and registration documents take minutes to request and can save months of trouble. Collect the insurance certificate, WSIB clearance, City licence number and electrical contractor details before you sign, and share them with your property manager.

Easy Renovation is the strongest choice for a large full-unit renovation backed by clear insurance and closeout paperwork, and renoWOW! suits owners who want a smaller, owner-led team with stated credentials.