Does a renovation contract have to be in writing?
Yes, above $50. The Government of Ontario puts it plainly: Under Ontario law, any home renovation contract worth more than $50 must be in writing.
It adds the reason that matters on a real job: If something isn't written in your contract, you may not get it.
(Government of Ontario, read November 2, 2026) A handshake price for a porch or a deck is not a contract you can rely on.
What does Ontario say the contract should include?
Eight things, in the province's own list. The table sets each one beside where it sits in the agreement JDT Construction Inc. signs with its clients, so you can see what a full contract looks like in practice. Where JDT's general terms are silent on an item, the table says so, and that item belongs in the written scope of your job.
| Ontario says to include | In JDT's agreement |
|---|---|
| The contractor's name, address and contact information | At the top of every agreement, with JDT's phone and email |
| A thorough description of the work and the materials | The scope of work, stage by stage, and a Materials and Selections clause: new, standard contractor grade materials unless stated otherwise |
| A clear description of any warranties | A one year workmanship warranty from substantial completion, with what it excludes written out; manufacturer warranties apply to supplied products |
| The total cost and terms of payment | One contract price before HST; HST added to each payment; invoices due within three business days |
| A work schedule, with start and completion dates | A stated duration, which the Schedule and Delays clause calls an estimate and says what can extend it (permits, inspections, weather, changes) |
| A payment schedule, with the deposit amount | Payment milestones tied to stages of the build, each a share of the contract price |
| Who cleans up after the job | Clean up is a step in the scope; landscaping beyond basic cleanup is excluded unless the scope adds it |
| The sub-trades, and who pays them | Not a clause in JDT's general terms: ask, and have it written into your job's scope |
The source for the left column is the province's page (Government of Ontario, read November 2, 2026). The right column is JDT's own agreement; how JDT's agreements and payments work covers it in plain words.
Can the final price go over the estimate?
Only by up to 10%, if the estimate is part of the contract, unless you agree in writing to new work or a new price. The Government of Ontario: Under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) if an estimate is included as part of a home renovation contract, the final price for all goods and services cannot be more than 10% over the original estimate unless you have agreed to new work or a new price.
(Government of Ontario, read November 2, 2026)
JDT's agreement carries the same rule in its change order clause: no change to the scope, price, materials or schedule binds anyone until it is a written or electronically signed change order describing the work, the price adjustment, when it is paid and what it does to the schedule.
How big should the deposit be?
The province recommends no more than 10%, and never the full amount before the work is done: keep down-payments to a minimum (we recommend no more than 10%)
, and never pay the full amount of the contract before the work is done
(Government of Ontario, read November 2, 2026). That 10% is advice, not a legal limit. The City of Hamilton's version of the same advice is in how to check a contractor in Hamilton.
Can I cancel a contract I signed at home?
Yes, within 10 calendar days, for any reason, if the contract is worth $50 or more and you signed it in your home. The Government of Ontario: You may cancel this contract for any reason and without having to pay any cancellation fees within these 10 days.
If work started during those days, you will be responsible for reasonable compensation for work and materials that the contractor has provided.
(Government of Ontario, read November 2, 2026)
What should the contract say about permits and disputes?
Who gets the permit, and how a disagreement is settled. Ontario says the permit is the homeowner's responsibility unless the contract says the contractor gets it, and that disputes are ideally addressed in your contract
(Government of Ontario, read November 2, 2026). JDT's agreement answers both: the homeowner applies for the permit unless a change order says otherwise (the whole process is in who applies for a building permit in Hamilton), and a dispute goes first to good faith written discussion, then to mediation if both agree, under Ontario law, without limiting anyone's lien, adjudication or consumer rights.
Should a lawyer read it first?
For a major job, the province says so: it's best to have a lawyer go over your contract, explain it to you and advise you on your rights before you sign
(Government of Ontario, read November 2, 2026). JDT's agreement ends with an Independent Review clause: you confirm you had the chance to read it, ask questions, get your own legal advice and keep a copy before work begins.
This guide explains the rules; it is not legal advice. Building with JDT? Send a request and the proposal you get back is written the way this page describes.