How to Hire a Contractor in Calgary

In Alberta, many trades require a journeyman certificate or a contractor licence issued by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT). Electricians, plumbers, gas fitters, and HVAC technicians must be licensed — it's not optional, and working with an unlicensed tradesperson puts your home and your insurance coverage at risk.

Before you go any further with a contractor, ask to see their trade certificate or business licence number. You can verify Alberta trade certificates directly through the AIT online registry. For general contractors and renovators, check whether they hold a valid City of Calgary business licence.

Insurance is equally non-negotiable. Every contractor working on your home should carry two types: general liability insurance (covering damage to your property) and Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) coverage for their workers. Ask for a certificate of insurance and call the insurer to confirm it's current — a certificate can be forged or expired.

Get at least three written quotes for any project over $1,000. A written quote should specify the scope of work in detail — materials, brands, quantities, and labour — not just a lump sum. Vague quotes are a red flag: they give the contractor room to add costs later or substitute cheaper materials.

When comparing quotes, don't automatically choose the lowest. A quote that's significantly cheaper than the others usually means something is being left out — cheaper materials, skipped permits, or subcontractors who aren't insured. Ask each contractor to explain what's included and what's excluded.

Ask specifically whether the quote includes permits. In Calgary, most structural, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work requires a permit from the City. A contractor who says 'we don't need a permit for this' when you know the work is permit-required is either uninformed or trying to cut corners — both are problems.

Ask every contractor for three to five references from recent Calgary projects — ideally projects similar in scope to yours. Then actually call them. Ask whether the project came in on budget, whether the crew was professional and respectful of the home, whether there were any surprises, and whether they'd hire the contractor again.

Online reviews are a useful supplement but not a replacement for direct references. Check Google, the Better Business Bureau, and HomeStars. Look for patterns: a contractor with 80 reviews averaging 4.8 stars is more reliable than one with 6 reviews averaging 5.0. Pay attention to how the contractor responds to negative reviews — a defensive or dismissive response tells you something.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) accreditation isn't a guarantee of quality, but it does mean the contractor has agreed to resolve disputes through the BBB process. Check whether any complaints have been filed and how they were resolved.

Never start work without a written contract. A proper contract should include: a detailed description of the work to be done; the materials to be used (brand, model, grade); the start date and estimated completion date; the total price and payment schedule; what happens if the scope changes (a change order process); and who is responsible for cleanup and disposal.

Alberta's Builders' Lien Act gives contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers the right to place a lien on your property if they aren't paid — even if you paid your general contractor in full. To protect yourself, hold back 10% of each payment until 45 days after the work is substantially complete. This is your legal right under the Act and a standard practice in the industry.

Be cautious of contractors who ask for more than 10–15% upfront on a large project. A reasonable deposit covers materials and mobilization. A contractor who demands 50% or more before starting work is either in financial trouble or planning to disappear. For smaller jobs under $5,000, paying in full on completion is reasonable.

Permits exist to protect you. When a permit is pulled and inspections are completed, a City of Calgary inspector verifies that the work meets the Alberta Building Code. Without a permit, you have no independent verification that the work is safe or code-compliant — and when you sell your home, unpermitted work can become a serious problem.

In Calgary, the homeowner is ultimately responsible for ensuring permits are obtained — not the contractor. If your contractor says they'll 'handle the permit' and then doesn't, you're the one who faces the consequences. Ask to see the permit before work begins, and confirm that inspections are scheduled at the required stages.

Common projects that require permits in Calgary include: new electrical panels or circuits; plumbing rough-in or drain work; structural changes including load-bearing walls; new decks over 24 inches high; basement development; and HVAC installations. When in doubt, call the City's Development and Building Approvals line.

Pressure tactics are a major warning sign. A contractor who says the price is only good 'today' or that they happen to have leftover materials from a nearby job is using a classic high-pressure sales technique. Legitimate contractors are busy — they don't need to pressure you into a same-day decision.

Watch for contractors who are reluctant to provide a written quote, who want to be paid entirely in cash, who can't provide proof of insurance, or who ask you to pull the permit yourself 'to save money.' These are all signs of an operator who is either unlicensed, uninsured, or planning to do substandard work.

If something goes wrong, you have options. Service Alberta handles consumer complaints about contractors. The BBB offers dispute resolution. For larger disputes, the Alberta Civil Resolution Tribunal handles claims up to $50,000. And if a contractor has abandoned a project or committed fraud, the Calgary Police Service's economic crimes unit can be involved.