How to Hire a Contractor in Calgary
Seven checks the City of Calgary, Service Alberta and WCB-Alberta recommend before you sign a renovation contract or pay a deposit.
Check the prepaid contractor licence
If a contractor sells to you at your home and wants any money before the work is finished, Alberta requires a prepaid contracting licence from Service Alberta. Licensed businesses post security with the province, and you can claim against it if the business is negligent. Alberta.ca: prepaid contracting licence ↗ · Licensed business search ↗
Check the City of Calgary business licence
Contractors working in Calgary need a City business licence, and an unlicensed contractor can’t take out construction and trade permits. City of Calgary: hiring a contractor ↗
Ask for a WCB clearance letter
A clearance letter from WCB-Alberta confirms the contractor’s account is in good standing, and clears you of liability if they default on premiums. Get it before work starts. WCB-Alberta: coverage for contractors ↗
See the certificate of insurance
Contractors should carry business liability insurance. Ask for a certificate of insurance as part of the contract.
Get it in writing
A prepaid contract must include an itemized price, start and completion dates, and your cancellation rights. It should also say who handles permits and inspections, the payment schedule, materials and any warranty.
Ask for references
Ask for past customers and call them about the quality of the work, the schedule, the budget and how problems were handled.
Check for liens before the final payment
Before the last payment, check the Alberta Land Titles office for builder’s liens registered against your property. An unpaid lien can affect a mortgage renewal or a sale.
Sources: City of Calgary, Service Alberta and WCB-Alberta, checked October 2026. Rules change; follow the links for the current version.
How Bedrock Contracting measures up
- Licensed Prepaid Contractor (Service Alberta)
- WCB covered: ask us for a clearance letter
- Fully insured
- BBB A+ rating, 0 complaints in 3 years (October 2026)
Before you hire
Is it safe to pay a contractor a deposit in Alberta?
Only pay a deposit to a contractor licensed by Service Alberta as a prepaid contractor. Alberta requires that licence before a contractor can take money before the work is finished, and licensed contractors post security with the province. Bedrock Contracting holds a prepaid contractor licence, and you can check it on Service Alberta's licensed business search.
How can I check a contractor's licence?
Search the business name on Service Alberta's licensed business search for a prepaid contractor licence, and use the City of Calgary's contractor licence search for the City business licence. Bedrock Contracting is listed by Service Alberta as Bedrock Contracting Canada, Prepaid Contractor, Calgary.
What is a WCB clearance letter and do I need one?
A WCB clearance letter from WCB-Alberta confirms a contractor's account is in good standing. It protects whoever hires the contractor from being held liable for the contractor's unpaid premiums. Ask for one before work starts. Bedrock Contracting is WCB covered.
What should I check before the final payment?
Walk through the finished work with your contractor, and check the Alberta Land Titles office for any builder's liens registered against your property. The City of Calgary recommends this before the final payment.