How do I check that a contractor holds an RBQ licence?

General information, not legal advice. The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) issues licences to construction contractors and owner-builders. Before hiring a contractor for renovation or construction work, check whether they hold a valid licence: ask for their licence number (a sequence of 10 digits) and enter it in the RBQ's Registre des détenteurs de licence (licence holders register). Businesses without a licence do not appear in the register. Also check that the name on the contract is the name of the licence-holding business and that its licence subcategories cover your work.

Key facts

Who issues the licence

The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ), to construction contractors and owner-builders.

Licence number

A sequence of 10 digits. Contractors must display it on their means of identification and promotion.

Expiry date

Licences are issued with no fixed duration: there is no expiry date on the licence. To know whether it is still valid, check the register.

Why a licence matters

Signing with a licensed contractor gives you access to a financial guarantee in case of dispute. Licence holders must have a licence surety bond.

Contractor without a licence

They commit an offence and are liable to a fine. The RBQ stresses the risks of entrusting work to them.

Register

It lists holders of a valid licence, whether a general contractor, a specialized contractor or an owner-builder.

Steps

1. Ask the contractor for their RBQ licence number. You can also require them to show you their licence: it is a public document. Contractors holding a licence in good standing must display their number on all their means of identification and promotion.
2. Enter the licence number in the Registre des détenteurs de licence ("Consulter le registre" link on the RBQ page). The number is a sequence of 10 digits.
3. Read the business's record: name and contact details, Québec enterprise number, licence number, categories and subcategories, the association or company providing the surety bond, claims in progress or compensation paid, licence restriction for public works, and the list of the licence's responsible persons.
4. Compare with your contract: the contractor's name on the contract must match the name of the business that holds the licence. Its subcategories must also allow the planned work; the RBQ offers a keyword index and a list of subcategories to help you.
5. If the business does not appear in the register, do not assume it is an error: businesses without a licence do not appear. Check the number again and, if needed, contact the RBQ. Even a kitchen renovation requires a general contractor who holds a valid licence.
6. Consider the other checks the RBQ suggests: the business's record in the Registraire des entreprises du Québec and the "Se renseigner sur un commerçant" tool of the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC), which shows whether the OPC has intervened or the merchant has received formal notices.
7. If you already dealt with a contractor who had no licence at the time of the work or when the contract was signed, the RBQ lets you file a complaint about work without a licence.

General information drawn from official sources. It does not replace legal, medical or financial advice. For your situation, contact the organization concerned or a professional.