Searching for a contractor or a licence number: consult the Licence holders' repertory.
Searching for a contractor or a licence number: consult the Licence holders' repertory.
Searching for a contractor or a licence number: consult the Licence holders' repertory.
Where do you start the process of obtaining a licence? Below you will find all the steps you need to follow to apply for a licence from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ).
Click on any of the steps below to scroll down to the information you want.
In Québec, anyone who carries out construction work, or has construction work carried out, must hold a licence, unless they are exempted from doing so.
To determine whether you require a licence, consult the Guide to determining the type of licence required [Fr]. To see what exemptions may apply, go to Work and situations not requiring a licence. If you are in doubt, contact us.
Contractors specializing in electrical work (subclass 16) must contact the Corporation des maîtres électriciens du Québec
, which is responsible for evaluating its members' qualifications for obtaining a licence.
Contractors specializing in plumbing, heating, oil burners or natural gas burners (subclasses 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4 and 15.5) must contact the Corporation des maîtres mécaniciens en tuyauterie du Québec [Fr], which is responsible for evaluating its members' qualifications for obtaining a licence.
The competency certificate is issued to construction workers. Competency certificates are mandatory for workers who carry out, generally on behalf of an employer, work that falls within the occupations regulated by the Commission de la construction du Québec. Emploi-Québec also issues competency certificates for occupations that are considered "outside of construction".
The Régie du bâtiment du Québec licence is issued to persons who manage a construction company. It concerns the company's right to carry out construction work or have construction work carried out, and thus manage it.
You must specify your company's legal form of organization (natural person, legal person, or partnership). Contact the Registraire des entreprises du Québec to determine which form is best suited to your situation. A lawyer, notary or accountant can also help you determine the legal form of organization that is best suited to your needs and objectives.
Under certain provisions of Act R-20, administered by the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ), a particular legal form may also subject the company to certain obligations or restrictions. It is therefore recommended that you also contact the CCQ before making this decision.
. Doing so will provide you with a Québec enterprise number. Note that if you are a natural person doing business alone (sole proprietorship) and exclusively under your own name, you are not required to register with the REQ.
Your licence must indicate the subclass(es) corresponding to the work you plan to carry out. For help determining the appropriate subclass(es), see:
Contractors must comply with a number of obligations, one of which is to have licence security or to be accredited under the Guarantee Plan for New Residential Buildings. Licence security or Guarantee Plan? See the table below to determine which one applies to you.
| Subclasses held by the contractor | Type of financial guarantee to offer |
|---|---|
| Subclass 1.1.1 or 1.1.2 exclusively | The Guarantee Plan for New Residential Buildings |
| Subclass 1.1.1 or 1.1.2 and other subclasses | Licence security and Guarantee Plan for New Residential Buildings |
| Subclasses other than 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 | Licence security |
For general contractors (Schedule I subclasses), the required licence security is $40,000, and for specialized contractors (Schedules II and III subclasses), the amount is $20,000.
The RBQ requires this security, but does not issue it. Licence security is provided by a number of insurance companies, associations, credit unions and banking institutions. Go to Licence security to see which types of security are acceptable.
As indicated in the table above, contractors who hold a general contractor's subclass for new residential buildings (subclasses 1.1.1 and 1.1.2) must be accredited under the mandatory plan and obtain a certificate of accreditation from the authorized plan manager, La Garantie de construction résidentielle (GCR). To learn how to be accredited to the Guarantee Plan, consult the Plan’s accreditation page [Fr].
Unlike licence security, the certificate of accreditation under the Guarantee Plan does not need to be presented with your licence application. After you submit your application, you will receive a notice informing you of the deadline for providing proof of accreditation under a guarantee plan.
Guarantors and aspiring guarantors: go to our online capsules for exercises to help you better understand your role and obligations.
In this case, you may obtain an equivalence by presenting a professional file.
Complete the appropriate form for your company and forward it to the RBQ, along with all the required documents and the necessary fees. Go to Fee structure and fines to see the fees required for licence applications and qualification examinations.
Go to Licence application forms to find the form you need.
You may pay an additional fee to have your application handled before anyone else’s.
You are eligible for priority processing if you meet the following two conditions:
You are not eligible for priority processing in either of the following situations:
See Fee structure and fines to find out the additional fees required for priority processing of a licence application.
As a licence holder, you will have to contact several organizations, including the following:
, for federal income tax, for door-to-door sales permits, if applicable, to remit Québec sales tax, GST and provincial income tax, for licensing of any vehicles your business ownsIf you plan to hire workers, salaried or otherwise, you will also need to contact these organizations:
: Particular rules apply to labour management in the construction industry, including with regard to hiring workers and complying with collective agreements.: There are requirements with respect to accident prevention and safety standards on construction sitesFor further information or to file a complain or report, visit the Contact the RBQ webpage.