What does a WSIB clearance certificate show?
That the contractor is registered with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and its account is up to date. The WSIB clearance FAQ is the source for every statement on this page. A clearance is about the contractor's WSIB account; it is not a licence, a reference or a quality check.
When must the clearance be in place?
Before any construction work begins, and for the whole duration of the work. Because a clearance is valid for up to 90 days, a fit-out or renovation that runs longer needs a renewed certificate partway through. Put the expiry date in the project file and ask for the new one before it lapses.
Who is exempt?
People who live in a home and hire a contractor to renovate it. The WSIB says those home renovations are exempt from the clearance requirement. A landlord renovating a rental unit, a property manager, a tenant fitting out a store or a business owner renovating its own premises is hiring as a business, so the rule applies.
What happens if a business skips it?
Both sides can be charged. The WSIB says failing to meet the clearance requirement is an offence for the business that hires and for the contractor, with a maximum fine of $100,000. On a commercial site it also cascades: a general contractor needs each subcontractor's clearance too.
How does this fit with the rest of a fit-out?
It belongs in the contractor documents a landlord asks for, next to the Notice of Project and the payment terms under the prompt payment rules. See tenant improvements for the rest of that list. This guide is free to use and quote with credit to Cruzz Construction.
| Who is hiring | Clearance needed | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A homeowner renovating the home they live in | No | Home renovations hired by residents are exempt. |
| A landlord or property manager | Yes | The work is hired by a business. |
| A tenant fitting out a store, clinic or office | Yes | The work is hired by a business. |
| A general contractor hiring a subcontractor | Yes | Each contractor in the chain needs the next one's clearance. |