AntoineAsphalt.caWhat Should I Ask a Landscaper Before Hiring in Ontario?
Quick answer
Ask for proof of liability insurance, look up the company's WSIB clearance for free on the WSIB website, and get a written, itemized contract, which Ontario requires for any job over $50. If the contract includes an estimate, the final price can't go more than 10% over it unless you sign off on a change, and if you sign the contract at home you have 10 days to cancel for any reason. The province recommends a deposit of no more than 10% of the project cost.
What should I ask a landscaper before hiring?
- Can I see your certificate of liability insurance?
- What is your WSIB clearance status? (Then check it yourself.)
- Will I get a written, itemized contract with start and finish dates?
- Can I see similar projects and talk to past clients?
- What warranty do you give on plants and on hardscape, and is it in writing?
- Who handles permits, and who requests utility locates?
- In Oakville: do you hold a Town of Oakville business licence?
- Are you a member of a trade association such as Landscape Ontario?
Landscape Ontario screens members for education, experience and insurance before accepting them. Members sign a code of conduct, and there is a formal complaint process. Landscape Ontario notes it does not guarantee every plant or garden its members install.
How do I check a landscaper's WSIB coverage and insurance?
- WSIB: a clearance is a number that "shows that a business is registered and up-to-date" with WSIB. You can look one up on the WSIB website with no login, by business name, phone number, CRA name, address, city or postal code. "We provide clearances at no charge." WSIB's phone number is 1-800-387-0750.
- Exemption: WSIB's clearance rules include an exemption for "home repairs or renovations by a home's resident, occupant or a member of their family." Checking is still free and tells you whether the business is registered.
- Insurance: ask for a certificate of liability insurance. For reference, when Oakville started licensing landscapers in 2016, it required $2 million in liability insurance.
What has to be in a landscaping contract in Ontario?
Ontario requires a written contract for any job over $50. Ontario.ca says it should include:
- The business name and contact information.
- A fair description of the work, with itemized materials and services.
- Warranties on goods and labour.
- The total cost and payment terms, including taxes.
- A schedule with start and completion dates.
- Any subcontractors, and who pays them.
- The payment schedule, including the deposit.
- Who prepares the site and who cleans up.
The 10% estimate rule: if the contract includes an estimate, the business can't charge more than 10% above it, unless you ask for extra or different work and sign a change.
Can I cancel a landscaping contract after signing?
- 10-day cooling-off period: if you sign a contract in your home, you can cancel for any reason within 10 days of getting your written copy. Cancel by email or registered mail. The business must refund you within 15 days.
- If you asked them to start early: the business may claim reasonable payment for work done or materials that can't be returned.
- No proper contract copy: you may be able to cancel within one year.
- Late start or delivery: if the business is more than 30 days late, you may be able to cancel.
- Arbitration clauses: a clause forcing you into arbitration doesn't bind consumers.
How much deposit should I pay, and how do I compare quotes?
The province recommends a deposit of no more than 10% of the total project cost. That is a recommendation, not a law.
To compare quotes:
- Line them up item by item: same areas, same materials, same base depth, same cleanup.
- Check that each quote includes taxes and a schedule.
- HomeStars suggests checking a company's Star Score, verification badge and reviews.
Who calls for locates, and do landscapers need a licence?
- Locates: anyone digging in Ontario must request locates through Ontario One Call. It's free, and it's required under the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012 (HCRA). Oakville's deck page lists 1-800-400-2255 for this, under the name "Ontario Dig Authority." Ask your landscaper who will make the request.
- Licences: we found no general provincial licence for landscapers. Oakville requires landscapers working in the town, including companies based elsewhere, to hold a Town business licence, and it publishes a Licensed Contractors list. In 2016 that licence also required a criminal record check and cost $507 for landscaping firms (2016 figures). Vaughan also licenses landscapers. We have not confirmed rules for Hamilton or Burlington.
- Oakville permits: homeowners are responsible for booking required permit inspections.
Printable hiring checklist
Frequently asked questions
Is a 50% deposit normal?
The province recommends a deposit of no more than 10% of the project cost. That's a recommendation, not a law.
Can I cancel a landscaping contract after I sign it?
If you signed it at home, yes. You have 10 days from getting your copy to cancel for any reason, and the refund is due within 15 days.
Do landscapers need a licence in Ontario?
We found no provincial licence. Oakville requires a Town business licence, and Vaughan also licenses landscapers.
What if the final bill is higher than the estimate?
If the contract includes an estimate, the business can't charge more than 10% above it unless you asked for extra or different work and signed a change.
Related guides & services
When you're comparing quotes, contact us and ask us any question on this list.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check Ontario.ca or a lawyer about your situation.
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