Canadian · Professional Licensing
HCRA Builder Licence Lookup Ontario.
Before you sign for a new home in Ontario, HCRA says the first step is to search the Ontario Builder Directory. This guide explains what that means and what to watch for.
Use the Ontario Builder Directory for the answer. This page does not look anyone up and cannot confirm that a builder is licensed.
What the Ontario Builder Directory covers
HCRA describes the Ontario Builder Directory as a database of Ontario’s 6,500+ licensees and calls researching a builder there “the first step”. It says each licensee’s licensing stats and conduct history are shown.
HCRA states that builders in Ontario who build and sell new homes must be licensed by it. HCRA does not describe a licence-number format on the pages used for this guide, so none is given here.
The HCRA home page describes HCRA as licensing and regulating new home builders and sellers in Ontario. You can reach HCRA on 416-487-4272 (416-487-HCRA) or 1-800-582-7994 on weekdays, or at info@hcraontario.ca.
Open the official directory
HCRA says it can attach conditions to a licence to address an identified risk, often requiring further education. A conditional licence is still valid, but the builder has a set time to meet the conditions, and if they are not met HCRA can move to suspension or revocation. Read any condition on the profile rather than treating a licence as all-or-nothing.
HCRA says unlicensed builders are not bound by the Code of Ethics or the New Home Construction Licensing Act, 2017, and that you may miss warranty protections for new-home buyers. Its advice: “if there’s no licence, say no deal.” If you suspect a builder is operating without a licence, HCRA says to contact it right away.
Why you would check a builder before signing
A new-home purchase is usually the largest contract a household signs, with deposits paid long before the home exists. A licence check takes minutes and happens before money moves.
Search under the exact legal company name on your agreement, not only the sales-centre brand. Sales-centre brands, numbered companies and the licensed builder can all be different names.
Impersonator and scam check
- Compare the legal name on the agreement of purchase and sale with the directory entry. A similar name is not the same licensee.
- Look for conditions, notices or orders on the profile before paying a deposit. HCRA’s advice is “if there’s no licence, say no deal”; if a search finds nothing, check the spelling of the legal name and contact HCRA if unsure.
- Reach the directory by the button or by typing the address; do not use a link from an ad, text or social message.
- General advice, not HCRA wording: do not pay deposits by cash or to a personal account, and keep every document.
Sources
Regulator pages, retrieved October 2026:
- Home Construction Regulatory Authority - Ontario Builder Directory ↗
- HCRA: checking a builder ↗
- HCRA home page ↗
Regulators rename, merge and move their registers. If a link or description here no longer matches the regulator’s site, trust the regulator.
Frequently asked questions
What does an HCRA licence number look like?
HCRA does not describe a licence-number format on the pages used for this guide. Search under the builder’s legal company name instead of relying on a number.
Who needs an HCRA licence?
HCRA says builders in Ontario who build and sell new homes must be licensed by it.
What does a licence with conditions mean?
HCRA says the licence remains valid while the builder meets conditions in a set period; unmet conditions can lead to suspension or revocation.
Can this page confirm a builder is licensed?
No. It queries nothing and cannot confirm status. Use the Ontario Builder Directory.
Guide only — not a verification tool
This page is an independent guide that links to the official register. TNAADO is not affiliated with the regulator. It does not check anyone’s registration, implies no official verification, and nothing you might type here is transmitted anywhere. Use the official register to confirm current status; this page cannot confirm it.