Guide · ESA & permits
Do you need an ESA permit for electrical work?
In Ontario, most real electrical work needs to be declared to the ESA and inspected — and the rules about who’s allowed to do the work surprise people. Here’s the plain-English version, from the crew at NCP Electrical, an ECRA/ESA-licensed contractor (#7015906) in Greater Sudbury.
The short version
Electrical work in Ontario falls under the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, administered by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). Most jobs beyond a like-for-like swap require a notification of work — what everyone calls a permit — and an inspection. New circuits, panels and service changes, EV chargers, hot tubs, renovations: notify and inspect. Swapping a broken receptacle for the same thing: generally not.
The rule people don’t know: who’s allowed to do the work
Two groups can legally do electrical work in your home: you (the homeowner, in your own home, with your own notification filed) and a Licensed Electrical Contractor. That’s it. The handy guy who “does electrical on the side” isn’t a legal option in Ontario — no matter how good the price is — and the liability lands on you, not him.
A Licensed Electrical Contractor carries an ECRA/ESA licence number — ours is #7015906 — and files the ESA notification as part of the job. If a contractor can’t show you a licence number, that’s your answer.
Why unpermitted work bites later
- Insurance — after a fire or claim, insurers ask about the electrical. Unpermitted work invites hard questions about coverage.
- Selling the house — home inspectors flag amateur electrical instantly, and buyers negotiate or walk.
- The next renovation — whoever opens the wall next has to deal with what’s in there. Corrections cost more than compliance did.
- Safety, obviously — the inspection isn’t bureaucracy; it’s a second set of trained eyes on work that can burn a house down.
What it looks like when it’s done right
You hire a licensed contractor. They file the notification, do the work to code, meet the inspector where required, and you end up with documented, signed-off electrical — the paper trail that keeps insurers, buyers and future-you happy. On every NCP Electrical job that needs ESA involvement, that’s baked in. It’s also exactly how our panel upgrades and EV charger installs run.
Quick answers
ESA & permit FAQ
01 Is an “electrical permit” the same as an ESA notification?
Effectively yes. In Ontario the formal mechanism is a “notification of work” filed with the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). People call it a permit, and the idea is the same: the work is declared, inspected where required, and documented.
02 Who files the ESA notification — me or the contractor?
If you hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor, they file it as part of the job — that’s how it should work, and it’s what we do on every NCP job that needs one. Homeowners doing their own electrical work in their own home must file the notification themselves before starting.
03 Can I legally do my own electrical work in Ontario?
In your own home, yes — with an ESA notification and inspection. What you can’t do is hire someone who isn’t a Licensed Electrical Contractor: in Ontario it’s illegal for anyone other than an LEC (or the homeowner themselves) to do electrical work for hire in your home.
04 What happens if work was done without a notification?
It tends to surface at the worst times — a home sale, an insurance claim, or when the next electrician opens the wall. Insurers can question coverage for unpermitted electrical, and buyers’ inspectors flag it. Fixing it after the fact usually means an ESA review and bringing the work up to code — more expensive than doing it right the first time.
05 Does every little job need a notification?
No — like-for-like swaps such as replacing a light fixture or a receptacle generally don’t require one. New circuits, panel and service work, hot tubs, EV chargers and renovations generally do. If you’re unsure, ask — we’ll tell you straight whether your job needs ESA involvement.
This guide is general information, not legal advice — requirements come from the ESA and the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, and specifics depend on your job. When in doubt, ask ESA or a licensed contractor.