Tarion Registration:
5 Essentials for New Buyers

1. The 45-day clock starts when?

45 calendar days from the day you signed the Agreement of Purchase and Sale (APS) — not business days. Sign May 1, deadline is June 14. The cooling-off period doesn’t pause the clock — the 10 days run inside the 45. Best practice: start registering on signing day.

2. What you need to register

Tarion site → ‘tarion.com/buyer-registration’. You’ll need: (a) APS copy; (b) buyer ID; (c) property address (if no civic address yet, the builder’s lot # works); (d) developer name + Tarion builder ID (on contract; ask sales if you can’t find it); (e) deposit amount. 15-minute task.

3. What you get back

Tarion mails a ‘Confirmation of Enrolment’ letter. This is your deposit-protection proof — file it carefully. If the builder fails, you claim against Tarion using this letter. They also send the Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) checklist for closing day.

4. Missing 45 days — the 2026 consequences

Deposit protection drops from the $100K cap to a shared pool — only $10M total shared province-wide annually. In a high-claim year, payouts are prorated, possibly $20-30K per claimant. And payment is delayed to the following year. Don’t risk it — a 10-minute registration is worth up to $80K.

5. How to claim under the 1-2-7 warranty

(1) Year 1 ‘defects’ — paint, flooring, doors not aligned — list at PDI and notify the builder in writing within 30 days. (2) Year 2 ‘systems’ — HVAC, electrical, plumbing, roof — claim immediately on discovery. (3) Year 7 ‘structural’ — foundation settlement, load-bearing cracks — rare but serious. Every claim must be in writing to Tarion + builder. Phone calls don’t count.

Do condo buyers register too?

Yes — but condo is registered by the builder for the whole building; individual unit enrolment is auto-triggered by the builder. You still need to confirm the builder actually did it — request the enrolment number from them.

I signed APS 30 days ago and just learned about this — am I still in time?

Yes. 45 days from signing — go to tarion.com now. Past 45 days you can still register (late registration), but protection drops to the shared pool tier.

How much can the Tarion warranty pay?

Year-1: up to $300K (freehold) / $50K per unit (condo). Year-2: up to $300K. Year-7 structural: $300K. Most claims fall in the $5-30K range, enough to cover typical issues.

Is the PDI mandatory? What if I skip it?

Mandatory. PDI is the joint walk-through before closing where you and the builder list every defect. Skipping it or rushing through = many year-1 claims become unenforceable (builder argues ‘wasn’t on the PDI list’).

Can foreign buyers register and get Tarion coverage?

Yes. Tarion doesn’t discriminate by nationality — all buyers receive equal protection. But you must be able to receive Tarion’s mail in Canada — provide a Canadian mailing address (lawyer, agent, or friend) at registration.