Who files an ESA notification?

The contractor doing the work files the ESA notification for that work

In Ontario, when you hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor, that contractor is responsible for filing the ESA notification for the electrical work they perform. The notification is the paperwork that opens the job with the Electrical Safety Authority so the work can be inspected where required.

This is not the same as a City of Toronto building permit, a condo renovation form, or utility service request. ESA is the electrical safety regulator. The notification connects a specific electrical scope to a licensed contractor, the property address, and the inspection process.

For example, if an electrician installs a new EV charger circuit, replaces a panel, rewires a basement, adds exterior receptacles, or corrects electrical defects, the contractor doing that electrical work should file the ESA notification for that scope. If a general contractor, handyman, or homeowner tells you to “pull the ESA permit” for work they are doing, stop and clarify who is legally responsible for the electrical installation.

City Power Electrical Services is a Licensed Electrical Contractor, ECRA/ESA #7015314, and when our scope requires ESA notification, we include that step in the job process rather than leaving the homeowner to figure it out afterward.

A clean ESA paper trail should give you:

• The contractor’s legal name and ECRA/ESA licence number
• The property address and electrical scope
• A notification or inspection reference number
• Inspection access when ESA requests it
• Correction of defects found on that contractor’s work
• Final documentation once the job is accepted

If you are comparing quotes, ask this plain question: “Is the ESA notification included, and who is filing it?” A proper answer should be direct. “Yes, we file it for our work” is clear. “You can deal with ESA later” is not.

For a broader step-by-step view, see our ESA notification process guide for Ontario.

Homeowners only file in limited homeowner-work situations

A homeowner may have responsibilities if they are doing electrical work themselves in a home they own and occupy, but you should confirm the current ESA homeowner rules directly before starting. Do not use a homeowner notification to cover work performed by an unlicensed person.

That distinction matters. ESA notifications are tied to who performs the work. If a Licensed Electrical Contractor installs the wiring, the contractor files. If a homeowner performs allowed work personally, ESA has a separate homeowner pathway. If an unlicensed person performs work for hire, paperwork does not make that arrangement acceptable.

At a high level, homeowners are still responsible for making sure electrical work in their property is done legally and inspected where required. That usually means hiring a Licensed Electrical Contractor and checking that ESA notification is part of the quote.

Homeowners should also keep copies of:

• The written quote or work order
• The ESA notification number, if applicable
• Any ESA defect notice and correction record
• Final acceptance documentation
• Photos of concealed work before drywall, when useful
• Utility coordination notes for service changes

This becomes important when selling, insuring, finishing a basement, legalizing a second suite, or dealing with a buyer’s home inspector. “The electrician said it was fine” is not the same as an ESA record.

If you are unsure whether your specific project needs ESA involvement, start with what electrical work needs ESA inspection. If the work is already finished and no notification was filed, see whether ESA can approve completed electrical work before opening walls or booking repairs.

The notification should be filed before inspection, not after closing or drywall

For planned work, the ESA notification should be opened at the start of the electrical scope so inspections can happen at the right stage. Waiting until everything is buried behind drywall, ceilings, cabinets, or tile can create avoidable problems.

ESA may need to see rough-in wiring before it is concealed. That is especially true for basements, additions, kitchens, bathrooms, garages, exterior runs, hot tubs, and service upgrades. Once walls are closed, an inspector may not be able to verify staple spacing, box fill, cable protection, bonding, conductor size, or routing without selective opening.

Typical timing looks like this:

A service upgrade has extra coordination. The utility may need to disconnect and reconnect power, the meter base and service conductors may be involved, and ESA acceptance is part of getting the service safely energized. A 100A-to-200A panel upgrade in the GTA is commonly quoted at $3,200–$4,500 including the panel, labour, ESA permit, and inspection, so the ESA step should not appear later as a surprise add-on.

For smaller work, the paperwork still matters. A typical 20A dedicated circuit from the panel is often $250–$500 depending on route and wall finish, and heavier 30A–50A circuits are commonly $400–$900. If that new circuit requires notification, it should be addressed before the cable is hidden.

ESA notifications also have time limits and inspection scheduling rules. If your job is paused, abandoned, or transferred between contractors, read how long an ESA permit is valid and speak with ESA before assuming the file is still active.

A proper quote should say whether ESA is included

A proper electrical quote should make the ESA responsibility clear enough that you do not have to guess. The wording does not need to be complicated, but it should say whether notification, inspection coordination, and defect correction for the quoted scope are included.

Common residential ESA notification fees often fall in the $100–$200 range and are normally built into the quote for jobs that need them. Larger or more complex work can carry different fees, so the safest wording is “included where required” or “quoted in writing after a site visit.”

Watch for vague phrases. “Done to code” is not the same as “ESA notification included.” “Licensed electrician available” is not the same as a Licensed Electrical Contractor taking responsibility for the job. In Ontario, the contractor business must be licensed, not only the individual worker.

Before hiring, ask:

• What is the exact electrical scope?
• Does this work require ESA notification?
• Who files the notification?
• Is the fee included in the written quote?
• Will I receive the notification number?
• Who meets or communicates with the ESA inspector?
• Who fixes defects if ESA lists any?
• What documentation do I receive at the end?

This is also where an independent electrical inspection can help. If you are buying a house, planning renovations, or trying to understand old work, a comprehensive electrical safety inspection in the GTA typically runs $250–$400 and checks the panel, grounding, outlet and GFCI function, detectors, and visible signs of older wiring such as knob-and-tube. You can book an electrical inspection before starting ESA-related repairs when you need a written list rather than guesses.

For what happens during the inspector’s visit, see our Ontario ESA inspection walkthrough.

If the wrong person filed or no one filed, fix the paperwork before adding more work

If you discover missing, wrong, or confusing ESA paperwork, deal with it before expanding the project. Adding new work on top of undocumented work can make responsibility harder to sort out.

Start by collecting what you have: invoices, contractor names, photos, panel schedules, real estate documents, renovation permits, condo approvals, and any ESA reference numbers. Then confirm whether there is an ESA record for the property and scope. If a Licensed Electrical Contractor did the work, ask that contractor for the notification number and final status.

If there is no record, the next step depends on the situation. ESA may be able to inspect visible completed work, but concealed wiring can be more complicated. A new contractor cannot simply “sign off” another person’s hidden work without verifying what is there. That may require testing, opening selected areas, replacing unsafe sections, or filing a new notification for corrective work.

This comes up often in:

• Basement renovations where drywall is already closed
• Kitchen renovations with added appliance circuits
• Panel changes done without clear utility or ESA records
• Hot tub and pool wiring installed before final inspection
• Real estate closings where buyers ask for proof
• Insurance reviews involving older wiring or amateur changes

If ESA lists defects, the contractor responsible for the electrical correction should address them and arrange reinspection for that scope. If you are in a purchase or sale, the practical question becomes who pays and who controls access before closing. For that situation, see who fixes ESA defects before closing.

The safest rule is simple: the person or company doing electrical work should be qualified, licensed where required, and tied to the ESA notification for that work. If that chain is broken, slow down and repair the paper trail before the walls close, the deal closes, or the equipment is energized.