What We Do
The Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) licenses and regulates the people and companies who build and sell new homes in Ontario. In addition to regulating new home builders and sellers, we protect consumers by providing them with educational resources and information to guide them in the home-buying journey. We also work to support the continuous improvement of the new home building industry in the province.
The HCRA holds licensed builders to professional standards for competence and conduct, giving home buyers confidence when making one of the biggest purchases of their lives – a new home.
In addition to licensing, the HCRA provides tools and resources for consumers to make informed decisions, including the Ontario Builder Directory, the authoritative source of background information about 7,000 new home builders and sellers across the province. We also provide a transparent complaints system for voicing concerns, protecting consumers, and informing future improvements for competency and conduct expectations.
The HCRA is a not-for-profit corporation designated by the provincial government to administer and enforce the New Home Construction Licensing Act, 2017 and associated regulations. As an administrative authority, the HCRA operates independently of government and the industry and is committed to building on its work to support a well-managed and thriving new home sector in Ontario.
Our History
The HCRA was designated by the Government of Ontario effective February 1, 2021, as the regulatory authority under the New Home Construction Licensing Act, 2017 (NHCLA). Historically, the Tarion Warranty Corporation had been the delegated administrative authority responsible for licensing home builders and sellers in Ontario.
As a result of an independent review of Tarion and the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act in 2016 by Justice Cunningham, the Government of Ontario committed to creating a new regulator. Now, the regulation and licensing of new home builders and sellers in Ontario are the responsibility of the HCRA. All matters related to homeowner warranty protection remain the responsibility of Tarion.
The Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement continues to be responsible for the NHCLA and associated regulations, as well as general oversight of the HCRA.
Core Services
We set standards of professional qualifications and conduct; processes applications and renewals for licences to build and sell new homes; and manages the Builder Portal, an online resource used for licensing applications and renewals.
We address inquiries, concerns and complaints about licensee conduct through a fair, thorough, evidence-based process, including possible inspections, referral to the discipline process and taking corrective action or licensing actions.
We use the appropriate legal and regulatory tools to investigate, promote compliance and, if necessary, follow up with enforcement measures, including prosecution, to curb illegal building and selling in Ontario’s new home building sector.
In partnership with stakeholders, we research and develop educational resources that prepare builders for upcoming technical trends and best practices in home construction.
In cooperation with consumers and consumer organizations, we develop, publicize, and promote educational resources that support consumer protection, education, and awareness regarding home buying and home ownership; manage the Builder Directory, a searchable database with information about each of Ontario’s licensed builders and newly built homes enrolled in Tarion’s warranty guarantee program.