What a BC nanny contract is for
A family that hires a nanny in British Columbia becomes an employer. The nanny is entitled to the minimum wage, overtime, statutory holidays, vacation, sick leave and notice of termination under the Employment Standards Act, and the family must handle payroll deductions, wage statements and, in most cases, WorkSafeBC coverage. For a live-in nanny, section 14 of the Act also requires a written contract that states the duties, hours, wages and any room and board charges, and the regulation caps room and board at $325 a month and requires registration within 30 days.
This contract covers all of it for live-in and live-out nannies. It lists the children and the specific duties, sets a day-by-day schedule with meal breaks, overtime and on-call time, and states the wage, paydays, wage statements and permitted deductions. It deals with room and board and privacy for live-in nannies, sets out the eleven BC statutory holidays, vacation and sick leave, covers safety, driving, cameras and confidentiality, and ends employment on the notice the Act requires. An employer's checklist and a weekly hours record complete it.
When to use it
Use it when a family in British Columbia hires a nanny as an employee, whether full-time or part-time, live-in or live-out, including a nanny shared between two families (each family should sign its own contract or a shared agreement prepared with advice). Sign it before the first day of work and review it after three months and every year.
Do not use it for a nanny hired through an agency that is the employer, for an independent babysitting business, or for a caregiver working under a federal immigration program, which has its own contract requirements. A nanny who is a temporary foreign worker should get advice on the program rules as well as BC law.
What's inside
The full list of sections and fields in this template, in the order they appear.
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Parties, position and children
- Employer
- Nanny
- Start date
- Permanent or fixed term
- Children and needs
- Live-in or live-out
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Duties and hours
- Specific duties
- Weekly schedule
- Meal breaks
- Overtime
- Hours beyond the contract
- Time off between shifts
- Babysitting
-
Wages and room and board
- Hourly wage
- Minimum wage adjustment
- Paydays
- Wage statement
- Deductions
- Expenses
- Room and board up to $325
-
Holidays, vacation and leave
- Eleven statutory holidays
- Vacation weeks and pay
- Paid and unpaid sick leave
- Other leaves
-
Safety, confidentiality and ending employment
- House rules
- Emergencies
- First aid
- Driving
- WorkSafeBC
- Cameras
- Confidentiality
- Review
- Notice
- Final pay
- Record of Employment
-
Employer's checklist and hours record
- Registration
- CRA payroll
- WorkSafeBC
- T4 and ROE
- Record keeping
- Weekly hours and overtime
Preview pages
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Page 1 -
Page 2 -
Page 3
How to complete the contract
- Name the parties. Enter the parents or guardians as the employer and the nanny's legal name.
- List the children and duties. Be specific; general housework not listed is not part of the job.
- Set the schedule. Fill in each day's start and end times and meal breaks.
- Set the wage. Enter an hourly wage at or above the minimum wage, and the payday.
- Complete room and board. For a live-in nanny, set the charge at $325 a month or less; delete the section otherwise.
- Choose vacation and notice terms. Keep at least the legal minimums.
- Check safety terms. Confirm first aid, car insurance, car seats and any cameras.
- Sign and give a copy. Both parties sign, and the nanny gets a copy before starting.
- Work through the checklist. Register where required, set up payroll and keep hours records.
Example: a completed contract excerpt
A fictional Victoria family, the Nguyen-Tremblays, hire a live-in nanny for two children aged 2 and 5:
Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a 30-minute unpaid meal break: 42.5 hours a week. Wage: $21.00 an hour. Overtime for the 2.5 hours over 40 each week at $31.50 an hour. Room and board: private bedroom and bathroom, all meals, $300 a month deducted in two equal amounts each month. Duties: childcare, children's meals, school drop-off and pick-up in the family car, children's laundry.
The family registers the nanny with the Employment Standards Branch within 30 days, opens a CRA payroll account, registers with WorkSafeBC, and gives a wage statement every second Friday.
BC rules to know
These are the British Columbia rules this contract is built around.
- Written contract for domestic workers (Employment Standards Act, section 14). Duties, hours, wages and room and board, with extra hours added to pay; required for live-in domestic workers.
- Registration and room and board (Employment Standards Regulation, sections 13 and 14). Register a live-in domestic worker within 30 days; room and board no more than $325 a month.
- Minimum wage (sections 16.1 and 16.2). $18.25 an hour from June 1, 2026, adjusted every June 1.
- Hours and overtime (sections 32, 36 and 40). Meal break after 5 hours, 32 hours off each week, and overtime after 8 hours a day or 40 a week.
- Paydays and records (sections 17, 27 and 28). Pay at least twice a month, wage statements each payday, and payroll records kept for 4 years.
- Statutory holidays, vacation and leave (sections 44 to 58 and 49.1). Eleven holidays, 2 weeks' vacation after a year, and 5 paid sick days after 90 days.
- Ending employment (sections 18 and 63). Notice or pay of 1 to 8 weeks after 3 months, and final pay within 48 hours or 6 days.
- WorkSafeBC. Coverage required for a nanny working 8 or more hours a week, or 15 or more for before- and after-school care.
Mistakes BC families make
The most common mistakes are paying a flat weekly amount with no overtime for long days, not counting on-call evenings as work for a live-in nanny, charging more than $325 a month for room and board, adding housework that was never agreed, skipping payroll deductions and T4s, not registering with WorkSafeBC, and ending employment without the notice or pay the Act requires. Filling in every section of this contract and following the checklist avoids each of them.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a written contract for a nanny in BC?
For a nanny who lives in your home, yes. Section 14 of the Employment Standards Act requires the employer of a live-in domestic worker to give them a copy of an employment contract that clearly states the duties, hours of work, wages and any room and board charges. For a live-out nanny it is not legally required, but it is the best way to avoid disputes.
Do nannies get overtime in BC?
Yes. Nannies and other domestic workers are covered by the Employment Standards Act's hours of work and overtime rules, so they earn 1.5 times the regular wage after 8 hours in a day or 40 in a week, and double time after 12 hours in a day. Hours a live-in nanny must be available or on call count as work.
How much can I charge a live-in nanny for room and board in BC?
No more than $325 a month, under section 14 of the Employment Standards Regulation. The charge must be set out in the written contract.
Do I have to register my nanny?
If the nanny lives in your home, you must give the Employment Standards Branch your and the nanny's contact information within 30 days of hiring. You also need a payroll account with the Canada Revenue Agency, and WorkSafeBC coverage if the nanny works 8 or more hours a week, or 15 or more for before- and after-school care only.
What is the minimum wage for a nanny in BC?
The general minimum wage, which is $18.25 an hour from June 1, 2026, and is adjusted every June 1. Nannies are paid hourly for all hours worked, including overtime at the overtime rates.
