Do electricians pull their own ESA permits, or do I have to?

In Ontario, only Licensed Electrical Contractors (LECs) can pull ESA permits - you cannot pull electrical permits yourself, but you have options depending on your situation.

If you're hiring a professional electrician in Ottawa, they should be a Licensed Electrical Contractor who pulls their own ESA permits. This is the standard practice and what you should expect. When you get quotes from electrical contractors, the ESA permit cost (typically $100-200) should be included in their quote, and they handle all the paperwork with the Electrical Safety Authority.

However, Ontario law does allow homeowners to do their own electrical work on their primary residence, but you still cannot pull the permit yourself. In this case, you would do the work and then call ESA directly for an inspection. The ESA inspector will review your work and either approve it or require corrections. This path requires you to understand the Ontario Electrical Safety Code and is generally not recommended unless you have significant electrical knowledge.

What to Watch For When Hiring in Ottawa

Make sure any electrician you hire is actually a Licensed Electrical Contractor, not just someone who "knows electrical work." You can verify their license at licensing.esasafe.com before hiring. A legitimate electrical contractor will:

• Show you their LEC license number


• Include ESA permit costs in their quote


• Handle all permit applications and inspections


• Provide you with the ESA inspection certificate when complete

Red flags include contractors who ask you to pull permits, claim permits aren't needed for "small jobs," or can't provide their ESA license number immediately.

The Process in Ottawa

Your electrical contractor should pull the permit before starting work, complete the installation to code, and then schedule the ESA inspection. Once ESA approves the work, you'll receive a Certificate of Inspection - keep this for your records as it's required for insurance claims and home sales.

For any electrical work in Ottawa, always verify your contractor through ESA's website and ensure they're handling the permit process properly. If you're unsure about a contractor's credentials, call ESA directly at 1-877-372-7233.