Do masons in Ottawa need any licence?

Masonry in Ontario is a non-compulsory trade, so a mason is not required to hold a certificate to work. We found no Ontario licence for masonry contractors either.

The one licence that can come into play is the City of Ottawa's hardscaping contractor licence, which covers businesses installing or altering hard landscaping features on private property. Steps, walkways and patios are named features under that by-law. House walls, veneer and repointing are not named. The by-law also excludes minor repairs or minor alterations, though we found no definition of what counts as minor. So whether a given job needs the City hardscaping licence depends on what the work is: for steps or a garden wall, ask the contractor whether the job falls under it, and check the City's published list of hardscaping licence holders to confirm. For 2026, the licence costs $319 and expires each October 31; the City's licence page lists its insurance and other requirements.

Because Brick and Stone Mason (401A) and Restoration Mason (244H) are both non-compulsory trades under Ontario's Skilled Trades Ontario framework, a mason's name will not appear on the Skilled Trades Ontario public register. You cannot look someone up there to confirm their credentials. What you can do is ask directly about their training, years of experience, and the kinds of jobs they have completed, and ask to see examples of past work.

On WSIB, a business in construction is required to have coverage, with some exceptions. As an owner-occupier hiring a mason for your own home, you are not required to obtain a WSIB clearance certificate, though you may still ask for one. A clearance is valid for up to 90 calendar days. If the property is a rental, that exemption does not apply.

In practical terms, the questions worth asking any mason before hiring are about their experience with the specific type of work, whether they carry liability insurance, and whether they have WSIB coverage. Get the answers in writing.

If the house is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act or sits within a heritage conservation district, check the relevant designation by-law or district plan before any work begins, then reach out to the City's heritage staff to confirm what approvals are needed.