Does the electrical contractor licence number belong on my Surrey quote?

Yes, and in Surrey it matters more than most people realise. Surrey runs its own electrical permit and inspection program, not Technical Safety BC, so the contractor you hire needs to be in good standing with both Surrey's building department and Technical Safety BC. A quote that omits the licence number is a yellow flag worth following up on before you sign anything.

Every electrical contractor in BC is licensed by Technical Safety BC, and that licence number should appear on any written quote or contract. The number lets you look the contractor up directly on the Technical Safety BC website to confirm the licence is active and that the company employs a Field Safety Representative (FSR), which is the person legally responsible for the work meeting the BC Electrical Code. No FSR on file means the contractor cannot legally pull a permit.

For a Surrey job specifically, ask two things before you hire:

First, confirm the Technical Safety BC licence number and look it up yourself at the Technical Safety BC public registry. Second, ask whether the contractor is familiar with Surrey's own permit process, because in Surrey the permit application goes to the City of Surrey's building department, not to Technical Safety BC. The inspection at the end of the job is also done by a City of Surrey electrical inspector. A contractor who routinely works in Surrey will know this without hesitation; one who seems confused about where to pull the permit is worth questioning.

A fair Surrey electrical quote should also include the permit fee (typically $75 to $300 for most residential jobs, though Surrey's fee schedule sets the exact amount), all materials, labour, and any BC Hydro coordination if the job involves a service upgrade or a new connection. GST at 5% applies to the total. If the quote is suspiciously low and the contractor says the permit is "optional" or "not required for this job" when it clearly is, walk away.

Also ask whether the contractor carries WorkSafeBC coverage. You can verify that independently through the WorkSafeBC clearance letter system. A contractor without coverage leaves you exposed if someone is injured on your property.

Want quotes to compare? Vancouver Electrical Repair can match you with local electricians for free, and you can confirm each one's Technical Safety BC licence before you commit.