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Straight answers
The questions people ask most about starting and running a demolition business in Ontario. Answered straight, with links to the official sources.
No — that's the cheap, easy part. Real demolition is a permits-and-hazmat business: demolition permits, a mandatory designated-substance (asbestos/lead/mould) survey before you start, abatement, Ministry of Labour notices on bigger jobs, utility disconnections, and concrete recycling. The companies that make money are good at the paperwork and the hazmat, not just the wrecking.
Dramatically. Type 1/2/3 asbestos abatement training turns a general demo labourer into a specialist who's scarce and in demand — because nearly every pre-1990 building has asbestos that must be removed before demolition. Abatement-certified workers earn a premium and are the first hired; it's the single best credential to get in the demolition world.
Hand/interior demo is the entry — strip-outs and selective demolition that teach you how buildings are put together. Machine demo (excavators with shears and processors) is the higher-skill, higher-production, higher-pay end. Most people start on hand demo and move toward equipment operating or abatement specialization as they go.
Yes — a designated-substance survey is required before demolition or renovation that could disturb asbestos, lead, or other designated substances, and any asbestos found must be abated by trained workers under O. Reg. 278/05 first. Skipping it is illegal and dangerous; it's also why hazmat capability is so central to the demolition business.
It's equipment- and compliance-heavy: you need machines (or strong subcontractor relationships), abatement capability (in-house or partnered), demolition permits, high liability and often pollution insurance, and the safety systems to handle Notices of Project. Many start with residential interior demo (low equipment needs) and build toward structural and commercial work as they add iron and hazmat capacity.
Solid, and better with specialization. Straight labour is mid-range trade pay; abatement certification and machine-operating skills both push it up, and demolition contractors with equipment and hazmat capability do well. The high-value work is the regulated, hazmat-heavy jobs most general contractors don't want to touch — which is exactly where the margin is.
There is no provincial demolition trade licence, but the work requires municipal demolition permits, a designated-substance (asbestos/lead/mould) survey before starting, abatement compliance, and a Ministry of Labour Notice of Project on larger jobs. Abatement work requires Hazardous Materials Worker (253H) certification.
Yes. A designated-substance survey is required before demolition or renovation that could disturb asbestos, lead, or other designated substances. Any asbestos found must be abated under Ontario Regulation 278/05 by trained workers before demolition proceeds.
A sole proprietorship is cheaper and simpler to start, but you are personally liable for the business's debts and claims. Incorporating creates a separate legal entity that limits personal liability, can reduce tax once you are profitable, and reads as more credible to larger clients. Most contractors incorporate once they have employees, real revenue, or work on others' property.
Yes — construction is a mandatory WSIB sector in Ontario. Even independent operators and partners with no employees generally must register, and clients and general contractors will require a valid WSIB clearance certificate before you can work on their site.
You must register for and charge HST once your revenue exceeds $30,000 over four consecutive quarters. Many contractors register before that threshold so they can claim input tax credits on tools, materials, and vehicles from day one.
Ontario's Construction Act sets the rules: a 10% holdback on most contracts, prompt-payment timelines (you must be paid within set periods after a proper invoice), and an adjudication process for disputes. Understanding holdback, lien rights, and prompt payment is essential to protecting your cash flow.