How to Check a Gas Fitter's Licence in BC (Step by Step)

A new furnace, a gas hot water tank, a fireplace insert or a gas line to the barbecue all have one thing in common: in British Columbia, the work is regulated. Before you let anyone touch a gas line in your home, it takes about five minutes to check that the company is licensed and that the work will be permitted. This guide walks you through each check, step by step, using free public tools. All rules below were checked on October 7, 2026. Rules can change, so confirm on the official pages linked in each section.

Who has to be licensed to do gas work in BC?

There are two separate layers, and a safe job needs both.

1. The company: a Technical Safety BC contractor licence

Technical Safety BC (TSBC) is the provincial safety regulator for gas work. It says that to perform regulated gas work in BC, you must be licensed by Technical Safety BC, be employed by a TSBC-licensed contractor, or be authorized to do the work yourself (for example, a homeowner with a homeowner permit). Licensed gas contractors must keep a surety bond in force, and the employees who sign for inspections or supervise other workers must be licensed gas fitters. Contractor licences have an expiry date. If a contractor renews late, TSBC says it may not do regulated work during the gap.

2. The person: a gas fitter certificate (Class A or Class B)

The person holding the tools needs a gas fitter certificate. According to Technical Safety BC:

• Class A gas fitters may install and alter any gas system, except vehicle fuel systems, under a permit.
• Class B gas fitters may work on certified appliances with an input of 120 kW or less, plus the related piping and vents, under a permit. The input rating is on the appliance label, so ask the contractor which class covers your job.

Since December 1, 2023, Gasfitter Class A and Class B are among the first seven compulsory trades under BC's skilled trades certification system, run by SkilledTradesBC. Workers in these trades must be a certified journeyperson or a registered apprentice. TSBC also notes that Gasfitter Class B became a Red Seal trade effective January 1, 2025. Newer gas fitters now hold a Certificate of Qualification from SkilledTradesBC plus TSBC certification. TSBC says this change is not retroactive, so a fitter certified earlier may hold an older TSBC certificate only. That is normal.

For heat pumps and air conditioners, note that Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic is also a compulsory trade.

How to use the TSBC "Find a Licensed Contractor" search (step by step)

This is the most useful check, and it is free and public. No account is needed.

1. Get the details from the contractor. Ask for the company's TSBC licence number and full legal business name. Gas contractor licence numbers in the registry look like LGA followed by seven digits, and newer licences use a LIC- prefix followed by digits.
2. Open the search page. Go to Technical Safety BC: Find a Licensed Contractor in BC.
3. Choose the technology. Make sure Gas is selected. The search also covers Electrical and Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Refrigeration.
4. Search by licence number first. TSBC's registry guide says to type the number with no spaces or dashes in the LGA format (for example, LGA1234567). A number search gives the most exact match.
5. If you only have a name, search by company name. Try a short part of the name (one or two distinctive words). Registry names often differ from the name on the truck or website.
6. Read the result carefully. Check the status, the technology (Gas), the expiry date, the city and the contact details. The registry guide says results also show the scope of work the contractor is authorized to do and any enforcement actions.
7. Write down what you found, with the date. A screenshot is handy if you later need to show what you checked.

What do the search results mean?

Status: Active, Expired, Suspended

Status you see	What it means for you
Active	The licence is currently in force. This is what you want to see for the Gas technology, with an expiry date after your job ends.
Expired	The licence was not renewed. The company should not be doing regulated gas work until it renews. Ask them about it, and do not book gas work until the registry shows Active.
Suspended	The regulator has suspended the licence. Do not hire that company for work under that licence.

These are our plain-language explanations of the status labels shown in the registry. Technical Safety BC does not publish official definitions for them, so if a status is unclear, contact TSBC.

One company can hold several licences, for example a gas licence and an electrical licence, and each has its own status. Make sure the one marked Gas is Active. A suspended electrical licence does not cancel an active gas licence, but it is worth asking about.

Legal name vs trade name

The registry lists the licensee's legal name. That is often different from the name a company advertises. You may see things like:

• "Ltd." or "Inc." added or missing.
• A numbered company, such as "0123456 B.C. Ltd.", followed by "o/a" (operating as) or "DBA" (doing business as) and the trade name.
• A shorter version of the name, such as "Heating Ltd." instead of "Heating & Air Conditioning Ltd."
• A person's own name for small, owner-run businesses.

A different name is not a red flag on its own. What matters is that you can link the two. Good signs are a matching licence number, a matching email domain or phone number, or the contractor clearly explaining the link. Your written quote and invoice should show the same legal name that is on the licence.

What if you can't find them?

Try a shorter name, a different spelling, or the licence number without spaces. If you still find nothing, ask the contractor for their licence number. A number that is not in TSBC's format (for example, a city business licence number) is not a gas licence. If they cannot give you a TSBC licence number that shows Active for Gas, do not hire them for gas work.

How to check an individual gas fitter's certificate

SkilledTradesBC has a free Verify a Tradesperson's Certification tool. You will need:

• The worker's first and last name.
• Their certificate number, typed without dashes. It is printed on the certificate.
• The trade, picked from a list (for example, Gasfitter Class A or Class B).

The tool tells you whether the person is certified in BC, in which trade, and whether they hold a Certificate of Qualification and/or a Red Seal. It does not check certification in other provinces, where the person lives, or endorsements. It is reasonable to ask the fitter who will do your job to show you their certificate. If they hold an older TSBC-issued certificate, you can contact Technical Safety BC to ask how to confirm it.

Gas permits: who pulls them, and how to confirm one

In Coquitlam, the City points residents to Technical Safety BC for gas permits. If you live in another city, check with your city who issues gas permits there. TSBC says a permit is needed for many common jobs, including:

• Installing or replacing a gas furnace, water heater, fireplace, boiler, range or cooktop.
• Installing or replacing gas piping or vent systems.
• Installing a built-in gas barbecue. (Replacing a plug-in style gas barbecue does not need a permit.)

Who gets the permit? If you hire a licensed contractor, the contractor applies for the permit on your behalf. TSBC's advice is that a licensed contractor should get the permit, so the permit and the scope of work are correct. Homeowner gas permits exist, but strata owners, non-strata duplex owners and people running a business from their home cannot get one and must hire a licensed contractor. This guide does not recommend doing your own gas work.

How to confirm it: TSBC says you should check that a permit is in place before work begins. Ask the contractor for the permit number, then look it up with TSBC's Permit Lookup Tool, which shows whether a permit exists and whether it is active. Permits are a legal requirement and are often needed for home insurance purposes.

The WorkSafeBC clearance letter, and why it matters to you

This one surprises many homeowners. WorkSafeBC says that if you hire a contractor who is not registered for workplace insurance, or is behind on payments, you as the homeowner could be liable for premiums owing on the work done for you.

A WorkSafeBC clearance letter tells you whether the business is registered and up to date on its premiums. WorkSafeBC says homeowners can request one online for free, 24 hours a day. Keep in mind what it does not do: it does not rate the contractor's safety record or the quality of their work. Get the letter before work starts. For a longer job, get another one near the end.

Red flags to watch for

• They cannot or will not give you a TSBC licence number.
• The licence number does not show up, or shows Expired or Suspended for Gas.
• They suggest skipping the permit to save time or money, or ask you to get a homeowner permit for work they will do.
• They want cash only, with no written quote or invoice.
• The name on the quote does not match the licence, and they cannot explain the link.
• A "handyman" offering gas work as a side job. TSBC has warned about unqualified workers advertising on social media.
• Pressure to decide on the spot, or a large deposit before any permit exists.

What to do if someone is working without a licence

If you smell gas or think there is immediate danger, leave the home first and call for help from outside.

For unlicensed or unpermitted gas work, report it to Technical Safety BC. TSBC accepts reports of incidents, hazards, unlicensed work and unpermitted work through its online reporting form or by phone at 1-866-566-7233. Its compliance team can also be reached at complianceenforcement@technicalsafetybc.ca. TSBC says it protects the identity of people who report. Include the business name, any licence number they gave you, the address and date of the work, and photos or invoices if you have them. If the work is already done, ask a licensed contractor to inspect it and get it properly permitted.

How this directory checks gas and HVAC licences

For our HVAC and gas-fitting listings, we require a licence that we have confirmed in the Technical Safety BC registry. You can read the full method on our how we rank page. Even so, licences can expire or change at any time, so run the checks above yourself before you sign.

FAQ

Is a Red Seal the same as a gas licence?

No. A Red Seal or Certificate of Qualification is about the individual worker. The TSBC contractor licence is about the business. For gas work in your home, you want a licensed business whose workers hold the right gas fitter certificate.

Can a Class B gas fitter install my furnace?

It depends on the furnace. Class B covers certified appliances up to 120 kW input, plus piping and vents, under permit. Larger or special systems need a Class A fitter. Ask the contractor which class the worker holds.

Does a hot water tank swap need a gas permit?

TSBC lists installing or replacing a gas water heater as work that needs a permit. See our guide on hot water tank replacement in Coquitlam.

Before you hire

• TSBC licence number found in the "Find a Licensed Contractor" search, Gas technology, status Active, expiry after your job.
• Legal name on the licence matches (or clearly links to) the name on your quote.
• Fitter's certificate shown, and checked with SkilledTradesBC if possible.
• Gas permit number provided and confirmed in the TSBC Permit Lookup Tool before work starts.
• WorkSafeBC clearance letter obtained.
• At least two written quotes compared.

Ready to compare registry-checked contractors? See the ranked lists for gas fitting in Coquitlam and HVAC in Coquitlam.