Contractor insurance in Ottawa: what renovators and trades need to know
Part of the series: Business insurance in Ottawa →
If you’re a renovator, electrician, plumber, roofer, landscaper or snow-removal operator in Ottawa, homeowners, general contractors, property managers and the City will often ask for proof of insurance before you start. Here’s what a typical contractor insurance program includes, and the local requirements to check.
What contractor insurance usually includes
- Commercial general liability: injury to others and damage to their property caused by your work, including after the job is finished (called products and completed operations).
- Tools and equipment: often called a contractor’s equipment floater, it covers tools and equipment on the job site, in storage or in your vehicle, subject to the policy’s theft conditions.
- Installation floater or builder’s risk: materials and work in progress until the project is handed over. Builder’s risk is usually for new construction or major renovations.
- Commercial auto: for trucks and vans used for work. See the commercial auto guide.
- Umbrella liability: extra limits when a contract asks for more than your general liability policy provides. See the umbrella guide.
Depending on your trade, also ask about pollution liability (general liability policies often exclude pollution, which can matter for mould, asbestos or fuel spills), professional liability if you provide design work, and surety bonds, which aren’t insurance but are often required on larger contracts.
Ottawa and Ontario requirements to check
| Requirement | What it says | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| City of Ottawa road cut permits | Commercial general liability of at least $5,000,000 per occurrence, with the City of Ottawa named as additional insured, kept in force for two years after final reinstatement, with 30 days’ written notice of cancellation. | Confirm your limit (or general liability plus umbrella) meets $5 million before you apply, and ask your broker for the certificate and endorsements. |
| WSIB clearance certificates | Anyone who directly hires a contractor for construction work must get a clearance before work starts and keep it valid for the whole job. A clearance lasts up to 90 days. Without one, the hiring party can be liable for the contractor’s unpaid WSIB premiums, up to the labour portion of the contract. | Get clearances for every subcontractor, and keep your own WSIB account in good standing so you can provide one. |
| WSIB coverage for independent operators | In construction, independent operators, sole proprietors and executive officers generally need WSIB coverage. Those who only do home repairs or renovations, hired and paid directly by the homeowner, don’t. | WSIB is separate from liability insurance. Most contractors need both. |
| HCRA licence | Builders and sellers of new homes in Ontario must be licensed by the Home Construction Regulatory Authority. Renovations to existing homes typically don’t require a licence. | If you build new homes, check licensing before you sign a contract. |
Sources: City of Ottawa road cut permits · WSIB clearance certificates · WSIB independent operators · HCRA licensing
General contractors and property managers set their own requirements too. Many ask for $2 million to $5 million of general liability, to be named as an additional insured, and a certificate of insurance before you set foot on site. Read the insurance section of each contract before you bid, because meeting it can affect your price.
Practical tips for Ottawa contractors
- Protect your tools. Photograph your tools, record serial numbers and keep receipts. Check whether your policy requires a locked vehicle or signs of forced entry for a theft claim, and whether it covers tools left in a vehicle overnight.
- Snow removal and winter work. Slip-and-fall claims are common after Ottawa winters. Keep dated records of when you plowed and salted, such as logs, photos or GPS data, and read the indemnity clause in your contract, because some property owners shift slip-and-fall liability to you.
- Check your subcontractors. Ask every subcontractor for a certificate of insurance and a WSIB clearance. Claims caused by an uninsured subcontractor can land on your policy, and some insurers charge extra at audit for uninsured subcontractor costs.
- Claims can come years later. A leak or failure from work you finished can show up long after the job. Keep your coverage continuous and keep job records, contracts and photos.
- Estimate revenue and payroll accurately. Many contractor policies are priced on revenue or payroll and adjusted after the policy year. A realistic estimate avoids a surprise bill.
Contractor insurance in Ottawa
Read the video text
- Insurance for renovators and trades What clients, contractors and the City ask for.
- A typical contractor package: General liability, including finished work, Tools and equipment, Materials and work in progress.
- City of Ottawa road cut permits. They require $5 million of general liability, with the City named as additional insured.
- WSIB clearance certificates. Get one from each contractor before work starts. WSIB is separate from insurance.
- Ottawa tips: Lock up tools and record serial numbers, Keep snow-clearing and salting logs, Collect subcontractor certificates.
- Get a contractor insurance review. Call or text (613) 777-0375 · frankinsurance.ca/blog/business-insurance-ottawa
Common questions
How much liability insurance does a contractor need in Ottawa?
$2 million is a common starting point for small trades, and many general contractors, property managers and City of Ottawa road cut permits ask for $5 million. Your contracts set the minimum, so check them before you bid.
Does my home insurance cover work I do for clients?
Usually not. Home insurance policies typically exclude business activities, including liability for work you do for paying clients.
If I have liability insurance, do I still need WSIB?
They cover different things. Liability insurance covers injury to others and damage to their property. WSIB covers workplace injuries to workers. In construction, WSIB coverage can be required by law.
Is a certificate of insurance enough to add a client to my policy?
No. A certificate confirms coverage but doesn’t change the policy. If a contract requires additional insured status, your insurer must add it, usually by endorsement.
Get a contractor insurance review
Send Frank your current policy, or the insurance clause from a contract, lease or permit. A licensed Ottawa broker will check what it requires and compare options across insurers. No obligation, and nothing changes without your approval.
This guide is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Coverage depends on each insurer’s policy wording, including exclusions, conditions, limits and deductibles. Requirements from the City of Ottawa, WSIB and other sources were checked in September 2026 and can change, so always confirm the requirement in your own contract, lease or permit.