What should I check about the electrical system when buying a newly built home in Ontario?

New homes in Ontario must comply with the Ontario Building Code and the Canadian Electrical Code. At a minimum, the electrical system must be inspected and approved before the builder can offer occupancy. For new homes and condos, you can request to see the ESA (Electrical Safety Authority) inspection records to confirm the system passed inspection.

At your PDI, pay attention to the electrical panel location and accessibility, the total panel capacity, the number and placement of outlets and circuits, and whether the home is pre-wired for EV charging — an increasingly common consideration. If you ordered EV charging rough-in as an upgrade, confirm it is installed and functional at PDI.

For new freehold homes, confirm panel capacity is appropriate for the home's size and for any planned additions such as a hot tub, workshop, or accessory dwelling unit. Panels that are too small for foreseeable needs can be expensive to upgrade later.

In new condominiums, the unit's electrical panel is typically smaller since some building services are handled centrally. Check what circuits are in your unit panel versus what is on the common element system. This affects what you can independently modify and what requires condo corporation approval.

Electrical issues found at PDI should be noted on the PDI form and repaired by the builder under the warranty.