Gas contractor licence

A heating, plumbing or fireplace business that does regulated gas work for customers in British Columbia needs the licence described below. A buyer needs to know who holds it and whether the buyer can qualify, because without it that work cannot lawfully continue.

British Columbia

Section 23(1) of the Safety Standards Act says a person must not manage or direct individuals doing regulated work, or do regulated work for another person who is not a licensed contractor, unless licensed by a provincial safety manager or authorized under the Act, subject to the limits on the Act’s application in sections 2 and 3. The Gas Safety Regulation defines a licensed gas contractor as a person who holds a licence as a licensed contractor in respect of gas systems. Technical Safety BC says the Act applies to everyone who installs, alters, maintains or operates gas technologies.

Other provinces

In Ontario, TSSA registers qualified fuel contractors and inspectors, and says that by law all contractors working on fuel oil equipment must be registered with it. Check the rules in each other province where the business works.

What to ask

• Which licence and workers’ certificates the business relies on.
• Whether the regulator treats a sale as a new application.
• Whether the business depends on one certified person.

See whether trade licences transfer when you sell and electrical contractor licence.