Statement re: COVID-19
The Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) is adapting to the constantly evolving situation. The HCRA continues to follow the guidance of federal, provincial and local health authorities to ensure that we protect the health and well-being of all Ontarians.
Current Status Tarion
Currently, new home builders and vendors are registered by , the administrator of Ontario’s New Home Warranty and Protection Program.
The HCRA will assume the registration/licensing responsibilities held by . Until the HCRA's launch, all registration inquiries should continue to be directed to .
As a standalone licensing regulator under a new framework set out in the , the HCRA will be in a position to take decisive regulatory action when needed to protect consumers, while working with all builders and vendors to improve the quality of construction in Ontario and improve confidence in buying a new home.
About HCRA
The Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) will be the province’s new regulator of home builders and vendors, acting in accordance with the .
Our Future Role:
- The Home Construction Regulatory Authority will be responsible for regulating and licensing the people and companies who build and sell new homes in Ontario.
- The HCRA will enforce high professional standards for competence and conduct in the home building industry, giving new home buyers confidence in one of the biggest purchases of their lives. The HCRA will also improve consistency across the sector, curtailing unethical and illegal builders and fostering a fair marketplace.
- In addition to licensing, the HCRA will provide educational information for consumers on their home buying journey.
- The HCRA will manage the Ontario Builder Directory (OBD) – which is the official source of background information about each of Ontario’s more than 5,000 licensed builders/vendors.
Highlights
For many Ontarians, buying a new home is likely one of the biggest purchases of their lives – and it should be protected with care.
The Home Construction Regulatory Authority will protect home buyers by working to ensure that all new home builders and vendors in Ontario act with honesty and integrity, have the necessary technical skills to build homes, the financial capacity to run a home building operation, and the knowledge and capacity to offer warranty protection on new homes.
The HCRA will:
Be accountable to the government and provide transparency to the public
Promote high-quality new home construction
Implement higher standards to improve consumer protection
Be a self-sustaining, cost-efficient entity that will be supported by appropriate licensing fees
Develop a strong risk-management framework to inform compliance and enforcement activities
Use new regulatory tools and systems to act more quickly and effectively in response to consumer concerns
Notice of Fees
The Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) conducted a public consultation on its initial fee proposal from November 6, 2020 to November 26, 2020.
The HCRA appreciates all the feedback received. This consultation provided the HCRA with an opportunity to hear direct feedback and develop a better understanding of the fees model that will best support a self-funded regulator of the new home construction sector.
The HCRA determined the fees set out in this notice in accordance with Schedule F of the Administrative Agreement. The table below sets out the HCRA’s licensing fees.
Licensing Fees
| Type of Fee | Rate | Description |
|---|---|---|
| New Licence – Umbrella | $750 | This is a one-time, new licence fee for those applying as part of an umbrella group. Applying as part of an umbrella group means that the applicant shares at least one common principal, director, officer, or partner with another licensed vendor/builder. |
| New Licence – Non-Umbrella | $3,000 | This is a one-time, new licence fee for a new applicant with no corporate history as a licensee. |
| Renewal | $500 | This is the annual fee every licensee must pay to maintain their licence. The renewal fee is paid each year through the licence renewal process. |
| Fast-Track Renewal | $300 | This is the fee for a licensee the HCRA has qualified for the fast-track renewal process. |
| Late Renewal (in addition to renewal fee) | $600 | This is the penalty fee for submitting a late renewal application. |
Flat Fee (per Home)
| Type of Fee | Rate | Description |
|---|---|---|
| HCRA Regulatory Oversight Fee (per home) | $145 | Collected on a per-home basis. |
For a detailed explanation of the HCRA’s fees, please see the:
Fees Notice (PDF)For more information, please visit Tarion's Updated Fees Schedule.
The HCRA has also posted guidance materials intended to aid and assist builders, vendors and consumers in understanding the HCRA’s licensing processes and expectations, as well as the complaints process. You can find out more by visiting our 'Notice of Guidelines' page. We encourage all stakeholders to review the relevant material to help them prepare for when the HCRA launches on February 1, 2021.
