Renovation Electrician for Toronto Homes
KV Bear Electrical is a licensed electrical contractor (ECRA/ESA 7014730) based in Oshawa, serving homeowners in Toronto. This page covers how our home renovation electrical service works for Toronto homes.
Get a Home Renovation Electrical Quote in Toronto
A Toronto renovation usually runs on two separate permit tracks. Toronto Building reviews structural, plumbing, heating and new-unit work, while the wiring goes through the Electrical Safety Authority. The City says so directly in its BuildSafeTO guidance, and it matters because a general contractor's building permit does not cover the electrical side of the job.
The electrical plan also has to be settled before the walls close. Whether you are finishing a basement, turning it into a secondary suite, opening up a kitchen or rewiring an older house from the panel out, the circuits, lighting layout, smoke alarm locations and panel capacity all need decisions while the framing is still exposed. This page explains how that works in Toronto and where the City's rules and ESA's meet.
What Toronto Homeowners Should Know
The City of Toronto's BuildSafeTO guidance states that in Ontario almost all electrical work requires an electrical permit from the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), and that this permit is obtained separately from a City building permit.
Source: BuildSafeTO: Learn About Building Permits, City of Toronto (toronto.ca)The City of Toronto says finishing the basement of a house does not need a building permit when the work has no structural or material alterations and no additional dwelling unit is created, while installing or modifying heating or plumbing systems does.
Source: When Do I Need a Building Permit?, City of Toronto (toronto.ca)Toronto Building describes a secondary suite as an interior alteration that adds a second, smaller dwelling unit inside an existing detached house, semi-detached house or townhouse, and names a basement apartment as a common example. The permit drawings show the locations of smoke alarms and CO detectors.
Source: Secondary Suites, City of Toronto (toronto.ca)Ontario's guide to adding a second unit says smoke alarms must be placed on every level of the house, outside sleeping areas, in each bedroom of the second unit and in shared areas such as entrances and laundry rooms. The 30-minute fire separation between units can drop to 15 minutes when the whole house has interconnected smoke alarms.
Source: Add a second unit in your house, Government of Ontario (ontario.ca)Toronto Fire Services lists electrical upgrades not inspected and approved by ESA, along with missing interconnected smoke and CO alarms, among the hazards in two-unit houses where a secondary suite was added without City review.
Source: Two-Dwelling Unit Houses (Basement Apartments), City of Toronto (toronto.ca)For heat pump-only projects under the City's Home Energy Loan Program, the funding request is limited to heat pumps and installation costs, electrical upgrades if required, and building permits (as of October 2026).
Source: Home Energy Loan Program, City of Toronto (toronto.ca)ESA tells homeowners who hire a general contractor to make sure the general contractor uses a Licensed Electrical Contractor and that a permit from ESA is obtained for the job.
Source: Working with General Contractors, Electrical Safety Authority (esasafe.com)
Facts checked October 13, 2026.
Basement Electrical Wiring in Toronto: Finished Space or Second Suite
A basement that stays part of the main house is the simpler project. If there is no structural change, no new unit and no new plumbing or heating, the City does not require a building permit, but the new circuits, pot lights, receptacles and any bathroom fan still go through ESA. Typical basement electrical covers lighting on dimmers, receptacles spaced for furniture and a media wall, a dedicated circuit for a bar fridge or office equipment, and a check of whether the panel has room for the added load.
A secondary suite changes the scope. It is a new dwelling unit, so it needs a City building permit, and the drawings show where smoke and CO alarms go. Ontario's second unit guidance calls for alarms on every level, outside sleeping areas and in each suite bedroom, and interconnecting them across the whole house can reduce the fire separation needed between units. The electrical plan therefore includes alarm wiring that links both units, kitchen circuits sized for a second household and a panel review before a suite is offered to a tenant.
House Rewiring Services in Toronto
Whole-house rewiring makes the most sense when a renovation already has walls and ceilings open. Older Toronto homes can carry knob and tube, aluminum branch circuits or undersized copper that has been extended many times, and replacing it during a gut renovation saves the patching that rewiring finished rooms would need later. The rewire is planned from the panel outward: a new or upgraded panel if needed, new home runs to each room, grounded receptacles and circuits laid out for how the house will actually be used.
There is no fixed price for a full house rewire because size, storeys and access vary so much, so it is quoted after an assessment. Our published ranges for common renovation scopes are $800 to $1,500 for a bathroom rough-in, $2,000 to $5,000 for a kitchen electrical package and $3,000 to $8,000 or more for a full basement finish (as of October 2026). Each scope appears as its own line on the itemized quote, so a rewire and a kitchen can be priced together or apart.
How a Renovation Electrician Fits Into a Toronto Project
Sequence matters on a Toronto renovation. Drawings and any City building permit come first, then the Licensed Electrical Contractor files the ESA notification before rough-in starts. Rough-in wiring goes in after framing, ESA reviews it before insulation and drywall hide it, and the final connection of fixtures and devices happens near the end. When a general contractor runs the project, ESA asks homeowners to confirm that the electrical work is done by a licensed contractor under a permit, so ask for the notification number early.
If the renovation includes a switch to a heat pump, the City's Home Energy Loan Program can include required electrical upgrades in a heat pump-only funding request (as of October 2026), which is worth checking before the panel work is priced. At the end you receive the ESA Certificate of Acceptance for your records and for any future sale. To plan the electrical for your Toronto renovation, call 905-999-5048 or request a quote below.
Home Renovation Electrical in Toronto: Common Questions
Is a City permit needed to finish a basement in Toronto?
Not always. The City exempts basement finishing that involves no structural or material alterations, no new dwelling unit and no new heating or plumbing work. The electrical work is separate either way: new circuits and lighting in the basement still need an ESA notification.
Who takes out the electrical permit when a general contractor runs my renovation?
The Licensed Electrical Contractor doing the wiring files the ESA notification. ESA advises homeowners to make sure their general contractor hires a licensed electrical contractor and that the permit is obtained, so ask for the ECRA/ESA licence number and the notification number before rough-in begins.
What electrical changes come with turning a Toronto basement into a second suite?
Expect a City building permit, smoke alarms on every level, outside sleeping areas and in each suite bedroom, and a plan for interconnecting alarms between the units. The panel is reviewed for a second household's cooking and heating loads, and every new circuit is covered by the ESA notification.
Should house rewiring happen during a Toronto renovation or separately?
During, when possible. With framing exposed, new cable runs straight to each box instead of being fished through finished plaster, and inspection happens before anything is closed in. If only part of the house is being renovated, the assessment shows which remaining circuits can wait.
Can the City's Home Energy Loan Program pay for electrical work?
Only in a limited way. For heat pump-only projects, the City says the funding request covers heat pumps and installation, electrical upgrades if required, and building permits (as of October 2026). General renovation wiring is not on that list, so confirm eligibility with the City before relying on it.
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.”
Guides on Home Renovation Electrical
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If you own a pre-1950s home in Ontario, there is a reasonable chance it has knob-and-tube wiring. And if your insurance company has been asking questions about it, you are not alone.
Read the guideWhy You Should Only Hire an ESA-Licensed Electrician in Ontario
In Ontario, anyone you hire to do electrical work in your home must hold an ECRA/ESA licence. Here is why it matters and the risks of cutting corners.
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