Answered by a licensed electrician
How long is an ESA permit valid?
Quick answer
An ESA “permit” is a notification of work, not a municipal building permit. For most residential work, treat the notification as a 12-month file from the date it was opened, but the only safe answer is the current ESA status. Before closing walls, selling, or changing contractors, verify the notification number with ESA or the filing contractor.
An ESA permit is really a notification of work, and the file status is what matters
In Ontario, people say “ESA permit,” but ESA’s process is built around a notification of work and the inspection milestones attached to that file. It is not the same thing as a municipal building permit for framing, zoning, plumbing, or occupancy.
That distinction matters on stalled renovations. A Toronto building permit may still be active while the electrical notification is open, deficient, accepted, expired, or never filed. Those are different problems.
For electrical work, the important questions are:
- Was an ESA notification opened for the electrical scope?
- Who opened it: a Licensed Electrical Contractor, the homeowner where allowed, or someone else?
- Has ESA completed the rough-in inspection, the final inspection, or both?
- Are there outstanding defects to correct?
- Is the file still active, closed as accepted, or no longer active?
If you are unsure whether your work needed ESA involvement in the first place, start with what electrical work needs ESA inspection. For larger renovations, it also helps to separate the city permit from the ESA file; we explain that split in Toronto renovation permit vs ESA permit.
The practical answer: do not treat “permit pulled” as the finish line. The useful record is the notification number plus ESA’s current status for that notification.
Treat the active window as time-limited, often 12 months, but verify the actual ESA file
For a typical residential job, assume the ESA notification is not open forever. A common working assumption is a 12-month file from the date the notification was opened, but you should not rely on memory, an invoice note, or a contractor’s text message. ESA’s current file status controls.
That is especially important when the work started months ago, the contractor disappeared, the homeowner changed scope, or the project sat through a financing or insurance delay. A file can be open but waiting for inspection, open with defects, closed as accepted, or require further action before ESA will inspect or close it.
Use this checklist before you make decisions:
| What you need | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| ESA notification number | It is the file reference for inspection status, defects, and closure. |
| Filing party | ESA may need to deal with the contractor or person who filed the notification. |
| Scope on the notification | A panel, basement, EV charger, or whole-home rewire are not interchangeable scopes. |
| Inspection stage | Rough-in accepted does not mean final inspection is accepted. |
| Defect list, if any | Corrections must be completed before the file can be accepted. |
| Current status from ESA | This confirms whether the file is active, accepted, or needs action. |
If the original contractor filed the notification, ask that contractor for the notification number and inspection status in writing. If you cannot get a clear answer, contact ESA directly with the address and any file information you have. If the contractor is no longer involved, you may need a new Licensed Electrical Contractor to review the work, correct issues, and help determine the next step.
For who can file and why the filing party matters, see who files an ESA notification.
Open notifications should be handled before walls close, finishes go on, or ownership changes
An open ESA notification is easiest to fix while the wiring is still visible. Once drywall, tile, cabinets, insulation, or finished ceilings cover the work, the inspection becomes harder, slower, and sometimes more invasive.
ESA rough-in inspection is meant to happen before the electrical work is concealed. The inspector needs to see things that cannot be judged reliably after finishes are installed: cable routing, box placement, conductor protection, bonding, support, device box fill, panel terminations, and whether the installation matches the Ontario Electrical Safety Code for that application.
For a stalled renovation, manage the notification at these points:
| Project stage | What can go wrong | Better move |
|---|---|---|
| Framing open | Wiring may be ready but not inspected | Book rough-in before insulation or drywall. |
| Drywall about to start | Concealed defects become expensive to expose | Pause finishing until inspection status is clear. |
| Contractor change | Original filer may still control the notification | Get the file number and written status before switching. |
| House sale or refinance | Buyer, insurer, or lawyer may ask about open electrical work | Resolve open ESA items before closing if possible. |
| Basement apartment or rental work | Electrical defects can affect safety and occupancy plans | Confirm final acceptance before tenants move in. |
Ownership changes are a common trap. The electrical work does not become accepted just because the property sells. If a basement, kitchen, panel, EV charger, or rewire was started under a notification and never finalized, the new owner can inherit a confusing file, concealed wiring, and no clean inspection record.
If the renovation involves a basement, the permit question often overlaps with smoke/CO alarms, bathroom fans, kitchen circuits, laundry circuits, and rental-unit requirements. For that situation, read does a basement need an electrical permit.
If the notification stalled or expired, the fix is usually review, correction, and reinspection
If the ESA file is old, stalled, or no longer active, the solution is not to ignore it. The safe next step is to confirm the file status, inspect the actual installation, correct defects, and arrange the proper ESA path from there.
What happens next depends on the facts:
- If the file is active and waiting for inspection: book the correct inspection stage and make sure the work is accessible.
- If ESA issued defects: correct the listed items, document what was changed, and arrange the follow-up inspection.
- If the work was covered before rough-in: expect openings, photos, or further investigation so the wiring can be assessed.
- If the notification is no longer active: a new notification or other ESA direction may be required before inspection can proceed.
- If no notification was ever filed: do not assume ESA can simply “stamp” finished work without review.
A private electrical check is not a replacement for ESA where ESA notification is required, but it is often the right first step when you do not know what you are dealing with. A comprehensive electrical safety inspection in the GTA typically falls in the $250–$400 range and should leave you with a written list of concerns, not just a verbal opinion.
City Power Electrical Services is an ECRA/ESA Licensed Electrical Contractor, licence #7015314, and can review stalled electrical work, provide a written estimate for corrections, and file ESA notifications where required. Our electrical inspection service is useful when you need to know whether a renovation is ready for ESA, what has to be opened, and what defects should be corrected before the inspector arrives.
For finished work that was already done without the right paperwork, see can ESA approve completed electrical work. The answer is very fact-specific: access, workmanship, who did the work, and how much can still be verified all matter.
The main rule is simple: do not close walls, sell, rent, or energize questionable work based on an old assumption that “the permit was pulled.” Get the notification number, confirm the status, and make the work inspectable before the project moves further away from the wiring.
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People also ask
Can an ESA notification expire before the work is finished?
Yes, you should treat an ESA notification as time-limited rather than indefinite. For many residential situations, a 12-month assumption is a practical starting point, but the current ESA file status is what matters. If the job has stalled, confirm directly with ESA or the contractor who filed the notification before booking trades or closing walls.
Is an ESA notification the same as a Toronto building permit?
No. A municipal building permit deals with the city’s building-code process, while ESA deals with electrical safety under Ontario’s electrical rules. A renovation can have one, both, or neither depending on scope. Do not assume city permit activity means the ESA electrical file is open, inspected, or accepted.
What if my contractor opened the ESA notification but disappeared?
First, try to get the notification number, inspection status, and any defect notice in writing. If that fails, contact ESA with the property address and available details. A new Licensed Electrical Contractor may need to review the installation, correct unsafe or inaccessible work, and determine whether a new notification or follow-up inspection is required.
Can I close drywall if the ESA inspection is booked but not completed?
Do not close walls just because an inspection is booked. Rough-in inspection is meant to happen while wiring is visible. If drywall, tile, or insulation covers the work before acceptance, the inspector may require openings or further verification, which can cost more and delay the renovation.