What is an ESA certificate of inspection?

An ESA Certificate of Inspection is an official document issued by Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) confirming that electrical work in your Ottawa home meets Ontario's electrical safety standards and building code requirements.

In Ontario, including Ottawa, any electrical work beyond simple tasks like changing light fixtures requires an ESA permit and inspection. The Certificate of Inspection is your proof that the work was completed safely and legally.

How ESA Inspections Work in Ottawa

When electrical work is done in your Ottawa home, here's the process:

The contractor (who must be a Licensed Electrical Contractor) pulls an ESA permit before starting work. Once the electrical work is complete, ESA schedules an inspection. The ESA inspector examines the installation to ensure it meets the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. If everything passes, ESA issues the Certificate of Inspection.

For major electrical work like panel upgrades, rewiring, or adding circuits, you'll typically need this certificate before the City of Ottawa will approve your building permit completion. It's also required for insurance claims and when selling your home.

What Triggers ESA Requirements

Most electrical work in Ottawa homes requires ESA involvement: electrical panel upgrades, adding new circuits, basement finishing with electrical, hot tub installations, EV charger installations, and any work involving electrical permits from the City of Ottawa.

Even if you're doing the electrical work yourself as a homeowner (which Ontario allows), you still need the ESA permit and inspection. The inspection fee is typically $100-200, and you can book directly through ESA.

Red Flags to Watch For

Never work with a contractor who says "we don't need ESA" or offers to skip the inspection to save money. This is illegal and dangerous. Any electrical contractor working in Ottawa must be able to show you their ESA license number, which you can verify at esasafe.com/contractor-locator.

If a contractor completes electrical work without getting ESA approval, your insurance may not cover electrical fires, and you'll have problems when selling your home. The City of Ottawa Building Code Services (613-580-2424) can also red-tag work that wasn't properly inspected.

Getting Your Certificate

Once your electrical work passes inspection, ESA will issue the Certificate of Inspection electronically. Keep this document with your home records - you'll need it for insurance, resale, and any future electrical work. If you lose it, you can request a copy from ESA for a small fee.

For any electrical work in your Ottawa home, always verify your contractor's ESA license first at licensing.esasafe.com, and ensure they're pulling the proper permits before work begins.