Finding a renovation contractor in Quebec: 7 checks

The seven checks at a glance

A friendly contractor and a good price are not enough. The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ, Quebec's building authority) suggests six actions to choose your contractor well, and the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC, Quebec's consumer protection office) details what to ask before signing. This article groups them into seven checks, from the simplest to the most technical. The rules below were reviewed on the official pages on October 21, 2026; they may change, so confirm with the RBQ or the OPC before committing.

1. A valid RBQ licence, with the right subclasses for your work.
2. Confirmed civil liability insurance.
3. Verifiable references from former clients.
4. A written, detailed quote, ideally three.
5. A written contract and schedule, in the name of the licence holder.
6. The smallest possible deposit, then payments tied to progress.
7. GCR protection for new residential construction, if your project is one.

Check 1: the RBQ licence and the right subclass

According to the RBQ, any contractor doing residential renovation work must hold a licence. Ask for their number, then look it up in the Licence Holder Registry, by number or by name. It takes a few minutes. In the record, look at four things:

• The status: the licence must be valid. It must also not carry a restriction preventing the contractor from bidding on or entering into a public contract (mostly relevant for public contracts).
• The subclasses: they must match the planned work, because a licence does not cover everything. The guide RBQ licence: subclasses and bonding explains the difference.
• Claims on the bond in the last five years: the RBQ specifies that these claims indicate that the contractor did not honour their contract.
• The name: the name on the contract must be that of the licence holder.

Complete this with the company file. The Quebec Enterprise Register confirms the registration, the address and the officers (a contractor who works alone may not have a file there). The OPC's "Get information about a merchant" tool shows the Office's interventions and the formal notices received by the business.

Checks 2 and 3: insurance and references

The OPC recommends checking that the contractor holds civil liability insurance. It protects you, your neighbours and third parties in case of damage. Ask for written proof, then have the insurance details written into the contract, as the OPC suggests.

For references, the RBQ puts word of mouth first among the ways to find a contractor. Without a recommendation, ask for the contact details of former clients and call a few of them. Three questions are enough: was the work finished on the promised date, did the final price match the quote, and would you hire them again? The RBQ also points out that contractor referral agencies often offer no additional protection. Finally, be wary of a contractor who only gives a phone number, without a full address (OPC).

Checks 4 and 5: detailed quote and written contract

The RBQ and the OPC advise asking for at least three quotes. A good quote describes the work and the materials, gives a detailed total cost, specifies the payment terms and states the start and end dates. To compare them, read comparing renovation quotes; to describe your project well from the start, read preparing your project.

Once you have chosen the contractor, insist on a written contract. The RBQ sums it up: the most important thing is that the contract is written, detailed, and that you fully understand it. Any verbal agreement should be put in writing. The contract should contain:

• your contact details and the address of the work;
• the contractor's exact legal name, RBQ licence number, Quebec enterprise number (NEQ) and GST and QST numbers;
• a detailed description of the work and a precise schedule;
• the total price and the payment terms, including labour, materials, transport, insurance, subcontractors and equipment rental;
• who obtains the municipal permit, if a permit is needed;
• the obligation to get your approval before any unplanned work, and debris removal (OPC advice).

Read every clause and ask your questions before signing. Never sign under pressure.

Checks 6 and 7: the deposit and protection for a new home

For the deposit, the RBQ advises paying as little as possible before work starts, and the OPC suggests avoiding a deposit or limiting it to a small amount. Then pay in instalments according to progress, keeping a final payment of 10 to 15% of the total cost for the end of the work. If you are asked for a payment more than two months before work starts, check whether the business has a trust account (OPC).

Protection for new construction is a separate case. According to the RBQ, the Guarantee Plan for New Residential Buildings covers new single-family houses, various types of new multi-family buildings and some condos. Its administrator, Garantie de construction résidentielle (GCR), keeps a directory of accredited businesses where you can check that the contractor is accredited and that your project is registered. For a renovation, this plan does not apply: what counts instead is the licence bond, which covers in particular deposits paid, unfinished work and defects discovered within a year after the work ends, and what is written in the contract.

Warning signs you should not ignore

The RBQ and the OPC point to several situations that should make you slow down:

• unsolicited contact, by phone, through social media or at your door;
• a "free" inspection that reveals urgent problems (the OPC then advises getting other assessments);
• promises of big savings, especially tied to grants or your electricity bill;
• pressure to sign financing at a very high rate;
• subcontractors with no licence or qualifications;
• a name on the contract that does not match the licence holder's.

Some renovation contracts are even prohibited in door-to-door sales, for example for a heat pump, an air conditioner or decontamination or insulation services. An itinerant merchant must also hold an OPC permit. Confirm with the OPC for your situation.

Where SubmitX Network fits

SubmitX Network is a construction network for Quebec, separate from the SubmitX software: no SubmitX account is required. It includes a profile type for individuals who have a construction or renovation project. The network is closed for now and opens region by region: you can join the waiting list for free, and you will be notified only once when your region opens.

When your region opens, an individual will be able to browse profiles and choose for themselves who to contact. The "verified" label means that the RBQ licence number was compared with the public registry and that the sign-up email matches the company's: it is neither an RBQ approval nor a quality guarantee. The seven checks above still need to be done. For details, read What is SubmitX Network?.