Required Electrical Upgrades for New Homes in Ontario

Learn more below about the 3 key electrical requirements for new home-building projects in Toronto and throughout Ontario. The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) is the governing body that ensures safety across all properties that are changing, altering, or upgrading their electrical system. An ESA inspections are required during any renovation or home-building project that is altering, changing, or upgrading any aspect of the home’s electrical system. Usually these inspections are included within the scope of the Electrician that your General Contractor or Home Builder is using for the project.

In speaking with our Electrician, there are three key electrical requirements for new home building projects that are now required, so if your scope of work with your builder currently doesn’t include any of the three then make sure you get them included!

Three Key Electrical Requirements for New Home Building Projects in Ontario

1. Minimum 200 Amp Panel and Service Installation. The code requirement is to install a minimum 200 Amp service and panel to a new home. This allows you to have plenty of capacity for future add-ons (hot tubs, EV charger, pool, etc.), which in turn future-proofs your home!

2. Interconnected Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms. A very important part of the ESA code is smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. It is a code requirement to have a certain number or smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors based on the number of bedrooms and living space you have. Your permit drawings should highlight the required areas but when in doubt as your General Contractor or Home Builder. The most important things to note is that usually a combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide is installed with a strobe light that flashes when the alarm sounds (to fulfill the code requirements), and all of the Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors need to be interconnected between one another (even between different units). This means that when one alarm triggers, they all trigger. As triggering as that sounds it is not a code requirement!

3. EV Charging Station Rough-in. It is now a requirement for your GC/Home builder to include an EV charger rough-in for your project. This is a newer requirement but nonetheless important when reviewing your new home building scope. If you don’t have an EV charger included then talk to your GC or Home Builder to get it included in your scope of work!

Conclusion

We will add to this list as we get more information from our electrician but we hope you found this article interesting! Feel free to browse through our other blog articles and webpages. We are an education-led home builder and General Contractor located in Toronto and firmly believe in giving our clients all of the information so they can make the most informed decision about their project.

If you are interested in speaking with a BVM Contracting representative about your new home build, home addition, or substantial home or business renovation project please reach out to us at contact@bvmcontracting.com.

About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.