What happens if my electrical work fails the ESA inspection in Toronto?

If your electrical work fails an ESA inspection, the inspector will issue a deficiency notice listing exactly what needs to be corrected before the work can be approved. This is not uncommon — even experienced electricians occasionally receive minor deficiency notices — and it does not mean the work is dangerous, just that specific code requirements were not fully met during the initial inspection.

The deficiency notice is a detailed document that references specific sections of the Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC). Common deficiencies found in GTA residential inspections include missing or improperly installed AFCI breakers on bedroom circuits, insufficient GFCI protection near water sources, improper wire support or stapling intervals, missing connector fittings where cables enter boxes, and inadequate panel labelling. Your electrician receives the notice and is responsible for making all corrections — this is part of the service you are paying for, and a reputable electrician will not charge extra for correcting legitimate deficiencies found during the first inspection.

Once your electrician completes the corrections, they notify the ESA to schedule a re-inspection. Re-inspections are typically scheduled within 2 to 5 business days and move faster than the original inspection because the inspector is only checking the specific items on the deficiency list. The first re-inspection is generally included in your original permit fee, which ranges from $100 to $400 depending on the scope of work. However, if the work fails a second time, additional re-inspection fees of $50 to $100 may apply, and repeated failures can trigger closer scrutiny of the electrician's work on future permits.

The critical thing to understand is that you should never cover up or conceal electrical work before it passes ESA inspection. If you drywall over wiring that has not been inspected, the ESA inspector may require you to open walls for visual inspection — and the cost of drywall removal and repair falls on you. Experienced electricians in the GTA coordinate their work with the inspection schedule, leaving walls open until the certificate is issued.

There is also a scenario where a homeowner discovers unpermitted electrical work done by a previous owner or an unlicensed worker. In this case, the ESA can issue a compliance order requiring the work to be brought up to code by a licensed electrician and properly inspected. The permit fee for retroactive permitting is the same $100 to $400 range, but the cost of bringing substandard work up to code can be significantly higher — sometimes thousands of dollars if wiring needs to be replaced entirely. This is one of the strongest arguments for always hiring a licensed electrician who pulls proper ESA permits from the start. Toronto Electrical Repair can help you find licensed electricians in your area through the Toronto Construction Network directory.