12 Essential Clauses in Every Ontario Renovation Contract

Ontario's Construction Act gives contractors the right to place a lien on your property if they're not paid. Protect yourself by including a 10% holdback clause — withhold 10% of the total contract value until 45 days after substantial completion. This is the statutory holdback under Ontario law.

The Holdback Clause — Protect Yourself at the End

Ontario's Construction Act gives contractors the right to place a lien on your property if they're not paid. Protect yourself by including a 10% holdback clause — withhold 10% of the total contract value until 45 days after substantial completion. This is the statutory holdback under Ontario law.

Change Orders: The Most Important Clause

Most renovation disputes in Ontario come from verbal "sure, we can do that too" conversations that turn into unexpected invoices. Your contract must state clearly that no additional work will be performed without a written, signed change order specifying the additional cost and timeline impact.

Red Flags in a Renovation Contract

Walk away. A contractor who won't put the agreement in writing is either inexperienced, hiding something, or planning to dispute your expectations later. In Ontario, the courts will not enforce verbal agreements in most home renovation disputes.

What to Do If a Contractor Won't Provide a Written Contract

Walk away. A contractor who won't put the agreement in writing is either inexperienced, hiding something, or planning to dispute your expectations later. In Ontario, the courts will not enforce verbal agreements in most home renovation disputes.

Renovation Contract Ontario: What to Include | 2026

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