WSIB Clearance Certificates: What Ontario Homeowners Should Know Before Hiring Lawn Care

A WSIB clearance certificate is a free number from Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. It shows a business is registered and up to date on its premiums. If you're a homeowner hiring a lawn crew in Ontario, you usually don't need one. The WSIB says its clearance policy doesn't apply to householders who buy services from a contractor. Checking one is still a quick, free way to see if a company is in good standing.

What is a WSIB clearance certificate?

The WSIB runs workplace injury insurance in Ontario. Businesses pay premiums into it. If a worker gets hurt on the job, the WSIB pays wage-loss benefits and medical coverage.

A clearance is a number the WSIB gives to a registered business. It means the business is up to date with the WSIB. That includes paying premiums and filing its reports on time.

To be in good standing, the WSIB says a business must have:

• An open account, with all its registration details and papers sent in
• The right classification for the work it does
• All its premium amounts reported to the WSIB
• All its premiums and other amounts owing paid

Clearances are free. A business in good standing gets a new one by itself. The WSIB issues it again as long as the account stays up to date.

Do Ontario homeowners need a clearance to hire a lawn crew?

For most homeowners, no. The WSIB's clearance policy is plain about this. It says the policy "does not apply to householders who purchase services from a contractor."

The WSIB's clearance questions and answers say the same for home jobs. When a home's resident hires a contractor for home repairs or renovations, a clearance certificate isn't required.

You may have read about large WSIB fines for missing clearances. Those rules are about construction work. The WSIB says clearances must be in place before construction work starts. A weekly lawn cut at your own home isn't the case those fines are written for.

So a clearance isn't a legal box you must tick. Think of it as a free background check on the business side of a company.

Who does need a clearance, then?

The rules are written for businesses that hire other businesses. The WSIB calls the business doing the hiring the "principal." The business doing the work is the "contractor."

Here's why it matters to a principal. If a contractor owes the WSIB money, the principal may be liable for those unpaid premiums. The limit is the value of the labour part of the contract.

A valid clearance takes that risk away. While it's valid, the WSIB won't hold the principal liable for what the contractor owes. Principals must keep their clearance records for at least three years.

If you own a business and hire a lawn company for its grounds, that's you. Ask for a clearance before the work starts, and keep a copy.

Why check a lawn company's clearance anyway?

Because it tells you something real in about two minutes. A company with a valid clearance has done its paperwork and paid its premiums. That's a good sign it runs like a real business.

The WSIB also flags companies that are behind. If a contractor shows as "ineligible" in the online tool, it can't get a clearance. Its account isn't up to date with the WSIB.

That doesn't put you on the hook as a homeowner. But a company that's behind with the WSIB may be behind on other things too. It's worth a question before you book a whole season.

Our post on questions to ask before hiring lawn care covers the rest of the list, from insurance to cancelling.

How do you check a WSIB clearance online?

The WSIB has a free online tool called Quick access clearances. You don't need to log in. Here's how to use it:

1. Go to the WSIB clearances page and open Quick access clearances.
2. Search for the company. You can use its business name, phone number, address, city or postal code.
3. Check the name on the result matches the company you're hiring.
4. Look at the dates. Make sure the clearance covers today.

You can also ask the company to email it to you. The WSIB tool has a button to email a clearance. A company in good standing can send one in a minute.

How long does a clearance last?

A clearance is valid for up to 90 days from the date it's issued. Most expire on the 20th of February, May, August and November each year.

So if you check in late October, the clearance you see will likely run to November 20. That's normal. A business in good standing gets a new one automatically.

What if a lawn company has no clearance?

Don't panic. No clearance doesn't always mean a bad company. It depends on who works there.

Some one-person businesses don't have to register. The WSIB says independent operators outside construction might not have to register. That means a business with no employees other than the owner. If they're not registered, they can't get a clearance.

A company with staff is different. The WSIB says most Ontario businesses with employees must register. They have 10 calendar days from the day they hire their first employee. Sales and services businesses are on the WSIB's list of industries that must register.

So ask a simple question: "Do you have employees?"

• Owner works alone: no clearance may be fine. Ask for proof of liability insurance instead.
• Owner has a crew: they should be registered. Ask for their clearance.
• Shows as ineligible: ask why before you book.

Is a WSIB clearance the same as liability insurance?

No, and this trips people up. The WSIB covers people who get hurt at work. It pays for things like lost wages and medical care for workers.

It doesn't cover damage to your home. If a mower throws a stone through your window, that's a liability insurance question. The crew's liability insurer handles that kind of claim.

So the two answer different questions:

• WSIB clearance: is this business registered and paid up for worker injuries?
• Liability insurance: who pays if the crew damages my property?

Ask for proof of both, when both apply. Our page on what "vetted and insured" means explains what we check before a crew can join.

What if you hire a gardener yourself?

This is a different case, and it surprises people. Hiring a lawn company is buying a service. Hiring a person as your own employee is something else.

The WSIB lists a homeowner hiring a domestic employee as someone who must register. Its examples include a gardener and a handy person. If you pay someone directly to work for you, check the WSIB's registration page first.

Hiring an established company avoids that question. The company is the employer, not you.

How does Golden Oak handle this?

Golden Oak Lawn Care matches you with a vetted, insured local partner crew in Ontario. They do the work. We stand behind it with the Golden Oak Guarantee. Each crew shows proof of insurance and is background-checked before it joins. See how it works, step by step.

Your crew handles lawn mowing, trimming and edging, hedge trimming and spring and fall cleanup. You get the same crew every visit and a photo after every cut. If your crew misses your window, that cut is free. Not happy? Text us a photo within 24 hours. Your crew re-cuts it free within 48 hours.

We work with crews across the province. Find your city on our Ontario lawn care page.

Want it handled? Get your price in 60 minutes, or call 1-866-904-LAWN.

WSIB Clearance Questions

Rules change, so check with the WSIB before you hire. Sources: WSIB: questions and answers on clearances, WSIB: clearances, WSIB: clearance certificate policy, WSIB: how to register your business, WSIB: registration questions, WSIB: about us.