- Becoming a Licensed Residential Builder
- Renewing a Residential Builder Licence
- Suspension or Cancellation of Residential Builder’s Licence
- Use of the Trade Marked 2-5-10 or 2-10-10 Year Home Insurance Logo
Becoming a Licensed Residential Builder
To become a Licensed Residential Builder:
- Contact a home warranty insurance provider and obtain acceptance for home warranty insurance. If you are accepted the home warranty insurance provider will notify the HPO.
- Complete the Residential Builder Licence Application and Agreement online. Start the online application process.
- Go to the online Licensed Builder Portal to start your application
- Step-by-step guide for the online application process
- Send your licence application to the Homeowner Protection Office. Ensure your application includes:
- The completed Residential Builder Licence Application and Agreement, with signature of the applicant;
- Pay online or send the HPO a cheque for $600 made payable to the Homeowner Protection Office.
Complete applications will take approximately 3 business days to process. The HPO maintains a public registry of all Licensed Residential Builders on this website.
For more information can be found in the How to Become a Licensed Residential Builder information bulletin
Renewing a Residential Builder Licence
Licensed Residential Builders must renew their licence if they intend to build and/or sell new homes in the next 12-month period after their licence expires. Continuing to build or sell after a licence is expired is an offence under the Act.
To renew your residential builder licence:
- Contact your home warranty insurance company to confirm your continued acceptance. If you are accepted for home warranty insurance your warranty provider will notify the HPO.
- Complete the Residential Builder Licence Application and Agreement online. A valid email account is required to use the online licence application process. Applicants without access to email may contact the HPO for a paper application.
- Pay online or send the HPO a cheque for $500 made payable to the Homeowner Protection Office
Approximately 60 days prior to the license expiration date, the Licensed Residential Builder will receive a reminder from the HPO.
Complete applications will take 3 business days for processing.
Suspension or Cancellation of a Residential Builder’s Licence
The Homeowner Protection Act sets out conditions under which the Registrar may suspend or cancel a Residential Builder Licence:
- for any reason that would have disqualified the licence in the first place
- for making a false statement on the application
- for refusing to provide information on a material matter as requested by the Registrar
- for a breach of a condition of licensing
- for a conviction of an offence under the Homeowner Protection Act or Regulations, and
- if the licence was issued in error.
One of the most common reasons for a licensee to have their licence suspended is if they lose the support of their warranty provider or fail to renew with their warranty provider during the term of their HPO licence. For that reason, we encourage licensees to also renew their warranty coverage in a timely manner.
Use of the Trade Marked 2-5-10 or 2-10-10 Year Home Insurance Logo
The HPO has trade marked a 2-5-10 year home warranty insurance logo which is available for Licensed Residential Builders to use in their marketing efforts of new homes meeting the requirements of the Homeowner Protection Act.
Use of the standard 2-5-10 year home warranty insurance logo helps reduce homebuyer confusion and promote Licensed Residential Builders' homes that meet the requirements of the Homeowner Protection Act.
Upon approval for a residential builder licence, Licensed Residential Builders can request a 2-5-10 year home warranty insurance logo trade mark licence agreement from the HPO. A 2-10-10 logo licensing agreement is sent to builders who are accepted with the warranty insurance provider that offers this product.
Please note that the Homeowner Protection Office logo, as displayed on our website, is also trade marked and is only for official use by the Homeowner Protection Office.
