Permits & Regulations••Last verified Sep 1, 2026
Renovating? Don't Forget Electrical Requirements
A building permit and an ESA electrical notification are not the same thing. Most electrical work must be reported to ESA.
BUILDING PERMIT VS. ELECTRICAL NOTIFICATION
A building permit from the City does not cover electrical work. Electrical work in Ontario is overseen by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA).
NOTIFICATION OF WORK
ESA states that almost all electrical work must be reported by filing a Notification of Work. The notification should generally be filed before the electrical work begins.
WHO FILES IT
A Licensed Electrical Contractor normally files the notification for work they perform. Homeowners doing permitted work on their own home file it themselves.
ON A RENOVATION
Ask your contractor who is handling the electrical notification, and make sure it is filed before walls are closed.
Source
Electrical Safety Authority
ConstruWeb provides a plain-language summary. The official source is the authority — always confirm details there.
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ConstruWeb provides this information for general educational purposes. Requirements, fees and programs may change and may depend on the property, project and circumstances. Always verify current requirements with the appropriate government, regulatory or professional authority before beginning work.