Regulation changes to contractor advertising

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Changes to the Safety Standards Act and Safety Standards General Regulation, will strengthen the public’s ability to identify which contractors are licensed and legally allowed to perform work in BC.

Licensed contractors play an important role in our safety system by ensuring that regulated work is performed correctly. However, unlicensed workers continue to advertise and perform regulated work.

What are the changes?

New legislation that comes into effect on September 6, 2022 will require licensed contractors in Electrical, Gas, Boilers, Pressure Vessels, Refrigeration and Elevating to publish their company name and Technical Safety BC licence number when advertising their services to the public.

Earlier this year, we engaged licensed contractors from across British Columbia to understand how Technical Safety BC can support contractors to understand and comply with the new legislation and inform the public of the changes.

To support these legislative changes, Technical Safety BC has developed a set of advertising guidelines to help licensed contractors understand Technical Safety BC’s expectations regarding the placement of their licence number in various forms of advertising.


Why the change?

In 2018 we began the process to update legislation to:

  • deter unlicensed contractors from advertising their services;
  • educate the public about the importance of licensed work and support them in finding contractors;
  • provide Technical Safety BC with additional ways to investigate and enforce against unlicensed contractors advertising regulated services; and
  • encourage licensed contractors to differentiate themselves from unlicensed contractors through their advertising practices.

Implementation timing

While the Safety Standards General Regulation changes come into effect on September 6, 2022, we heard from contractors that some changes can be implemented more easily than others, and that phasing in the requirements would be helpful. Therefore, the following phases apply:

  • Phase 1 – January 1, 2023: Digital sales and marketing materials

  • Phase 2 – September 30, 2023: Non-digital or offline sales and marketing materials

  • Phase 3 – Phase 3 has now been made optional.

How can I learn more?

Please view the latest information, including the advertising guidelines and frequently asked questions, here on the Technical Safety BC website.

For general questions about the implementation of the regulations and guidelines please contact us at: contact@technicalsafetybc.ca

Changes to the Safety Standards Act and Safety Standards General Regulation, will strengthen the public’s ability to identify which contractors are licensed and legally allowed to perform work in BC.

Licensed contractors play an important role in our safety system by ensuring that regulated work is performed correctly. However, unlicensed workers continue to advertise and perform regulated work.

What are the changes?

New legislation that comes into effect on September 6, 2022 will require licensed contractors in Electrical, Gas, Boilers, Pressure Vessels, Refrigeration and Elevating to publish their company name and Technical Safety BC licence number when advertising their services to the public.

Earlier this year, we engaged licensed contractors from across British Columbia to understand how Technical Safety BC can support contractors to understand and comply with the new legislation and inform the public of the changes.

To support these legislative changes, Technical Safety BC has developed a set of advertising guidelines to help licensed contractors understand Technical Safety BC’s expectations regarding the placement of their licence number in various forms of advertising.


Why the change?

In 2018 we began the process to update legislation to:

  • deter unlicensed contractors from advertising their services;
  • educate the public about the importance of licensed work and support them in finding contractors;
  • provide Technical Safety BC with additional ways to investigate and enforce against unlicensed contractors advertising regulated services; and
  • encourage licensed contractors to differentiate themselves from unlicensed contractors through their advertising practices.

Implementation timing

While the Safety Standards General Regulation changes come into effect on September 6, 2022, we heard from contractors that some changes can be implemented more easily than others, and that phasing in the requirements would be helpful. Therefore, the following phases apply:

  • Phase 1 – January 1, 2023: Digital sales and marketing materials

  • Phase 2 – September 30, 2023: Non-digital or offline sales and marketing materials

  • Phase 3 – Phase 3 has now been made optional.

How can I learn more?

Please view the latest information, including the advertising guidelines and frequently asked questions, here on the Technical Safety BC website.

For general questions about the implementation of the regulations and guidelines please contact us at: contact@technicalsafetybc.ca

Page last updated: 30 Oct 2023, 04:47 PM