WSIB Clearance Certificates: What Condo Boards Should Ask Contractors For

When a condominium corporation hires a contractor to work in the common elements, it takes on some risk for how that contractor operates. One of the simplest ways to manage that risk in Ontario is to ask for a WSIB clearance certificate before any work begins.

This is general information, not legal advice. Your property manager or lawyer can confirm how WSIB rules apply to your situation.

What WSIB is

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) runs Ontario's workplace insurance system. Many employers, including most construction businesses, must register with WSIB and pay premiums so their workers are covered if they're injured on the job.

What a clearance certificate is

A clearance certificate confirms that a contractor is registered with WSIB and in good standing on its premiums at the time the certificate is issued. Certificates are valid for a limited period, so a current one should be obtained for the duration of the work.

Why it matters to the hiring party

Under Ontario's workplace insurance rules, a business that hires a contractor who isn't in good standing can, in some circumstances, be held responsible for that contractor's unpaid premiums. Getting a valid clearance certificate before work starts, and keeping it current during the project, is how hiring parties typically protect themselves.

Whether and how this applies to a particular condominium corporation is a question for your manager or lawyer, but asking for the certificate is a widely followed best practice regardless.

How to verify

WSIB provides an online clearance certificate service where you can look up a contractor and confirm its status. Ask the contractor for the certificate, then verify it yourself rather than relying on a PDF alone.

What else to ask for

Alongside the WSIB clearance certificate:

• Certificate of insurance for commercial general liability, ideally naming the corporation as an additional insured
• Electrical contractor licence number, for any electrical work. See licensed electrical contractor vs handyman.
• Subcontractor details: if the contractor will bring in other trades, ask for their certificates too

Keep it on file

Store the certificates with the contract and the project's ESA documentation. If questions come up later, the paperwork is all in one place.

For a full pre-contract checklist, see questions to ask a digital signage contractor.