Table of Contents
Permit Required
- New circuits
- Panel replacement or upgrade
- Service change (100 to 200 amp)
- EV charger installation
- Whole-home rewire
- Adding outlets, switches, or fixtures where none existed
- Any work in a wet location (pool, spa, exterior)
- Solar and battery storage
Usually No Permit Required
- Like-for-like outlet or switch replacement
- Like-for-like light fixture replacement
- Bulb changes
- GFCI outlet upgrade (in most OC cities)
Need a licensed Orange County electrician?
Family-owned since 1974. C-10 #1050793 Licensed, Bonded & Insured. Serving all of Orange County.
Why It Matters
Unpermitted work shows up at home sale and often has to be re-inspected retroactively at your expense. Insurance carriers can deny fire claims traced to unpermitted work. And unpermitted work in California is a code violation, even on your own home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pulls the permit — me or the electrician?+
Usually the electrician. Contractor pulls, contractor is on the hook for code compliance and inspection.