Required: RBQ contractor licence.
Under Québec's Building Act and its regulations, the business doing your work must hold a valid contractor's licence whose subclasses cover that work. It is issued by the RBQ or, for some electrical, plumbing and heating contractors, by the CMEQ or CMMTQ.
Why it matters: The business's qualifications and solvency were checked before its licence was issued. Under certain conditions, its bond may also compensate you for a lost deposit, unfinished work or defects found within a year of completion.
Businesses currently holding this licence in the official lists: 53,390.
Official sources: Building Act, s. 46 · Building Act, s. 7 · Regulation respecting the professional qualification of contractors and owner-builders, s. 6 · Building Act, s. 129.3 · Regulation respecting the professional qualification of contractors and owner-builders, s. 25 · RBQ — Effectuer une réclamation au cautionnement · RBQ — Choosing a contractor · OPC — Avant d'engager un entrepreneur en rénovation · RBQ FAQ — The contractor and the licence · Building Act, s. 50 · RBQ communiqué 2026-02-25 · Regulation respecting the application of the Consumer Protection Act, s. 7 · Consumer Protection Act, s. 57
Some jobs are not construction work under the law and don't require an RBQ licence, for example cleaning, snow removal, tree felling or delivering materials. For painting, flooring, renovation and any other construction work done for you for pay, a licence is required whatever the amount.
The RBQ list is updated daily; a very recent licence may not appear yet. Licences of electrical (CMEQ) and plumbing and heating (CMMTQ) contractors are included.
Official sources: RBQ: work not requiring a licence · RBQ: licence FAQ
The Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC) received 3,201 consumer complaints about this type of business from October 2025 to September 2026.
Same months three years earlier: 2,629 (+22%).
Includes complaints about heating and air-conditioning appliances, which also cover retailers.
These figures are not about any particular business: OPC data does not name businesses. Complaints are unverified allegations, not findings.