How to verify a Canadian contractor's licence (RBQ & HCRA) — built on open data

This is a cross-post of a guide from CheckContractors.ca, a small side project that turns Canada's official contractor-licence registries (Quebec RBQ, Ontario HCRA) into a fast, searchable lookup. The data comes from official open-data sources; the lookup is a Cloudflare + Astro app over a D1 database.

Before you hire a contractor or buy a newly built home in Canada, confirm they're properly licensed. An unlicensed contractor can leave you with no legal recourse, voided warranties, and no protection if the work goes wrong. Here's how licensing works in Quebec (RBQ) and Ontario (HCRA), and how to check a contractor in a couple of minutes.

Why a licence matters

A licence means the contractor has met the province's qualifications, carries the required security or bond, and is accountable to a regulator. Hiring an unlicensed contractor for work that requires a licence can expose you to unsafe work, no warranty coverage, and difficulty claiming compensation.

Quebec — RBQ licences

In Quebec, most construction work must be done by a contractor holding a licence from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ). The licence lists subclasses — the specific kinds of work the contractor is qualified to do (electrical, plumbing, roofing, etc.).

1. Ask the contractor for their RBQ licence number.
2. Search it on the Quebec RBQ licence lookup by name or licence number, or verify directly on the official RBQ registry.
3. Check that the licence is active and that its subclasses cover the work you need.

Browse Quebec contractors by trade — e.g. electricians, plumbers, roofers — or by city.

Ontario — HCRA licensed builders

In Ontario, new-home builders and vendors must be licensed by the Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA). This is who to check if you're buying a newly built or pre-construction home.

1. Get the builder's name or licence number.
2. Search it on the Ontario HCRA builder lookup, or on the official HCRA registry.
3. Confirm the builder is licensed and review any conditions on the record.

Browse Ontario builders by city.

Red flags

• Refuses to give a licence number, or the number doesn't match the business name.
• Asks for a large cash deposit up front, or pressures you to skip a written contract.
• The licence is expired, suspended, or restricted on the official registry.
• The licence subclasses don't cover the work you're hiring for.

Verify before you sign

A two-minute check can save a very expensive mistake. Start with the Quebec (RBQ) or Ontario (HCRA) lookup, and always confirm the details on the official provincial registry.

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Building on Canadian open data too? The licence datasets behind this are also available as an Apify actor (JSON/CSV/MCP). Not affiliated with the RBQ or HCRA — always confirm on the official registry.