HVAC permits and licensed gas fitters by province: who can install your heating

A furnace, boiler or heat pump installation in Canada touches up to three regulated trades: gas or oil work (a certified gas technician or gas fitter, working for a registered or licensed contractor), refrigerant work (a certified refrigeration and air conditioning technician, with refrigerant handling certification), and electrical work (a licensed electrical contractor, or a homeowner with a permit where allowed). Each province sets its own licences and permit system, usually through a technical safety authority: the TSSA in Ontario, Technical Safety BC, the Régie du bâtiment du Québec in Quebec, and provincial safety codes offices elsewhere. Municipal building permits may also apply, depending on the scope. Ask every contractor which licences their crew holds and who obtains each permit, and get it in writing.

This guide is part of how to compare HVAC quotes. It summarises general rules; licence classes and permit requirements change, so confirm with the authority in your province.

The three trades on a typical job

Ontario

• Gas and oil. The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) certifies gas technicians and oil burner technicians and registers fuel contractors. TSSA provides a lookup to check whether a fuels contractor is registered and warns about fraudulent fuel workers. A gas technician must work for a registered contractor.
• Refrigeration. Refrigeration and air conditioning systems mechanic and residential air conditioning systems mechanic are trades regulated through Skilled Trades Ontario. Technicians who handle refrigerants also need refrigerant handling certification under provincial environmental rules.
• Electrical. Electrical work needs a notification (permit) to the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) and, when done for you by a business, a Licensed Electrical Contractor. Homeowners may do some work in their own home with a permit.
• Building permits. Your municipality decides when HVAC work needs a building permit under the Ontario Building Code; new ductwork in renovations or structural changes are typical triggers. Ask the building department.

Quebec

• Contractor licence. Construction contractors, including heating, gas and refrigeration contractors, need a licence from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) with the right subclass. You can check a licence on the RBQ's register.
• Plumbing and heating. Contractors doing plumbing and heating work must be members of the Corporation des maîtres mécaniciens en tuyauterie du Québec (CMMTQ); electrical contractors belong to the Corporation des maîtres électriciens du Québec (CMEQ).
• Individual qualifications. Gas work and refrigeration work require individual certificates of qualification.
• Contracts at home. A contractor who solicits and signs at your home is generally an itinerant merchant under the Consumer Protection Act, with a 10-day cancellation right after you receive the contract; see the door-to-door guide.

British Columbia

• Technical Safety BC licenses gas contractors and electrical contractors and certifies gas fitters (Class A and Class B). Gas and electrical installations require permits, and some homeowner permits are available for work on your own home.
• Programs. CleanBC Better Homes rebates require installation by a contractor registered with the program.

Alberta and other provinces

• Alberta. Gas, electrical and building permits are issued under the Safety Codes Act by accredited municipalities or agencies. Gas fitters are certified tradespeople through Alberta's apprenticeship and industry training system. Businesses that sell home improvement contracts away from their premises and take payment before the work is done need a prepaid contracting licence.
• Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, PEI and the territories each license gas fitters and require gas and electrical permits through a provincial authority. Check the provincial technical safety or labour department page for the exact certificate names.

Worked example: checking a quote's licensing

Illustrative scenario: an Ontario household receives a $15,200 heat pump quote that says "permits extra if required".

1. Ask: which permits? The answer should be at least an ESA electrical notification for the new circuit, plus any gas work if the furnace is modified, and a municipal permit if ducts are being changed.
2. Ask the contractor for its TSSA registration (if gas work is involved) and check it in TSSA's fuels contractor lookup.
3. Ask whether the electrical work is done by a Licensed Electrical Contractor or subcontracted, and who files with ESA.
4. Ask for the refrigeration technician's certification.
5. Ask for the permit costs in writing. If the ESA notification and a municipal permit come to, say, $350 together, the comparable quote is $15,550.

Unlicensed gas and electrical work is a safety risk and can cause problems with insurance, warranties, rebate claims and resale. Oil conversions add their own steps (tank removal and fuel oil rules), covered in the oil conversion worked example, and a hybrid dual-fuel system involves both gas and refrigeration trades on the same job.

What a homeowner can do

You can usually change filters, clear snow from the outdoor unit and replace a thermostat on low-voltage wiring. Gas work, refrigerant handling and most line-voltage electrical work are for licensed trades. Some provinces let homeowners do electrical work in their own home with a permit and inspection; gas work is far more restricted.

FAQ

Does an HVAC contractor need a general licence?

It depends on the province. Quebec requires an RBQ licence for construction contractors; elsewhere, the licences are mostly trade-specific (gas, electrical, refrigeration), plus municipal business licences in some cities.

Who pulls the permit, me or the contractor?

Usually the licensed contractor for gas and electrical work. Make it part of the contract.

What if work was done without a permit?

Ask the contractor to obtain a permit and inspection after the fact. Contact the safety authority if they refuse or if you suspect unsafe gas work.

Sources

• TSSA (Ontario) — gas technicians, fuels contractor lookup
• Electrical Safety Authority (Ontario) — electrical permits and licensed contractors
• Skilled Trades Ontario — refrigeration and air conditioning trades
• Régie du bâtiment du Québec — contractor licences
• Technical Safety BC — gas and electrical licences and permits
• Government of Alberta — safety codes permits and prepaid contracting licences