Mechanical licensed contractor information
A City of Winnipeg mechanical contractor licence is required to obtain permits to perform mechanical work under the Winnipeg Building By-law.
Types of mechanical licences
There are four types of mechanical contractor licences as identified in the Winnipeg Building By-law. Each licence has corresponding requirements that must be provided upon application.
1. Contractor licence requirements
A mechanical contractor licence allows an individual to obtain permits to perform mechanical work governed by the Winnipeg Building By-law. To qualify for a City of Winnipeg mechanical contractor licence, you must:
- Hold the applicable qualification document for the specific contractor licence type
- Pay the contractor licence fee
How to obtain a mechanical contractor licence:
Step 1: Register
Email the required documentation to: contractorlicence@winnipeg.ca
- Application form for the appropriate licence type, including signed conditions of contractor licence document:
- Copy of applicable qualification document specific to the licence type
Step 2: Fees/payment
Submit payment after receiving notification that document processing is complete. Credit card payment instructions will be provided at that time. You may also mail a cheque. Licensing fees fee can be found in the Planning, Development and Building Fees and Charges schedule.
2. Contractor responsibilities
Your City of Winnipeg mechanical contractor licence is issued to you personally, based on your individual qualifications, and not to a company or other entity. You are responsible for all mechanical work performed under permits obtained via your licence whether you perform the work personally or not. You remain responsible for active permits obtained by authorized signees and/or associated businesses even after they have been removed from your licence.
The contact information provided to us is assumed to be your current personal information. If you have provided business instead of personal information, or if information has changed, email contractorlicence@winnipeg.ca.
As a mechanical contractor, you are expected to be familiar with, and comply with, the administrative and technical requirements of the Winnipeg Building By-law and the Planning, Development and Building Fees and Charges schedule which outline the mechanical contractor's responsibilities, the permit procedure, and penalties.
Your licence may be suspended or revoked if you have violated any of the provisions of the Winnipeg Building By-law, the Manitoba Building Code or the conditions of your licence. This includes engaging in work without a permit where a permit is required or failure to call for inspection.
In the case of the sudden passing of a licensed contractor:
- The licence status will be changed to inactive upon notification.
- Do not attempt to obtain permits under the licence.
- We cannot transfer permits to another contractor however, permit applications and issued permits where no inspections have taken place may be cancelled and applied for under another contractor licence.
- A contact person must be assigned to take responsibility for closure of active permits. Contact the appropriate Inspections Branch to schedule final inspections or to develop a plan for larger projects.
3. Conditions of contractor licence
Licensed contractors and authorized signees must be aware of the following conditions. Conditions must be acknowledged and signed as part of the licensing application process.
- Fees as outlined in the Planning, Development and Building Fees and Charges schedule, including:
- failure to call for an inspection or notify the City that work has been initiated within six months of obtaining a permit
- failure to call for re-inspection of a defect, or to obtain an extension from the City within seven working days of a defect being identified
- failure to close a permit or obtain an extension from the City within three-years of a permit being issued
- work performed without a permit by an individual or contractor not licensed by the City for work which requires a permit and requires the permit holder to have a valid licence issued by the City
- The permit applicant must inform the City where any addition, deletion, deviation and/or revision of work is made regarding the scope of work approved under the subject permit.
- The licence may be suspended or revoked if the contractor has violated any of the provisions of the Winnipeg Building By-law, the Manitoba Building Code or the conditions of this licence. This includes engaging in work without a permit where a permit is required.
- The contractor licence is intended to be continuous and if not renewed by the expiry date noted on the licence, a late fee will be added to the cost. Licence renewal reminders will be sent via email; paper copies may not be mailed.
- The permit applicant must declare the value of the work, which shall include permanent or fixed equipment and devices as well as the labour, materials, and other devices necessary to complete the work for which the permit is being sought.
- Certification by the professional designer is required for all work for which the professional designer is involved.
- For M1 or M2 licence holders, the contractor will receive an email identifying their association with a permit applied for by a licensed M-Prime contractor, and if not associated with that permit, the contractor must contact the City immediately to indicate such.
- For M3 licence holders, the contractor's manufacturer certification must remain valid for the duration of the contractor licence term.
- For M-Prime contractors:
- The work proposed on an M-Prime mechanical permit application must be performed by a licensed M1 or M2 contractor, as applicable, and the licensed contractor must be identified on the permit application.
- If the permit applicant incorrectly identifies a licensed M1 or M2 contractor on a permit application, the application or permit will be immediately cancelled and a non-refundable administration fee withheld, and re-application will be necessary.
- Where the licensed M1 or M2 contractor identified on a mechanical permit is no longer performing the work as specified on the permit, the permit applicant shall notify the City in writing of the new licensed M1 or M2 mechanical contractor that will be performing the work. The new licensed M1 or M2 contractor shall be responsible for completion and correction of all defects for the scope of work specified on the permit for which the previous licensed M1 or M2 contractor was contracted to perform.
4. Representing a company/owning a business
If you wish to register a business name and have that name reflected on your mechanical permits, an associate business profile can be created.
New applicants can complete the Organization Information portion of the licensed mechanical contractor application form. Existing contractors can request a current Contractor Information Update Form by emailing contractorlicence@winnipeg.ca.
If your business relationship changes, such as the business is closing or you are leaving a company (including retirement), the following applies:
- We cannot transfer permits to another contractor. Permit applications and issued permits where no inspections have taken place may be cancelled and applied for under another contractor licence.
- Ensure a new licensed contractor is in place for the company before your departure and that all new permits are obtained under the new contractor's licence.
- You are responsible for all work associated with permits obtained under your licence. You remain responsible for active permits obtained by authorized signees and/or associated businesses even after they have been removed from your licence.
- If additional time to complete active projects is required, your licence must remain active for a term suitable for project completion. Active permits can be viewed using Permits Online.
- Contact the appropriate Inspections Branch to schedule final inspections and ensure all active permits are closed.
- In addition, if leaving a company:
- Permits must be closed in a reasonable amount of time, preferably before company departure, but no longer than 60 days thereafter.
- Upon request, an extension may be granted for larger projects that will not be completed within 60 days.
- You must indicate who will be the company contact person for taking responsibility for permit closure after your departure. This does not negate your responsibilities as the licence holder.
5. Permits Online
All newly licensed contractors will automatically be sent a Permits Online registration email. Once registration is complete, you will have access to Permits Online where you can apply and pay for permit applications, track the status of applications and permits, and pay your contractor licence renewal fee. If you need assistance, contact Contractor Licensing at contractorlicence@winnipeg.ca or 204-986-5189.
6. Mechanical Info Centre
Visit the Mechanical Information Centre for all mechanical documents, information, fees, news, etc.
7. List of licensed contractors
The City publishes an updated list of licensed mechanical contractors daily. Only the contractor's name and business name (if applicable) and the type of licence is published. This is not optional; all active licensed contractors are published. If there are any errors in published information, notify us of required changes at contractorlicence@winnipeg.ca.
8. Authorized signees
If you have a staff member responsible for submitting permit applications on your behalf, you can add that individual as an authorized signee under your licence.
To add authorized signees, new applicants can complete the authorized signee portion of the licensed mechanical contractor application form. Existing contractors can request a current Contractor Information Update Form by emailing contractorlicence@winnipeg.ca.
Authorized signees must be employed by you and you assume full responsibility for their permits and their actions related to permits obtained on your behalf. As permit applicants, authorized signees serve as the main contact for the permits they have obtained. You remain responsible for active permits obtained by authorized signees even after they have been removed from your licence. Where an authorized signee has been disrespectful to City staff, we may request removal of that signee, or suspend the contractor licence.
9. Permit-related emails
Emails are sent regularly at permit-related milestones. These emails are sent to the permit applicant's email address on file and, depending on the permit type, may include the licensed contractor if the permit applicant is an authorized signee. The City's business rules may not suit each company's business practices, so we recommend that you set up your email rules/filters to suit your business needs.
10. Term of licence and renewals
As a mechanical contractor, you have the option of activating your licence for a one-year or three-year term, which will expire on the date indicated on the licence. Licensing fees can be found in the Planning, Development and Building Fees and Charges schedule.
- Approximately one and a half months before your licence expiry date, you will receive a notice about the upcoming expiry and accepted methods of payment.
- Prior to expiry, reminder emails will be sent to the email address(es) on file.
- At each licence renewal, you will be asked to confirm your personal and business contact information and that of any authorized signees.
- A late fee will be automatically applied to all licence renewals made after the expiry date, with no exceptions.
Your contractor licence is intended to be continuous. Should your licence not be renewed within six months of the expiry date, it will become invalid and you must produce your valid qualification document to re-qualify and pay the re-application fee. If you allow your contractor licence to expire beyond six months, you are still responsible for all active permits under your licence until they are closed or cancelled.
11. Not renewing a licence
If opting to not renew a licence, or retiring:
- We cannot transfer permits to another contractor. Permit applications and issued permits where no inspections have taken place may be cancelled and applied for under another contractor licence.
- Licensed contractors are responsible for all work associated with permits obtained under their licences. They remain responsible for active permits obtained by authorized signees and/or associated businesses who have been removed from the licence.
- A plan must be in place for closing all active permits under the contractor's licence before the licence expires. If additional time to complete active projects is required, the licence must be renewed for a term suitable for project completion (one-year or three-year). Active permits can be viewed using Permits Online.
- Contact the appropriate Inspections Branch to schedule final inspections and ensure all active permits are closed.
Related links
How to apply for a permit
Ensure you have gathered all required documentation before applying.
Refer to the Commercial Mechanical Permit Application Form.
Apply online
(Licensed Contractors only)
Your one-stop shop to manage your permit applications
Apply in person
Zoning & Permits office
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Unit 31-30 Fort Street