In short
- Three separate checks: the home inspection, an electrician's safety assessment, and ESA's record of open notifications.
- ESA puts the search for open notifications on the buyer, by law; a lawyer orders the Record Search for $76 with HST.
- HomeStars lists a basic electrical inspection at $100–$400, fuller checks up to about $550, Canada-wide.
- Some insurers ask about aluminum wiring (mid-1960s to late 1970s) and knob-and-tube (early 1900s to 1940s), says ESA.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic residential electrical inspection | $100–$400 | HomeStars Canada-wide; fuller checks up to about $550 |
| Electrical panel inspection | $200–$400 | HomeStars Canada-wide |
| Pre-purchase home inspection, Ottawa | $300–$650 + HST | HomeStars Ottawa guide; general inspector |
| Electrician hourly rate, Ottawa | $80–$160 | HomeStars: $80–$130 in its 2026 rate guide, $100–$160 on its Ottawa page |
| Older wiring premium | +$50–$150 per hour | HomeStars Canada-wide, pre-1980s homes |
| ESA Record Search | $76 | ESA 2026 fee guide, HST included |
Sources. HomeStars, How Much Does an Electrical Inspection Cost?, published 30.06.2026, seen 29.10.2026. HomeStars, Home inspection cost Ottawa, published 30.06.2026, seen 29.10.2026. HomeStars, Electrician Hourly Rate in Canada: 2026 Guide, updated 21.08.2026, seen 29.10.2026. HomeStars, Electricians in Ottawa, cost section, seen 29.10.2026. ESA, 2026 Wiring Fee Guide, section 2.9, effective 01.04.2026, seen 29.10.2026. Rules: ESA, Buying a Renovated Home, ESA, Buying and Selling the Fixer Upper, ESA, Search of Records or Access Information, ESA, Electrical Safety Assessments and Fire Code Inspections and its checklist, ESA, Aluminum Wiring, ESA, Knob and Tube, ESA, Certificate of Acceptance, ESA, Finding the Right Contractor, Hydro Ottawa, Electrical service requests, Tarion, Coverage, Ontario, guide for home renovation businesses, all seen 29.10.2026.
Three checks with three different jobs
- The home inspection. A general inspector covers structure, roof, plumbing, heating and electrical in one visit. HomeStars puts an Ottawa pre-purchase inspection at $300–$650 plus HST.
- The Electrical System Safety Assessment. A Licensed Electrical Contractor looks only at wiring and devices, for fire and shock hazards. ESA names insurance and real estate deals as reasons to order one.
- The ESA Record Search. Paperwork: whether the address has open notifications of work.
If the inspector’s report sends you to an electrician, quote its electrical lines in your request word for word.
Before the offer firms up, and after closing
ESA says the buyer is responsible by law for finding out whether the property has open notifications to correct defects, and advises having your lawyer request a Search of Records as part of the purchase agreement. A renovated house makes this more pressing: the search shows whether that work went through ESA.
The assessment needs access, so book it during the inspection condition through the agents, or right after closing. After the sale, an Access to Information request lists the electrical work done with an ESA notification.
What the electrician looks at
ESA publishes a checklist for contractors doing this assessment:
- Service and panel. Panel directory, moisture, missing covers, grounding and bonding, and whether the service is sized for the load.
- Exterior. Weather covers, overhead wire clearance, GFCI on outdoor outlets within 2.5 m of grade.
- Wiring and devices. Overheated or painted-over devices, insulation in boxes, worn receptacles, polarity, GFCI within 1.5 m of bathroom sinks, working AFCI, CO/ALR devices on aluminum.
- Pools, spas and hot tubs. GFCI protection and clearances.
ESA calls the checklist a contractor’s resource and warns it covers only part of the Code. Its own General Inspection leaves out wiring behind walls, in attics and anything concealed, so ask the company what its assessment covers out of sight.
Build year and what it points to
- Early 1900s to 1940s. Knob-and-tube may remain. ESA says many insurers will refuse or decline to renew coverage on it. See knob-and-tube wiring.
- Mid-1960s to late 1970s. Aluminum branch wiring is possible; the Code permits it with proper connections and approved devices. See aluminum wiring.
- Older panels. HomeStars notes 60 A and 100 A panels often need an upgrade before an EV charger, hot tub or large kitchen renovation. 100 A or 200 A explains the sizing.
- A new home inside Tarion’s two-year warranty. Start with the builder and Tarion before paying for repairs.
Outside, Hydro Ottawa says the homeowner owns the service mast, the meter base and the wires between them and the panel. Check the mast and meter base on the walk-through, since they come with the house.
What moves the price
Ottawa hourly rates run $80–$130 in HomeStars’ 2026 guide and $100–$160 on its Ottawa page; HomeStars’ Canada-wide guide puts the first hour of a call at $100–$200, travel and initial look included. HomeStars names house size and age, system complexity, recent renovations and location as cost factors, and adds $50–$150 an hour for knob-and-tube or aluminum. Repairs found during the visit are priced separately.
What the report and the repair quote should list
The report should name each finding and its location, mark it as a hazard, a Code issue or a recommendation, and give it its own repair price for a negotiation or an insurance file. The repair quote should carry the 7-digit ECRA/ESA licence number, ESA fees, labour, parts and HST. Each repair needs its own ESA notification, filed by whoever does it.
Ontario’s guide for home renovation businesses requires a written agreement for contracts over $50 and caps the final price at 10% above the estimate unless a change is signed. Keep the Certificate of Acceptance; ESA calls it important for insurance and resale. More in ESA permits.
Who takes your request
Ottawa Electric Desk passes your request to one independent local electrical company. That company calls you back, prices the assessment or the repairs, and does the work.
Questions to ask the company
- Will your report follow ESA's Electrical System Safety Assessment checklist, item by item?
- Will you open the panel, test the GFCI and AFCI devices, and check grounding and bonding?
- Is the assessment a flat fee or hourly, and what does a return visit for repairs cost?
- Can each problem you find carry its own repair price for my lawyer, agent or insurer?
- What is your 7-digit ECRA/ESA licence number, and will you file the ESA notification for repairs?
Have this ready for the call
- Address, build year and size from the listing
- The electrical pages of the home inspector's report
- Any insurer letter or questionnaire about the wiring or panel
- Closing or possession date, and who arranges access before it
- Plans you already have: EV charger, hot tub, basement, kitchen
Questions people ask
Who orders the ESA Search of Records?
ESA says the form is generally used by lawyers and advises buyers to have theirs request it as part of the purchase agreement. Turnaround is 48 hours; the fee is $76 with HST.
I already closed. Can I still see what electrical work was done?
Yes. ESA’s Access to Information request reports work completed with an ESA notification. ESA aims to finish it within 15 business days; records go back to 2000.
Will ESA itself inspect the house I am buying?
ESA’s General Inspections now serve Fire Code compliance in multi-unit dwellings. For insurance or a sale, ESA points to an assessment by a Licensed Electrical Contractor. Its ElecCheck program ended on 4 April 2022.
My insurer wants an ESA inspection because of aluminum wiring. What happens?
An electrician assesses the house, makes the repairs and has them inspected by ESA; you send the insurer the Certificate of Acceptance. Ask the insurer for its exact requirements first.
The house is new and the wiring has a fault. Who pays?
Tarion’s two-year warranty covers defects in work or materials in the electrical distribution system from the date of possession, even after a resale. Start with the builder and Tarion’s claim process.
