RBQ contractor licence (Régie du bâtiment du Québec)

The RBQ’s licensing pages, published in French, say the licence must list the subclasses that match the work the business plans to carry out.

What the RBQ says

People within the business must act as répondants and have their professional competence assessed, for one or more fields of qualification. For electrical and plumbing subclasses, the RBQ says contractors must apply to the masters’ corporations (CMEQ and CMMTQ), which qualify their members for a licence. The RBQ’s online service lets a licence holder report changes such as a répondant leaving. The RBQ also says a change of legal status, meaning a change in the business’s number in the Registre des entreprises du Québec, requires a new licence application even if the business already holds a licence.

What to check or ask

• Which subclasses the licence lists, and whether they match the work the business does.
• Who the répondants are, which fields each is qualified for, and whether they will stay after closing.
• Whether the deal changes the business’s Quebec enterprise number.
• Which financial guarantee the subclasses require, such as the new residential building warranty plan or a licence bond.

See how to sell a construction company and licence re-application.