What is the ESA?
The Electrical Safety Authority is the body that oversees electrical safety in Ontario. It licenses electrical contractors (together with ECRA, the Electrical Contractor Registration Agency), enforces the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, and inspects electrical installations.
What needs a permit?
Most new wiring, alterations and service changes need an ESA notification — new circuits, panel and service upgrades, EV chargers, hot tubs, generators, basement and renovation wiring, and pot lights on new circuits. Like-for-like replacement of some devices may not; when in doubt, ask.
Who files it?
A Licensed Electrical Contractor files the notification for work they do. Homeowners can do electrical work in their own single-family home and file their own permit, but must do the work themselves — not hire an unlicensed person to do it.
How inspections work
Depending on the job, ESA may inspect at rough-in (before walls close) and at completion. For service upgrades, ESA issues a connection authorization to the utility so power can be restored. Once the work passes, ESA issues a Certificate of Acceptance.
Why it matters
- Insurance: unpermitted electrical work can give an insurer grounds to dispute a claim.
- Selling your home: buyers' inspectors and lawyers increasingly ask for permits on renovations.
- Safety: an independent inspection is a second set of eyes on work that's hidden for decades.
Hiring a contractor: check the licence
Every Licensed Electrical Contractor in Ontario has an ECRA/ESA licence number and must show it on advertising, vehicles and quotes. You can verify it on ESA's website. If someone offers to "skip the permit," that's a reason to keep looking.
