Table of Content
- Ontario Introduces New Home Construction Regulatory Authority
- IMPORTANT NOTICE TO BUILDERS, VENDORS, CONSUMERS, AND OTHER ONTARIO NEW HOME INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS
- Estimates and contracts
- What is the Ontario Builder Directory (OBD)?
- Building Renovators
- Ontario’s Home Construction Regulatory Authority Files Second Set of Charges Against Unlicensed New Home Builder
- Who is a Builder?
We may share your personal information with Humber College for this purpose. While enforcement actions are in effect, the BCIN of the registered person will not appear on the public registry. Design Firms and On-Site Sewage Installation Firms registered under the Building Code Act and assigned a BCIN should designate one person to manage QuARTS transactions. Only the designated person should have access to the ONe-key account and QuARTS. A "home" is additionally defined by the type of ownership which can be either a freehold home (i.e. the home and the land are owned outright), or a condominium unit where the individual unit is owned.
An owner, for purposes of the NHCLA and the ONHWPA is a person who first acquires a new home for occupancy from its vendor. If the home is sold or transferred during the statutory warranty period, a successor in title is the owner for purposes of the statutory warranty. Most new homes built in Ontario will be covered by the ONHWPA warranty that is backed by Tarion and the first owner and successors in title will benefit from the warranty. To streamline the renewal process, the electric form is now part of the Builder Portal. You can log in to your account at any time to check the status of your application. You can also change the contact information for your licence at any time.
Ontario Introduces New Home Construction Regulatory Authority
The interested person’s influence may be the result of direct or indirect financial controls. It is important to note that an interested person does not necessarily need to have any formal ownership position or financial arrangement with a licensee. The key point is that the person may be exercising control over the applicant or licensee.

The examinations are oral and in English, however you may bring an interpreter to assist you. The examination takes around 30 minutes and covers sections on business acumen, bylaw knowledge and technical knowledge. Please arrive mins early to check in and be on time for your appointment or you may be turned away and asked to re-book for another day and time, subject to availability. If you have already submitted an application you may upload additional documents using your upload token.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO BUILDERS, VENDORS, CONSUMERS, AND OTHER ONTARIO NEW HOME INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS
At the time of application for a licence or renewal, interested persons are not required to undergo a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check. The Registrar may, however, determine that additional information is required about one or more identified interested persons. If an applicant has a criminal record, it does not mean the application will be refused. The Registrar will also consider the circumstances of each individual matter in assessing the results of a Criminal Record and Judicial Matter Check. A person planning to build their own home may be an owner-builder and may not need to be licensed as a builder provided that they do not sell the home once they have completed construction.

BuildABILITY and the Ontario Home Builders’ Association have partnered to bring you the live training that Ontario builders need and have requested. BuildABILITY is proud to present our full suite of builder workshops and HCRA-approved training to members of the OHBA. OHBA members will not only have access to our live training and industry experts but also to our free resource centre. The HCRA will not accept Criminal Record and Judicial Matter checks that are more than six months old. If the third-party provider is not used, the report must be included for an application to be complete and must be the original copy, stamped and signed. Please note that the HCRA will not accept Canadian Criminal Record Checks without the Judicial Matter component.
Estimates and contracts
Learn how to hire a reliable contractor and see what you need to include in your contract with them. Our HCRA Approved core competency courses are mandatory to become a registered home builder in Ontario. If you are visiting a sales centre or speaking directly with the builder, it’s important to ask if they are licensed by the Home Construction Regulatory Authority. Find your outstanding business licence or permit renewal invoice. Your licence will expire annually on the anniversary of the date that the licence was first issued.

This includes whether the interested persons have currently or previously been registered with Tarion under the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act or licensed with the HCRA under the New Home Construction Licensing Act, 2017. Building Code training courses are offered through George Brown College. The courses are not mandatory, but they help prepare you for your Building Code examinations. Building Code training also supports professional development in the building sector. The builder of a home built under contract with a landowner is deemed to be a vendor. Consequently, the builder will also be the vendor for purposes of statutory warranty.
What is the Ontario Builder Directory (OBD)?
This HCRA-approved course will get you one step closer to completing your licensing requirements, while also exploring the important skill of interpreting and applying building code to residential construction. As an owner-builder, the individual takes on the role of a builder. This means the individual will be in control of the project and will be ultimately responsible for the project. Where an owner-builder is in control of their own project, they may utilize or otherwise employ a construction manager to assist them and provide additional expertise or experience. Tarion administers Ontario’s new home warranty and protection program, backstopping the statutory warranty coverage provided to purchasers of new homes.
Fast-Track eligibility is determined based on the HCRA’s risk-based criteria. Our assessment includes factors such as competency, financial responsibility and conduct information, as well your compliance with warranty and other obligations. Fast-Track eligibility is reviewed and assessed on a yearly basis upon the submission of the renewal form. All builders and vendors of new homes must hold a valid licence with the HCRA.
Building permits allow your municipality to make sure that any work you have planned meets the Building Code standards and by-laws. If it’s a major project, you might need an architect or engineer to draw up plans and give direction. Ask your city or town hall how much building permits cost and how to get them. If you are taking over an existing business that has a valid business licence or a licence that has expired less than three years prior to the time of new application , you must submit an Occupancy Declaration Form. Learn with courses created for Ontario builders, by Ontario builders. The licensing fees are collected annually and are not based on the license category.

Our courses are designed by industry experts to meet the Home Construction Regulatory Authority’s licensing requirements. After receiving enrolment confirmation, the vendor/builder can proceed to build the home and provide the warranty information. Once all conditions are met and fees paid, Tarion will provide the vendor/builder with confirmation of enrolment.
You should meet the person or people who you will be placing your trust and confidence in to build your new home. If you fail to renew your licence according to the bylaw, your licence will be cancelled and you will have to reapply. Any overdue by-law fines, unless the applicant provides proof that such fines have been subsequently paid.

The HCRA is committed to making the application process fair and efficient, and will only be accepting applications, supporting documents and fee payments through the Builder Portal. The Home Construction Regulatory Authority licenses the people and companies who build and sell new homes in Ontario. The HCRA enforces high professional standards for competence and conduct, supporting and promoting a fair marketplace. In this role, the HCRA will give new home buyers confidence when making one of the biggest purchases of their lives - a new home.
Ontario’s Home Construction Regulatory Authority Files Second Set of Charges Against Unlicensed New Home Builder
As a prospective home buyer, it is important to search the Ontario Builder Directory to ensure the builder you are considering working with is licensed to build homes in Ontario. This directory provides a 10-year history for all licensed builders, as well as those who are no longer licensed to build homes. It may be for many reasons including not passing the technical test based on the Ontario Building Code regulations, or not providing the financial securities mandated to build homes in Ontario.