A Canadian Home Renovation Agreement is a legally binding contract between a homeowner and a renovation contractor that governs the performance of renovation, remodelling, or improvement work on residential property in Canada. This agreement covers everything from kitchen and bathroom remodels to basement finishing, room additions, exterior work, and whole-home renovations, establishing clear terms for the scope of work, contract price, payment schedule, project timeline, warranty obligations, and dispute resolution procedures.

Canadian home renovation work is regulated at the provincial and municipal levels. Each province maintains its own building code derived from the National Building Code of Canada, along with construction lien legislation that protects subcontractors and suppliers through mandatory holdback requirements. In Ontario, the Construction Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. C.30, as amended by Bill 142 in 2018) governs construction liens and holdbacks, while the Consumer Protection Act, 2002 (S.O. 2002, c. 30, Sched. A) provides additional protections for homeowners entering into renovation contracts, including a cooling-off period for certain types of contracts.

In British Columbia, the Homeowner Protection Act (S.B.C. 1998, c. 31) establishes a licensing framework for residential builders, and the Builders Lien Act (S.B.C. 1997, c. 45) governs lien rights and holdback requirements. Alberta's Builders' Lien Act (R.S.A. 2000, c. B-7) similarly establishes statutory holdback obligations and lien filing deadlines for renovation projects in that province.

The statutory holdback is a critical feature of Canadian renovation contracts. Homeowners must retain a percentage of each progress payment (typically 10%) for the duration of the statutory lien period to protect against claims from unpaid subcontractors and material suppliers. Failure to maintain the holdback exposes the homeowner to personal liability for the amount improperly released. Workers' compensation clearance through WSIB (Ontario), WorkSafeBC (British Columbia), or WCB (Alberta) is essential to protect the homeowner from vicarious liability for workplace injuries occurring during the renovation.

A Canadian Home Renovation Agreement is needed whenever a homeowner engages a contractor to perform renovation, remodelling, repair, or improvement work on residential property anywhere in Canada. This includes kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, basement finishing, room additions, deck construction, roof replacement, window and door installation, siding replacement, flooring installation, electrical upgrades, plumbing renovations, HVAC system installation, painting, and any other work that alters, improves, or repairs the residential property.

Ontario homeowners are strongly advised to use a written renovation agreement for any project, as the Consumer Protection Act, 2002 (S.O. 2002, c. 30, Sched. A) requires written contracts for home renovation services and provides specific consumer protections including cancellation rights. British Columbia homeowners should verify that their contractor holds a valid licence under the Homeowner Protection Act (S.B.C. 1998, c. 31), which is a prerequisite for performing residential renovation work in that province.

This agreement is essential when the renovation involves multiple phases or milestones that require progress payments, as the statutory holdback requirements under provincial construction lien legislation must be properly managed. Homeowners paying a contractor in full before the lien period expires risk being required to pay again if subcontractors or suppliers file valid construction liens against the property.

The agreement is also critical when the renovation requires building permits, as it establishes which party is responsible for obtaining permits from the local municipality, scheduling inspections, and ensuring compliance with the applicable provincial Building Code. Without a written agreement, disputes about permit responsibility, inspection failures, and code compliance often result in project delays and additional costs.

Condominium unit owners undertaking renovations must comply with their condominium corporation's rules and bylaws in addition to municipal and provincial requirements. The renovation agreement should address these additional compliance obligations and ensure that the contractor maintains insurance that satisfies both the condominium corporation's requirements and provincial minimums.

A comprehensive Canadian Home Renovation Agreement must identify both the homeowner and contractor with full legal names, addresses, and contact information. The contractor's provincial licence or registration number must be included where applicable, such as Tarion registration in Ontario or BC contractor licensing under the Homeowner Protection Act. Include the contractor's CRA Business Number for GST/HST purposes.

The scope of work must describe the renovation in sufficient detail to prevent disputes. Specify the type of renovation, all work to be performed, materials to be used (including brand names, models, and quality grades where possible), and which party is responsible for supplying materials. Reference attached plans, drawings, or specification sheets where available. Clearly state what is included and what is excluded from the scope.

The contract price must be stated in Canadian dollars, along with a detailed payment schedule. Include the initial deposit amount, milestone payment triggers, and the final payment amount. Address the statutory holdback requirement under the applicable provincial Construction Lien Act, specifying the holdback percentage (typically 10%) and the lien period duration during which the holdback must be retained. Address GST/HST obligations under the federal Excise Tax Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. E-15).

The project timeline must include the start date, expected completion date, and permitted working hours that comply with municipal noise bylaws. Include provisions for excusable delays (weather, material shortages, permit delays) and the mechanism for extending the completion date. If applicable, include liquidated damages for contractor-caused delays with a reasonable grace period.

Insurance and workers' compensation requirements are essential. The contractor must maintain commercial general liability insurance (minimum CAD $2 million is standard for residential renovations), workers' compensation coverage through the applicable provincial board (WSIB, WorkSafeBC, or WCB), and provide clearance certificates before commencing work and upon request. Include warranty terms specifying the duration and scope of coverage for both workmanship and materials, noting any statutory warranties that may apply under provincial legislation. Include a change order process, governing law clause referencing the applicable province, and a dispute resolution mechanism.