House Rewiring and Renovation Electrical in Scarborough
KV Bear Electrical is a licensed electrical contractor (ECRA/ESA 7014730) based in Oshawa, serving homeowners in Scarborough. This page covers how our home renovation electrical service works for Scarborough homes.
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Scarborough is a district of houses. The City of Toronto's 2021 profile of the Scarborough Community Council area counts 81,510 single-detached homes, and more of the district's dwellings date from 1961 to 1980 than from any other period. When those houses are renovated, whether that means opening up a kitchen, finishing a basement or adding a second suite, the electrical system is part of the job, and in an older house the bigger question is often whether to rewire while the walls are open.
Rewiring a house in Scarborough runs on two separate approval tracks. The City of Toronto issues building permits for structural work and new units, while the Electrical Safety Authority handles the electrical permit. Knowing which ones your project needs, and in what order the inspections fall, keeps the drywall crew from closing walls before the electrical work has been seen.
What Scarborough Homeowners Should Know
The City of Toronto's BuildSafeTO guidance says almost all electrical work in Ontario needs an Electrical Safety Authority permit, which is obtained separately from a City building permit.
Source: BuildSafeTO: Learn About Building Permits, City of Toronto (toronto.ca)The City of Toronto's 2021 census profile for the Scarborough Community Council area counts 81,510 single-detached houses, 37.2% of its occupied private dwellings.
Source: Community Council Area Profile: Scarborough (2021 Census), City of Toronto (toronto.ca)Toronto's Zoning By-law 569-2013 allows a maximum of one secondary suite per dwelling unit, with an interior floor area of no more than 45 percent of the dwelling unit it is in; a secondary suite in the basement of a one storey detached house may occupy the whole basement.
Source: Zoning By-law 569-2013, Chapter 150.10 Secondary Suites, City of Toronto (toronto.ca)The City of Toronto's fire safety guidance for two-unit houses lists a lack of proper electrical upgrades for increased loads, and electrical upgrades not inspected and approved by ESA, among the risks in basement apartments created without City review and approval.
Source: Two-Dwelling Unit Houses (Basement Apartments), City of Toronto (toronto.ca)When work that needs a building permit starts without one, the City of Toronto charges an additional fee equal to 50 percent of the permit fees for the project (as of October 2026).
Source: Working Without a Permit, City of Toronto (toronto.ca)ESA says a homeowner can do electrical work in their own home after filing a notification with ESA, but friends, family members or neighbours cannot perform electrical work in that home.
Source: Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Electrical Work, Electrical Safety Authority (esasafe.com)ESA's rough-in inspection takes place once the branch circuit wiring and outlet boxes are installed and before any wiring is concealed by insulation, vapour barrier or drywall.
Source: What is a rough-in inspection and when does it take place?, Electrical Safety Authority (esasafe.com)Toronto Hydro's heat pump guide says some installers may need to update the electrical panel for a new heat pump, most often in larger or poorly insulated homes.
Source: Electric heat pumps guide, Toronto Hydro (torontohydro.com)
Facts checked October 13, 2026.
Basement Electrical in Scarborough: Finish or Second Suite?
A basement finish with no structural changes and no new unit does not need a City building permit, yet its circuits, receptacles, lighting and bathroom fan still go through an ESA notification. Plan the basement electrical before the framing goes up: where the panel sits and how it stays accessible, how many receptacles each wall needs, dedicated circuits for a bar fridge or home office, and where the smoke alarms will go.
A second suite is a different project. The City treats it as a building permit for an interior alteration that adds a second dwelling unit to an existing detached house, semi-detached house or townhouse, and the electrical design has to serve two households, including a second kitchen. The City's own fire safety guidance names missing electrical upgrades and uninspected electrical work as risks in suites built without review, so the load calculation and the ESA notification are part of the plan from the start.
Rewiring a House While the Walls Are Open
When a kitchen or a whole floor is gutted, rewiring that area costs far less than it would with the finishes in place. That is the moment to retire aluminum or original circuits, add the counter circuits a modern kitchen needs, relocate a panel that sits in the way of the new layout, and run cable for future additions such as an EV charger or a heat pump.
The order matters. Framing goes up, then the electrical rough-in, then ESA's rough-in inspection before insulation and drywall hide anything. If the walls close too early, the inspection can require them to be opened again. A renovation electrician works to the general contractor's schedule but holds the drywall until ESA has seen the rough-in, then returns for devices and fixtures once the finishes are on.
Capacity, Costs and Getting Started
Renovations tend to add load: an induction range, a second laundry, a heat pump in place of a gas furnace. Toronto Hydro's heat pump guide says panel updates are most often needed in larger or poorly insulated homes, and a load calculation at the design stage shows whether your service can carry the finished house or needs an upgrade request to Toronto Hydro.
Our published ranges are $800 to $1,500 for a bathroom rough-in, $2,000 to $5,000 for a kitchen renovation electrical package, and $3,000 to $8,000 or more for a full basement finish. Whole-house rewiring is quoted after a walk-through of your plans and the existing wiring, with each room and circuit itemized. For an electrical renovation in Scarborough, call 905-999-5048 or request a quote below.
Home Renovation Electrical in Scarborough: Common Questions
Do I need both a City permit and an ESA permit for my Scarborough renovation?
Often, yes. The City of Toronto issues building permits for structural work, new basement entrances and second suites, while almost all electrical work needs an ESA permit filed separately. A simple basement finish with no structural changes and no new unit may need only the ESA notification.
Can a family member do the wiring in my Scarborough basement?
No. ESA says friends, family members and neighbours cannot perform electrical work in your home. You can do the work yourself in your own home after filing a notification, or hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor, who files the notification for you and arranges the inspections.
What does the City charge if Scarborough renovation work starts without a permit?
The City of Toronto adds a work without permit fee equal to 50 percent of the permit fees for the project (as of October 2026), on top of the permit itself. Work can also be stopped, and finished work may need to be opened up so it can be inspected.
Is it worth rewiring the whole house during a Scarborough kitchen renovation?
Sometimes. If the house has aluminum branch wiring, knob and tube, or a panel close to capacity, open walls make the work cheaper and cleaner than doing it later. If the existing copper wiring is sound and the panel has room, rewiring only the renovated rooms may be enough. An assessment before demolition answers the question.
What Our Customers Are Saying
“Kyle was extremely courteous, professional and friendly. He did a commendable job and even gave me a tip for a tripping issue without even having to look at it. He knows what he is doing. Would be my go to guy for anything electrical.”
“The entire process from quotation through contracting and performance of the work by Kyle was completed professionally and without any issues. The panel upgrade and EV charger installations are clean and neat and it is evident that Kyle takes pride in the quality of his work. Upon completion of the installations, Kyle ensured that the work site was 100% cleaned up.”
“KV Bear was recommended to us by a friend. We wanted to install a Tesla charger only to find out our electrical panel was known for faulting resulting in an electrical fire. He showed us signs of the panel arcing. The work was clean, professional, and fast! We are so happy we hired a professional.”