What's Required in San Francisco
- An electrical permit is required to replace a panel, upgrade the service, add a subpanel or replace the main service disconnect at any rating.
- Only a same-type, same-rating replacement of a defective breaker rated 100 amps or less is exempt under SF Electrical Code 89.121.
- The permit application must itemize the work, state the service size in amps and flag category 3 equipment such as services and subpanels.
- Fees are flat: $450 for service equipment up to 225 amps, $709 for 250 to 500 amps, or $580 under Category 1 when bundled with up to 40 devices including a 200-amp upgrade.
- A contractor must hold a qualifying license (C10 for any electrical work; B after scope approval) and be registered with the City.
- Homeowner permits are limited to owner-occupied stand-alone single-family houses where the owner does the work; LLCs are excluded.
- All wiring must be inspected before it is covered, and fees must be paid before permission to energize.
- Emergency electrical work must have a permit obtained within one business day of starting.
Do You Need a Permit to Replace an Electrical Panel in San Francisco?
Yes. The San Francisco Electrical Code makes it unlawful to install, alter, add to or replace any electrical installation without a permit from the Department of Building Inspection (DBI), and its short exemption list stops well before the panel. Section 89.121 lets you replace a defective breaker of the same type and rating up to 100 amps without a permit, then adds an exception: replacement of the main service disconnecting means is subject to permit and inspection regardless of rating. A new panel, a 100-to-200-amp service upgrade, a subpanel for an EV charger or heat pump, or a relocated meter socket all need an electrical permit, and the wiring stays open until the inspector approves it.
San Francisco Electrical Panel Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Swapping one failed breaker for the same type and rating, 100 amps or less | None | SF Electrical Code 89.121(D) exemption |
| Replacing the main breaker or service disconnect, any rating | Electrical permit | 89.121(D) exception: always permitted and inspected |
| Like-for-like panel replacement or 200-amp service upgrade, no new circuits | Electrical permit, Category 3 | $450 for equipment rated 225 amps or less |
| Panel upgrade plus new circuits, up to 40 devices | Electrical permit, Category 1 | $580 tier includes up to a 200-amp service upgrade |
| Subpanel with a handful of new circuits, no service change | Electrical permit, Category 1 | $305 for up to 10 outlets or devices |
| 400-amp service for a multi-unit building | Electrical permit, Category 3 | $709 for 250 to 500 amps |
| Panel work tied to a solar or battery install | Separate solar permit | PV systems 10 kW or less $320 |
How Much Does an Electrical Panel Permit Cost in San Francisco?
DBI's electrical fees are flat amounts from Table 1A-E, effective for permits issued on or after July 12, 2026, and the applicant itemizes the work and picks the category. A panel or service replacement done on its own is Category 3, service distribution and utilization equipment: $450 for equipment rated 225 amps or less, which covers the usual 100, 125 and 200-amp residential services, and $709 for 250 to 500 amps. Two inspections are included. If the panel change is part of a larger rewiring job, the residential general-wiring Category 1 applies instead, and its $580 tier for up to 40 outlets or devices explicitly includes up to a 200-amp service upgrade with three inspections; smaller jobs are $305 for up to 10 devices and $450 for 11 to 20, with every appliance counted as a device. There is no valuation formula and no plan review for a straightforward panel, so the permit fee is the fee. Fees are paid in full before DBI grants permission to energize, and a failed inspection that needs a return visit costs $259 per half hour.
Who Can Pull an Electrical Permit in San Francisco?
Licensed contractors registered with DBI: a C-10 electrical contractor for any electrical work, or a B general contractor after DBI approves the scope. Contractors authorized for Express Permits on PermitSF skip staff review and pay immediately. Homeowners have a narrow path: only the owner of a stand-alone single-family house (R-3) may take out an electrical permit, only for work they will do personally, and LLC-owned homes are excluded. You complete the online form, then go to the Permit Center help desk at 49 South Van Ness with proof of ownership to talk to an inspector, who can require you to hire a contractor. Under a homeowner permit all wiring must stay exposed until the electrical inspector approves it for cover, and any deficiencies not corrected must be fixed by a state-licensed electrical contractor under a separate permit.
How the Process Works
The PermitSF application asks for the building type, the number of devices, the service size in amps of any service equipment, the estimated value of the work and whether the job includes category 3 items such as services and subpanels. Once the permit is issued, have the work inspected before anything is covered; a Category 3 permit includes two inspections. DBI's fee schedule ties payment to permission to energize, so plan the utility disconnect and reconnect around the inspection. Emergency electrical work to protect people or property may start first, but the permit must be obtained within one business day.
How to Get a Electrical Panel Permit in San Francisco
Confirm the scope and category
A panel or service change on its own is Category 3 (by amperage); a panel changed as part of rewiring is Category 1 (by device count, with the 200-amp upgrade folded into the $580 tier).
Apply on PermitSF
A registered C-10 or approved B contractor files online with the device count, service size in amps and job value; Express Permit contractors skip review. Homeowners of stand-alone houses file, then see an inspector at the Permit Center with ID.
Pay the flat fee
$450 for equipment up to 225 amps, $709 for 250 to 500 amps, or $305 to $580 under Category 1; the permit is issued once paid.
Do the work and keep it open
Nothing is covered before inspection; under a homeowner permit all wiring stays exposed until the electrical inspector approves it.
Inspect and energize
Request the inspection from PermitSF; a Category 3 permit includes two. Fees must be paid in full before DBI grants permission to energize.