In short
- According to the RBQ, any work on an electrical installation requires a licensed contractor, even in your own house, condo or cottage.
- Replacing an outlet, a switch or a light fixture means touching the installation: the replacement follows the Code in force.
- Resetting a breaker once, testing your GFCI outlets and replacing a fuse with the right rating is up to you.
- Electrical work requires a contractor whose licence includes subclass 16: check it in the RBQ register.
- Before a project, the RBQ recommends telling your insurer and checking whether a municipal permit is needed.
In this guide
The rule: a licensed contractor
According to the RBQ, work affecting an electrical installation must always be done by a contractor holding the appropriate licence, in a house you live in, the private part of a condo or a cottage for personal use. Replacing an outlet, a switch or a light fixture means touching the installation: the replacement is subject to the Code in force.
The same rule applies to gas and oil. For electrical work, the contractor’s licence must include subclass 16. A worker’s competency certificate, handled by the CCQ, doesn’t replace that licence.
You, or the electrician?
| Task | Who does it |
|---|---|
| Reset a breaker once, appliances unplugged | You |
| Test a GFCI outlet every month | You |
| Replace a blown fuse with one of the right rating | You |
| Replace a damaged extension cord or outlet cover | You |
| Replace an outlet, a switch or a light fixture | The electrician |
| Add an outlet or a circuit | The electrician |
| Install an EV charger, a heat pump, a hot tub | The electrician |
| Replace the panel or the service entrance | The electrician |
What you can safely do
- Reset a breaker once, after unplugging the circuit’s appliances. If it trips again, leave it off and call an electrician.
- Test your GFCI outlets once a month with the “test” button, then “reset”.
- Replace a blown fuse with one of the right rating, never bigger.
- Replace an extension cord that is damaged or heats up, and keep power bars for low-consumption devices.
- Pull the plug, not the cord, to unplug an appliance.
- Replace damaged covers on outlets and junction boxes.
- Prepare for the estimate: a photo of the panel with the door open (without removing the inner cover), the main breaker label and the work area.
What always goes to the electrician
Adding or moving an outlet, replacing a switch or a light fixture, adding a circuit, installing a charger or a heat pump, replacing the panel. And anything that heats up, smells burnt or crackles: turn off the power at the panel and call a master electrician. See Burning smell, hot outlet: what to do.
When an outlet is replaced: what the Code requires
According to the RBQ, replaced equipment must meet the Code in force at the time of replacement. For an outlet, that means:
- a tamper-resistant outlet in a dwelling;
- near a sink, an outlet protected by a GFCI;
- an outlet without a ground can be protected by a GFCI, when a ground can’t be added.
Replacing only a bedroom outlet doesn’t mean putting the whole circuit under arc-fault protection. But if the circuit is extended or modified, the new part must have it. See Arc-fault breakers (AFCI) and GFCI outlets.
Before a project
The RBQ recommends telling your insurer and checking whether a municipal permit is needed.
Before hiring someone, check their licence in the RBQ’s licence holder register: it shows each contractor’s subclasses. See also Choosing an electrician in Sherbrooke.
With LTE Électrique
At LTE Électrique, the estimate is free and often done from your photos, within 24 hours. Our RBQ licence is 5874-5597-01, and William Letendre is a master electrician and a CMEQ member.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I replace an outlet myself?
- No. According to the RBQ, work on an electrical installation must always be done by a contractor holding the appropriate licence, even in your own home. Replacing an outlet is subject to the Code in force.
- What if it’s my cottage?
- The same rule applies: a licence is always required for electrical work, whether it is a house, a condo or a cottage for personal use.
- Should I tell my insurer before work?
- The RBQ recommends telling your insurer before any project and checking whether a municipal permit is needed.
- Can a friend who is an electrician do the work?
- It takes a contractor holding the appropriate licence, meaning a licence that includes subclass 16 for electrical work. A worker’s competency certificate, handled by the CCQ, doesn’t replace that licence. Check the RBQ register.
- How do I check a contractor’s licence?
- In the RBQ’s online licence holder register: it shows each licence’s subclasses. LTE Électrique’s RBQ licence is 5874-5597-01.
- If I only replace an outlet, does the whole circuit have to be redone?
- No. According to the RBQ, the replacement outlet follows the Code in force (tamper-resistant outlet, GFCI protection near a sink), but replacing only the outlet doesn’t mean redoing the whole circuit. If the circuit is extended or modified, the new part follows the Code, arc-fault included.
- Can I install my EV charger myself?
- No: adding a 240 V circuit and connecting it to the panel is electrical work, to be done by a licensed contractor, who then declares it to the RBQ.
- I’m a tenant: what can I do?
- The same safe things as everyone: reset a breaker, test GFCI outlets, replace an extension cord. For the rest, talk to your landlord: electrical work requires a licensed contractor.
Sources
- Travaux que vous pouvez faire vous-même, Régie du bâtiment du Québec, checked on October 20, 2026
- Remplacement d’appareillages électriques dans une installation existante, Régie du bâtiment du Québec, checked on October 20, 2026
- Prévenir les risques d’incendie liés à l’électricité, Gouvernement du Québec, checked on October 20, 2026
- Unités murales de climatisation : achat et installation (juillet 2019), Régie du bâtiment du Québec, checked on October 21, 2026
About this guide
Written by LTE Électrique, a master electrician’s business in Sherbrooke (RBQ licence 5874-5597-01, CMEQ member). Every rule comes from Québec’s Construction Code or an official source, listed above with the date it was checked. French version reviewed by William Letendre, master electrician, on October 21, 2026.
About usCite this guide
To cite this guide, use its title, author and address:
“Electrical work: what you can do yourself in Québec”, LTE Électrique, https://www.lteelectrique.com/en/guides/electrical-work-what-you-can-do-yourself, French version reviewed by William Letendre, master electrician, on October 21, 2026.