Lighting and Electrical

For anything behind a wall, in a panel, or adding a circuit, yes, and in most states it is the law rather than a preference. Swapping a like-for-like fixture is often allowed as homeowner work, but insurers have denied claims over unpermitted electrical work, which makes the saving expensive.

Most 100 amp to 200 amp upgrades land in the low four figures, more if the service entrance, meter base or grounding also need work. Older homes frequently do. Get the quote to state plainly whether the permit and inspection are included.

Breakers that trip repeatedly, warm or discoloured outlets, lights that dim when an appliance starts, two-prong outlets throughout, or any knob-and-tube or aluminium branch wiring. Homes built before 1970 are the usual candidates. An electrician can tell you in one visit.

New circuits, panel work and service upgrades almost always do. Replacing a fixture or a switch usually does not. A licensed electrician pulls the permit as part of the job, and being asked to skip it is a reason to keep shopping.

The charger aside, the install depends on the distance from your panel and whether the panel has capacity. A short run into an adequate panel is a few hundred dollars of labour. A long run or a panel upgrade first is the expensive version, so ask for both quoted separately.

Three or four for anything above a service call. Electrical quotes vary widely on scope rather than price, so read what each one includes: permits, inspection, patching, and whether fixtures are supplied. zipBuilder routes your brief to up to four licensed local electricians.