Hiring a Contractor
How to Verify a Contractor in BC: A 7-Point Checklist Before You Sign
Before signing with a BC contractor, verify seven things: a WorkSafeBC clearance letter dated within 30 days, a Commercial General Liability certificate, active BC company registration, BBB accreditation and complaint record, a line-itemed fixed-price scope with a written change-order protocol, a written one-year workmanship warranty, and named reference projects you can contact.
To verify a contractor in British Columbia, confirm seven things before you sign: a current WorkSafeBC clearance letter, a Commercial General Liability certificate, BC company registration, BBB accreditation or a clean BBB record, a written fixed-price scope, a written workmanship warranty, and reference projects you can independently contact. Every one of these is something the contractor can produce in a day. A contractor who stalls on any of them is telling you something.
1. WorkSafeBC clearance letter
Ask for a clearance letter dated within the last 30 days. It confirms the contractor's WorkSafeBC account is active and premiums are paid. This is not paperwork theatre — if a worker is injured on your property and the contractor's account is not in good standing, liability can flow to you. On commercial projects, general contractors should require a fresh clearance letter before mobilization, every time.
2. Commercial General Liability insurance
Request the certificate of insurance, not a verbal assurance. Check the coverage limit and the expiry date. For multi-family and commercial work, $5,000,000 CGL is the market standard, and the GC should be added as additional insured on contract execution. Right Group carries $5M CGL and issues certificates on request.
3. BC company registration
A legitimate BC contractor is registered with BC Registries. You can search the company name and confirm it exists as an active entity. A numbered company with no operating history is not disqualifying on its own, but it changes what other proof you should ask for.
4. BBB accreditation and record
Look the company up on bbb.org. Two things matter: whether they are an Accredited Business (which requires application, review against BBB's Standards for Trust, and a written commitment to resolve complaints in good faith), and what their complaint history actually shows. A company with complaints that were all resolved is often a better signal than one with no history at all.
Right Group Construction Ltd. is a BBB Accredited Business with BBB Serving Mainland BC — the seal in our footer links straight to the live profile.
5. A written, fixed-price scope
The quote should be line-itemed, with allowances clearly marked and exclusions stated. Vague single-line pricing ("finish carpentry — $28,000") is where disputes come from. You want to see materials, quantities, what is supplied by whom, and what is explicitly not included.
Insist on a written change-order protocol: no extra work proceeds without a signed change order stating scope and price. On commercial contracts, pair it with weekly signed timesheets for labour-only work.
6. A written workmanship warranty
One year of labour and workmanship coverage is the reasonable standard for finish carpentry and renovation work. Get it in writing, and confirm how callbacks are handled — who you contact, and the expected response window.
7. Reference projects you can verify
Ask for specific projects: address or building name, scope performed, unit count, year, and a contact who will take your call. "We've done hundreds of homes" is not a reference. Our commercial reference list names buildings, storey counts, and unit counts — including One Burrard Place (56 storeys, 444 units) and Belvedere (30 storeys, 275 units) — precisely because they can be checked.
The short version
| Check | What to ask for |
| --- | --- |
| WorkSafeBC | Clearance letter, under 30 days old |
| Insurance | CGL certificate with limit and expiry |
| Registration | Active BC Registries entity |
| Reputation | BBB profile and accreditation status |
| Scope | Line-itemed fixed-price quote |
| Warranty | One year, in writing |
| References | Named projects with contactable references |
If a contractor produces all seven without hesitation, you are dealing with a company that has done this before.
Want to run the checklist on us? Call 604-765-6318, request a free quote, or request a bid — we send clearance, insurance and references with every proposal.
Frequently Asked
Questions we get asked
How do I check if a BC contractor is legitimate?
Request a current WorkSafeBC clearance letter, a Commercial General Liability certificate, and proof of BC company registration, then check the company's BBB profile and call at least two named reference projects.
Why does a WorkSafeBC clearance letter matter?
A clearance letter confirms the contractor's WorkSafeBC account is active and premiums are paid. If it is not in good standing, liability for a worker injury on your property can flow back to you as the owner or general contractor.
How much liability insurance should a contractor carry?
For residential renovation work, $2,000,000 is common, while multi-family and commercial contracts typically require $5,000,000 Commercial General Liability with the general contractor added as additional insured.
What should be in a contractor's written quote?
A line-itemed fixed price, clearly marked allowances, stated exclusions, a payment schedule, a written change-order protocol requiring signatures before extra work, and a one-year workmanship warranty.
Are online reviews enough to vet a contractor?
No. Reviews are useful but unverified. Pair them with a BBB profile check, insurance and WorkSafeBC documents, and reference projects with real addresses and contactable clients.