Overview
Surety bonds help protect consumers who hire Technical Safety BC licensed gas and electrical contractors.
We require a $10,000 surety bond prior to issuing or renewing an electrical or gas contractor licence. If the licensed gas or electrical contractor neglects or refuses to rectify non-compliances that they are responsible for as documented on the Certificate of Inspection, the provincial safety manager may call the bond, requiring the surety to hire a licensed contractor to correct or rectify the non-compliances up to the maximum amount $10,000.
Calling a Bond
Once a surety bond is called, we will immediately suspend the contractor's licence. As a result, the contractor will no longer be authorized to obtain permits, request inspections, or otherwise perform regulated work in the province.
Calling a bond
If a provincial safety manager calls a bond, the licence is suspended. Once the licence is suspended, the contractor is no longer authorized to obtain permits or perform regulated work in the province until a new bond is submitted.
A safety manager may choose to call a bond under the following circumstances:
- in the case of non-compliances which also pose a safety hazard;
- where the contractor refuses to rectify the deficiency after adequate notice;
- where the contractor cannot be located or is believed to be out of business;
- where the contractor is legally unable to perform the work himself or herself, for example due to expiry, suspension or revocation of any necessary permission; or
- in some circumstances where the contractor is physically unable to do the work, such as due to accident or illness.