WorkSafeBC clearance letter: why a GC needs one, and how to get it in two minutes

A WorkSafeBC clearance letter confirms that a business is registered with WorkSafeBC and paying its premiums. If you hire a registered subcontractor who is not paying, you can be held liable for the premiums on the work they did for you. A clearance letter addressed to you, showing the sub was active and in good standing for the whole contract, protects you. WorkSafeBC advises getting one before the work starts and again after it ends.

Updated October 28, 2026. Process from WorkSafeBC's clearance letter pages, linked below.

How to get one

  • Use WorkSafeBC's online clearance letter application. Search by the firm's WorkSafeBC account number (six or nine digits) or its exact legal or trade name.
  • You can search up to 150 firms at once, which suits a GC with a long sub list.
  • Print it or save it as a PDF in the job file.
  • The letter must be addressed to you, the prime contractor, to protect you.
  • Some letters are by phone or fax only: confirming a firm is not registered, a limited period, project or file numbers, or buying a firm's assets.

Read the honoured date

  • A letter for a firm that is active and in good standing is honoured up to the date printed in it. Work after that date needs a new letter.
  • GoldStar clearance: firms with a good reporting history and an account active 24 of the last 36 months get advance clearance, usually to the start of the next quarter.
  • Prepaid premiums: firms that prepay for the year are cleared to January 1 of the next year.
  • Status can change, for example to delinquent, so check again at the end of the job before the final payment.

Let WorkSafeBC watch your subs

If you use the same subs all season, log in to WorkSafeBC online services and set up a clearance alert subscription with your sub list. You get an email when a listed firm's status changes, such as from good standing to delinquent.

Buying a business or its equipment

Unpaid premiums can become a lien on a firm's assets. Before buying a trades business or its trucks and tools, contact WorkSafeBC for a clearance on the seller.

A simple routine for a GC

  • Before the sub starts: pull a letter and save it with the contract.
  • Before each progress payment on a long job: check the honoured date.
  • Before the final payment and holdback release: pull a second letter covering the end of the work.

FAQ

Does a clearance letter cost anything?
WorkSafeBC does not list a fee for the online letter.

What if my sub has no WorkSafeBC account?
Ask them first; some independent operators are not required to register. Contact WorkSafeBC for a letter confirming the firm is not registered, and get advice on whether you need to cover that worker.

Is a clearance letter the same as proof of liability insurance?
No. Liability insurance is a separate certificate from the sub's insurer. Ask for both.

How long do I keep the letters?
Keep them with the job file and your T5018 records.

Every contract is different, so talk to your accountant or WorkSafeBC about your own situation.

Sources: WorkSafeBC: why you need a clearance letter; WorkSafeBC: get a clearance letter.

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