Start with the Licensed Electrical Contractor.
In Ontario, electrical contracting work must be handled by an appropriately licensed electrical contractor—not added informally to a general renovation scope.
Ask for the contractor’s ECRA/ESA licence number and verify it using ESA’s public contractor lookup. Define whether the renovation contractor or the electrical contractor is coordinating site access, product information, rough-in timing, inspections, corrections, and closeout. JT coordinates qualified electrical trade work as part of renovation delivery; it does not represent itself as the Licensed Electrical Contractor.
Clarify the ESA notification
ESA explains that when a property owner hires a Licensed Electrical Contractor, that contractor arranges the required electrical notifications. The notification connects the work to ESA’s review process. The exact requirements depend on the electrical work, so confirm them with the electrical contractor and ESA before work begins.
Record the notification or reference details with the project file. The electrical contractor should also know when work must remain visible for review and when other finishes can proceed. Closing walls or ceilings before the required review can create avoidable reopening, delay, and cost.
Understand the Certificate of Acceptance
According to ESA, after the electrical work has been reviewed and passed, ESA issues a Certificate of Acceptance to the person who filed the notification. When a Licensed Electrical Contractor filed it, the contractor is responsible for providing a copy to the customer.
The certificate is the official ESA record associated with the accepted electrical installation. It should be kept with project, property, warranty, and closeout records. It is different from a contractor invoice, product warranty, building permit, or general renovation completion note.
Put electrical details into the renovation scope
- Identify every light, switch, receptacle, appliance connection, smoke or carbon-monoxide device, exhaust fan, panel, and dedicated circuit affected by the project.
- Confirm fixture specifications, dimmer compatibility, colour temperature, mounting locations, appliance loads, and who supplies each product.
- Coordinate cabinet drawings, tile layouts, mirrors, millwork, plumbing fixtures, and accessibility requirements before rough-in locations are fixed.
- State who files the ESA notification, books required reviews, completes corrections, and provides the Certificate of Acceptance.
- Do not schedule insulation, drywall, cabinetry, or final closeout around an assumed inspection date; confirm the actual sequence.
Build a complete electrical closeout file
Request the Licensed Electrical Contractor’s company name and licence number, invoice, notification reference, Certificate of Acceptance, product manuals, warranty information, labelled circuit changes, and any operating instructions. Property managers should associate the records with the correct building, unit, work order, and completion date.