What does CSA A770 mean for a home inspection in Ontario?

CSA A770 is a national home inspection standard that CSA Group, a non-profit standards organization, published in 2016 for voluntary use by home inspectors. The federal Office of Consumer Affairs suggests asking a prospective inspector whether they will apply it, but it is not required by law in Ontario.

Ontario passed a Home Inspection Act in 2017, but it has not been brought into force, so there is no provincial licence today and no mandatory standard an inspector must follow. That means the scope, depth and format of an inspection are set by whatever the inspector offers and whatever you agree to in writing, not by a government rule.

What CSA A770 does in practice is give you a reference point when you are comparing inspectors. The Office of Consumer Affairs recommends asking whether the inspector will apply it, and asking for a sample report so you can see what their inspection actually covers. If an inspector says they follow CSA A770, ask what that means for the areas they will examine and how they will document findings. We have not read the standard's own text, so we cannot tell you what it requires; the Office of Consumer Affairs' own list of what a good inspection covers is site, structure, envelope, plumbing, interior finishes, heating, ventilation and cooling, life safety systems and fire separation, and electrical systems. What the inspector can actually see or access on the day is still limited to what is visible and non-invasive, whatever standard they apply.

The Office of Consumer Affairs also suggests considering a member of an association or professional order, citing liability insurance in case of malpractice; membership in any association is voluntary and not a licence to practise in Ontario. Ontario.ca suggests asking whether the inspector carries insurance and getting the details in writing.

Ask any inspector who mentions CSA A770 to show you, in a sample report, how they apply it.