Trade Licence

The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities oversees the apprenticeship process, training and certification for many skilled trades in Ontario.

If you own or operate one of these companies or work in any of these fields as a tradesperson, Hamilton’s Licensing By-law No. 07-170 requires you to hold a trade licence with the City of Hamilton:

• Plumbing
• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning, also known as HVAC
• Drain laying
• Building repair
• Sprinkler and fire protection

Types of Trade Licences

There are two types of trade licences:

1. Master’s licence
2. Contractor’s licence

Both licences are required when the business owner is also the tradesperson.

Trades exempt: Hamilton's By-law 07-170 does not apply to contractors or masters of a trade working in the construction of a commercial, industrial, institutional or residential building which has been designed by, and is under the supervision and review of, a professional engineer or an architect licensed to practice in Ontario.

A trade licence application must be submitted by:

• For a Master’s licence, the individual tradesperson must apply for the licence.

• For a Contractor’s licence, the business owner(s) must apply for the licence.

Trade Licence Expiry

All Trade Licences expire one year after they are issued. You must renew the licence every year. As a courtesy, the City may send out renewal notices by mail. However, it is the licence holder’s responsibility to ensure the licence is current.

Trade Licence Inspections

As part of their regular duties, building inspectors regularly check for proper licences on job sites. Building inspectors may carry out random spot checks to see if a tradesperson is operating with a proper trade licence. When applying for a Building Permit, Building staff require the licence number of the tradesperson carrying out the work at the site.

The City conducts investigations if we receive complaints regarding unlicensed contractors. If the City receives notification of anyone operating in the field without a proper licence, appropriate action is taken to ensure compliance with the by-law.