Electrical Safety Inspections
Electrical inspections get requested from every direction — insurers before binding a policy on an older home, buyers during due diligence, landlords under rental licensing programs, and lenders on commercial deals. What each needs differs, and sending the wrong report wastes the fee. We arrange the right inspection, performed by a licensed electrical contractor or the provincial authority, scoped to what the requesting party will accept.
What gets inspected
A general safety inspection covers the service entrance and panel condition, grounding and bonding, breaker sizing against conductor gauge, visible wiring condition and junction practices, GFCI protection where required, and known hazard patterns — double-tapped breakers, overfused circuits, open splices, and DIY work without permits. The output is a written report with photographs and a prioritized repair list.
Authority inspections vs. contractor reports
Some situations require the provincial electrical authority itself — in Ontario that is the ESA, in BC Technical Safety BC, in New Brunswick Technical Inspection Services. Insurance and real estate purposes are usually satisfied by a licensed electrical contractor’s report, which is faster and cheaper. We route your request to whichever your situation demands.
When to inspect
Before buying anything older than 30 years, whenever an insurer asks, before finishing a basement or major renovation, after buying a rural property with outbuildings, and any time a rental licensing program requires it. Electrical fires remain a leading cause of property loss in Canada, and older services carry most of the risk.
How the process works
- Tell us who is asking for the inspection and why — insurer, buyer, licence, or your own peace of mind.
- We match a licensed electrical contractor (or route to the provincial authority when required).
- The inspection is completed, typically in 1–3 hours for a house.
- You receive a written report accepted by the requesting party.
- Repairs, permits and re-inspections are arranged if deficiencies exist.
Who regulates this in each province
| Province / Territory | Governing code | Key authority |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Ontario Electrical Safety Code | Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) |
| Quebec | Quebec Construction Code, Chapter V – Electricity | Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) |
| British Columbia | Canadian Electrical Code as adopted in BC | Technical Safety BC |
| Alberta | Canadian Electrical Code as adopted in Alberta | Alberta Municipal Affairs and accredited municipalities / agencies |
| Manitoba | Manitoba Electrical Code | Manitoba Hydro electrical inspections |
| Saskatchewan | Canadian Electrical Code as adopted in Saskatchewan | Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan (TSASK) |
| Nova Scotia | Canadian Electrical Code as adopted in Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia Power wiring inspections and provincial electrical permits |
| New Brunswick | Canadian Electrical Code as adopted in New Brunswick | Technical Inspection Services (Department of Justice and Public Safety) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Canadian Electrical Code as adopted in Newfoundland and Labrador | Digital Government and Service NL |
| Prince Edward Island | Canadian Electrical Code as adopted in PEI | PEI Inspection Services |
| Yukon | Canadian Electrical Code as adopted in Yukon | Yukon Building Safety and Standards Branch |
| Northwest Territories | Canadian Electrical Code as adopted in the NWT | NWT Electrical/Mechanical Safety Section |
| Nunavut | Canadian Electrical Code as adopted in Nunavut | Nunavut Electrical/Mechanical Safety |
Frequently asked questions
My insurer wants an “electrical inspection” on a 1960s house — what do they mean?
Usually a licensed electrical contractor’s condition report confirming service size, panel type and absence of hazards like aluminum branch wiring or fuse overloading. We confirm the insurer’s exact wording before booking so the report is accepted first time.
How much does an electrical inspection cost?
A residential safety inspection typically runs $150–$400 depending on the province and property size; authority inspections and commercial scopes are priced by the authority’s fee schedule or building complexity.
Will the inspector report me if they find unpermitted work?
A private contractor’s report goes to you. Serious immediate hazards must be addressed regardless, and correcting unpermitted work usually means opening a permit — which we can arrange quietly and properly.
Is an inspection required to sell a house?
No province requires it to sell, but buyers’ insurers increasingly require one to insure older homes — which functionally makes it part of the transaction.
Electrical Safety Inspections by city
Related services
Aluminum & Knob-and-Tube Wiring Assessments
Insurer-grade assessments of aluminum branch wiring and knob-and-tube systems, with remediation paths that keep coverage in place.
Learn more →Panel & Service Upgrade Compliance
Panel replacements, service upgrades from 60/100A, and clearing the recalled-panel and fuse-box issues insurers refuse to cover.
Learn more →Electrical Permit & Unpermitted Work Compliance
Opening permits for past unpermitted electrical work, closing stale permits, and getting authority certificates that clear real estate and insurance conditions.
Learn more →Get a fast, free compliance quote
Tell us what you need for electrical safety inspections — we reply within one business day with the applicable requirements and a clear price.