Everything You Need to Know About Hiring an Electrician

Hiring an electrician isn’t like hiring a handyman. In Ontario, only a Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC) can legally be paid to perform electrical work in your home. Pick the wrong pro and you risk fires, failed home-sale inspections, and voided insurance. This guide walks you through exactly what to check before you sign anything.

Why Hiring the Right Electrician Matters

Electrical work is life-safety work. The Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC) governs every wire, panel, and outlet in your home, and only a contractor holding a valid ECRA/ESA licence is authorized to perform that work for hire. A certified electrician on their own cannot sign a contract with you — they must work under an LEC.

Verify the ECRA/ESA Licence First

Every licensed electrical contractor in Ontario has a 7-digit ECRA/ESA licence number. It should appear on their vehicles, website, business cards, and every written estimate. Before hiring:

• Ask for the ECRA/ESA number in writing.
• Search it on the ESA’s Find a Contractor tool to confirm it is active.
• Confirm the master electrician on file matches the person quoting the job.

If the contractor hesitates on any of these, walk away.

Questions to Ask Before You Hire

A few direct questions separate the pros from the risks:

• Are you an LEC, or an electrician working under one?
• Will you pull an ESA permit for this job? Most residential work — panel changes, new circuits, service upgrades — legally requires one.
• Do you carry the $2M liability insurance and WSIB coverage? ESA requires the $2M minimum just to hold the licence.
• Will I receive a Certificate of Acceptance from ESA once the work passes inspection? Keep it — insurers and future buyers will ask for it.
• Is the estimate flat-rate or hourly, and what is included?

Understand ESA Permits and Inspections

An ESA permit is not paperwork for its own sake — it is the mechanism that gets your job inspected by the Electrical Safety Authority. Skipping the permit is not a shortcut; it is the reason home sales fall through years later when an inspector finds unpermitted work. A good electrician handles the permit for you and schedules the ESA visit at the right stage of the job.

What It Costs to Hire an Electrician in Ontario

As of 2026, licensed electricians in Ontario typically charge $90–$130 per hour, with service calls, permit fees, and materials on top. Larger jobs like a panel upgrade or a full rewire are usually quoted flat-rate. Be wary of anyone dramatically below market — they are often uninsured, unlicensed, or planning to skip the permit.

Red Flags to Walk Away From

• No ECRA/ESA number on the estimate.
• Cash-only, or “I’ll skip the permit to save you money.”
• No written scope of work.
• Refuses to provide proof of insurance.
• Pushes for full payment upfront.

Hire Once, Hire Right

Hiring an electrician the right way protects your home, your insurance, and the resale value of the property. Verify the ECRA/ESA licence, confirm an ESA permit will be pulled, and get everything in writing — do those three things and you have already eliminated most of the risk.

Ready to Hire an Electrician You Can Trust?

EZ Smart Electric is a licensed, ESA-registered contractor serving the GTA. Call 416-838-9006, book a free estimate, or contact us before you sign with anyone.