Handyman licence in Quebec: what the RBQ rules mean

Whether a handyman needs a licence in Quebec depends on the work, not on the job title. Construction work is regulated by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ), electrical work is for licensed electricians and plumbing is for licensed plumbers, so the right question is “does this specific job need a licensed contractor or trade?” If you’re not sure about your project, check with the RBQ before you hire anyone.

Do you need a licence to be a handyman in Quebec?

There’s no separate “handyman licence” in Quebec. What matters is the type of work. The RBQ issues contractor licences for construction work, and some trades, like electrical and plumbing, have their own licensing. Whether a given job needs an RBQ licence depends on what the work is, so the RBQ is the place to confirm it for your project.

People often search for a “handyman license” or a “contractor license” in Quebec the way they would in other provinces or states, where a general license requirement may exist, but the rules differ from one province to the next. In Quebec, think in terms of the work: painting a bedroom, putting together a dresser and rewiring a kitchen are very different jobs, and they’re regulated differently.

In French you’ll see the same question as “Mon homme à tout faire a-t-il besoin d’une licence de la RBQ?” The answer is the same: it depends on the work, and la RBQ can tell you.

What is an RBQ contractor licence?

An RBQ licence is the permit the Régie du bâtiment du Québec issues to contractors who do construction work in Quebec. There are general contractor licences and specialty contractor licences, and each licence covers specific categories and subclasses of work (in French, the “sous-catégorie” de licence d’entrepreneur). To get one, a business has to meet the RBQ’s requirements, which include qualification exams on the work it wants to do.

If you’re a homeowner, you don’t need to know the licence system in detail. You just need to know whether your project calls for a licensed contractor, and how to check that the contractor you hire holds the right licence.

Who does electrical and plumbing work in Quebec?

Electrical work is done by licensed electrical contractors, who are members of the Corporation des maîtres électriciens du Québec (CMEQ). Plumbing and heating work is done by licensed contractors who are members of the Corporation des maîtres mécaniciens en tuyauterie du Québec (CMMTQ). These are trades with their own professional bodies, and they’re the people to call for wiring, new circuits, panels, pipes, drains and water heaters.

A handyman isn’t the right person for that work. If someone offers to move a circuit or reroute a drain as a side job, ask about their licence first.

How can you check a contractor’s licence in Quebec?

Look the contractor up on the RBQ website at rbq.gouv.qc.ca. The RBQ keeps a public register of licence holders where you can search by business name or licence number and see the licence status and the subclasses it covers. On the French side of the site, look for the registre des détenteurs de licence.

Before you sign anything for a renovation, check three things:

The licence number on the quote matches the business name on the RBQ register.
The licence is active and covers the type of work in your project.
For electrical or plumbing work, the contractor is a member of the CMEQ or the CMMTQ.

A registration with the RBQ is about the business, so also ask who will actually do the work on site.

What do homeowners usually call a handyman for?

Homeowners usually call a handyman for smaller jobs around the house that don’t involve the building’s structure, wiring or plumbing. In Montreal, the calls we get most often are:

Interior painting, from a single accent wall to a full apartment
Small repairs: patching nail holes and cracks in drywall and plaster, fixing a sticking door, replacing hinges and knobs
Furniture assembly and disassembly, including IKEA, before and after a move
Mounting and installing: TVs, shelves, mirrors, pictures, curtains and blinds
Small carpentry: baseboards, shoe moulding, interior doors

Our services page lists everything we do, and our guide on handyman cost in Montreal explains how we bill.

When should you hire a licensed contractor or trade?

Hire a licensed contractor or trade when the project is a renovation or touches the structure, wiring, plumbing or roof. As a general guide, that includes:

Kitchen, bathroom and whole-home renovations
Structural work: removing or moving walls, beams, foundations
Electrical work: new circuits, panels, outlets in new locations
Plumbing: moving pipes, drains, water heaters
Roofing and exterior building work

For these jobs, ask the contractor for their RBQ licence number, and check it yourself. If you’re not sure whether your project needs a licensed contractor, ask the RBQ directly. They can tell you what applies to your work.

Where does our handyman service fit in?

We’re a handyman service. We do painting, drywall and plaster repair, furniture assembly, TV mounting, installations and small carpentry around the home. We don’t do electrical, plumbing or renovation work that needs a licensed trade, and if a job on your list needs one, we’ll tell you so you can call the right professional.

A lot of our calls are a mix: patch and paint a hallway, assemble a bed, hang curtains and mount a TV. If one item on that list turns out to be electrical or plumbing, we’ll do the rest and point you to a licensed electrician or plumber for that part.

What should you ask before hiring a handyman in Quebec?

Ask what’s included, how they charge and whether any part of your project needs a licensed trade. A few good questions:

Can you do every item on my list, or does any of it need a licensed contractor?
Do you charge by the hour or by the job, and is there a minimum or travel fee?
Who supplies the materials, and how are they billed?
When can you come, and how long will it take?

Our guide on how to choose a handyman in Montreal goes through this in more detail.

Handyman licence FAQ

Is there a handyman licence in Quebec?

There’s no separate handyman licence. Construction work is regulated by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ), and whether a job needs a licence depends on the work. Check with the RBQ for your project.

Who issues contractor licences in Quebec?

The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) issues contractor licences for construction work in Quebec.

Who can do electrical and plumbing work in Quebec?

Electrical work is done by licensed electrical contractors who are members of the CMEQ. Plumbing work is done by licensed contractors who are members of the CMMTQ.

How do I check a contractor’s RBQ licence?

Search the contractor on the RBQ website at rbq.gouv.qc.ca. The public register shows whether the licence is active and which subclasses it covers.

Do you do electrical or plumbing work?

No. We don’t do electrical, plumbing or renovation work that needs a licensed trade. We’ll tell you if something on your list needs one.

What jobs do you do?

Interior painting, drywall and plaster repair, furniture assembly, TV mounting, installations like shelves and curtains, and small carpentry such as baseboards and interior doors.

Not sure who to call for your project?

Send us your list, with photos if you have them, and we’ll tell you which jobs we can do and which ones need a licensed trade. Call +1 (514) 757-1985 or write to us through our contact page. We work in English and French across Montreal, Laval, Brossard, Longueuil and nearby areas.