Before You Renovate: The Electrical Checklist for Ontario & Quebec Homes
The most expensive electrical decisions in a renovation happen before drywall — not after. This checklist covers panel capacity, permits in Ontario and Quebec, future-proofing (EV, kitchen, lighting), and what to order early so your electrician isn't waiting on parts.
Before any renovation, confirm four things: panel capacity (is there room — physically and electrically — for new circuits?), permits (electrical work needs ESA notification in Ontario; in Quebec it must be done by licensed contractors under RBQ), future loads (EV charger, kitchen appliances, A/C), and long-lead materials ordered before the walls open.
Why electrical planning comes first
Walls open once. Every circuit, box, and cable run is cheap while studs are exposed and expensive after paint. The renovations that go over budget on electrical almost always share the same story: nobody checked the panel, nobody planned for the EV charger, and the electrician arrived to find the wrong boxes on site. One planning hour prevents all three.
1. Check the panel before you plan anything
Your electrical panel is the budget ceiling for the whole renovation.
| Check | What it tells you | Red flags |
|---|---|---|
| Main breaker rating (60A / 100A / 200A) | How much total capacity the house has | 60A service + any major addition |
| Open breaker slots | Room for new circuits without a sub-panel | Zero open slots, tandem breakers everywhere |
| Panel age & brand | Whether insurers and inspectors will flag it | Fuse panels; certain legacy brands your electrician will name |
| Existing major loads | What's already claimed (range, dryer, A/C, heat) | Electric heat + EV plans on 100A service |
A licensed electrician performs a load calculation to confirm what your service can actually support — that calculation, not guesswork, decides whether you need a service upgrade. If a 200A upgrade is in your future (EV, heat pump, addition), doing it during the renovation is dramatically cheaper than after. Browse Siemens loadcentres and breakers to see what your electrician will be specifying.
2. Permits: Ontario vs Quebec — very different rules
Ontario: electrical work requires a notification (permit) filed with the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), and the work gets inspected. Homeowners may do certain electrical work in their own home, but the ESA filing and inspection still apply — and insurers can deny claims for unpermitted work. Details in our guide: Can Homeowners Do Electrical Work in Ontario?
Quebec: stricter — electrical work must generally be performed by a licensed contractor (RBQ licence, CMEQ member). Homeowner DIY electrical is not the legal default the way it is in Ontario. Budget for the licensed contractor from day one.
3. Plan loads you don't have yet (this is where renos age badly)
The cheapest time to run a cable is when the wall is open — even if you don't connect it for years.
- EV charger — even "maybe someday" justifies a conduit run or cable from panel to garage now. Full breakdown: EV Charger Buyer's Guide Canada.
- Kitchen — modern kitchens are circuit-hungry: dedicated circuits for fridge, microwave, dishwasher, counter receptacles (split or 20A), induction ranges that may need more than the old range circuit. Plan the appliance list before the electrician quotes.
- Bathroom — heated floors, vanity lighting, exhaust fan with timer; GFCI protection throughout (GFCI vs AFCI explained).
- Basement — if it could ever be a rental suite, rough in for a future kitchenette and separate controls now.
- Heating/cooling — heat pumps and A/C add real load; electric baseboards have their own sizing math (Baseboard Heater Sizing Guide).
- Outdoors — deck receptacles, landscape lighting, future hot tub. Weatherproof boxes and in-use covers are cheap during the reno (Outdoor Outlets & Weatherproofing).
4. What to buy before the electrician arrives
Electricians bill time. Time spent waiting for parts is billed time. Order long-lead and bulk items early — full framework in What to Buy Before Your Electrician Arrives:
- Wire/cable for planned runs (your electrician will spec gauge and type — see NMD90 vs AC90)
- Boxes and covers — device boxes, fan-rated boxes for ceiling fans, vapour-barrier boxes on exterior walls (electrical boxes)
- Devices — receptacles, switches, dimmers, GFCIs (decide finishes early; white vs black vs nickel holds up quotes surprisingly often)
- Fixtures — recessed lighting trims/wafers, under-cabinet lights, exterior fixtures
- The panel hardware itself, if upgrading
Confirm specs with your electrician before ordering — then order everything at once. Maple stocks all of it in Canada with fast ON/QC shipping and will-call pickup, and we're an authorized reseller for every brand we carry.
5. The walkthrough: questions to settle with your electrician
1. Does the load calculation support my plans, or do I need a service upgrade? 2. Which of my plans need dedicated circuits? 3. What should we rough-in now for future use (EV, basement, exterior)? 4. Who files the ESA notification / pulls the permit, and who meets the inspector? 5. What materials list can you give me to source, and what do you prefer to supply yourself?
Common renovation electrical mistakes
- Discovering the panel is full after the drywall quote
- No conduit to the garage in a 2020s renovation
- Under-counter kitchen receptacles an inch too low for the backsplash tile (coordinate heights with the tiler)
- Ceiling boxes that aren't fan-rated where fans will hang
- Buying devices in three trips at retail prices instead of one supply-house order
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an electrical permit for a renovation in Ontario?
Electrical work requires a notification filed with the ESA and inspection. Your licensed electrician usually files it; confirm who's filing before work starts.
Can I do my own electrical work in Quebec?
Generally no — Quebec requires licensed contractors for electrical work. Plan and budget accordingly.
Should I upgrade to 200A service during a renovation?
If an EV, heat pump, or major addition is anywhere in your future and you're at 100A or less, ask your electrician to run the load calculation — doing the upgrade while walls are open and trades are mobilized is the cheap window.
What adds the most resale value: more circuits or smarter fixtures?
Capacity and rough-ins age best. Fixtures are fashion; a 200A panel and an EV-ready garage are infrastructure.
How early should I order electrical materials?
As soon as the electrician confirms the spec list — before demolition if possible. Panels, special-order fixtures, and matched device finishes are the usual stragglers.
Does unpermitted electrical work affect insurance?
It can — insurers may deny claims related to uninspected work. The permit is cheap; the alternative isn't.
- Electrical Safety Authority (Ontario): esasafe.com
- Régie du bâtiment du Québec: rbq.gouv.qc.ca
- Corporation des maîtres électriciens du Québec: cmeq.org
- Natural Resources Canada (energy efficiency planning): natural-resources.canada.ca
Renovating? Send Maple your electrician's materials list — one quote, one delivery, ON/QC. Ask Maple
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