Licensed and Insured: What to Actually Verify in Alberta

To actually verify a basement contractor is 'licensed and insured' in Alberta, check three concrete things: a prepaid contractor licence (required for businesses that take payment before completing work), active WCB coverage (workers' compensation), and liability insurance (proof, not just a verbal claim). Anyone can say the words — what matters is whether they'll show you the documents. (This is general guidance to help you vet any contractor; always confirm current requirements with the relevant Alberta authority.)

1. The prepaid contractor licence

In Alberta, businesses that accept a deposit or payment before the work is finished generally need a prepaid contractor licence, administered through Service Alberta / consumer protection. It exists specifically to protect homeowners who pay in advance. Ask for their licence and confirm it's valid and current, and treat reluctance as a red flag — a legitimate company can produce it. Worth noting: this is also why our $0 deposit model is reassuring — you're not fronting money before work begins in the first place.

2. WCB coverage (workers' compensation)

If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor doesn't carry WCB coverage, you can end up exposed to liability you never signed up for. Ask for their WCB account number and confirm the coverage is active (Alberta's WCB lets you verify an account). Don't skip this even for a smaller crew — it's exactly the situation you don't want to discover after an accident.

3. Liability insurance

Liability insurance protects you and your home if something during the project causes damage. The key is proof: ask for a certificate of insurance, not a verbal 'we're covered,' and check it's current and reasonable in coverage for the size of the job.

The real test: will they show you?

Here's the honest signal that cuts through the marketing: an established, legitimate company hands over these documents without hesitation. The words 'licensed and insured' are free to say; the willingness to prove it is what separates a real business from a risk. When you're comparing builders, ask each one to show the licence, WCB, and insurance — how they respond tells you a lot.

Why it matters for a basement specifically

A basement development is a major project inside your home, running through many trades over weeks — real exposure if something goes wrong and the contractor isn't properly covered. Choosing a properly licensed, insured, established developer is part of the same due diligence as reading the quote carefully. Our guide on builder-finished vs independent development and how our process works round out the vetting picture. At ReImagine, we've operated since 2011 across 1,000+ basements, and we're glad to walk you through our credentials.