Service
Apply for an electrical permit
Apply online to install, alter, extend, or add to electrical installations without plans.
Department of Building InspectionWhat to know
Cost
Permit fees depend on the scope of work. See the Electrical permit issuance and inspection fees schedule for details.
Requirements
You need an electrical permit before installing new wiring or making alterations, extensions, or additions to existing electrical installations. See exemptions in San Francisco Electrical Code Section 89.121.
Contractors must hold a B, C7, C10, C45, C46, C61, or D34 contractor license to apply for an electrical permit in general.
If you are a contractor authorized for Express Permits on PermitSF, you can skip City staff review and pay for your permit right away.
What to know
Cost
Permit fees depend on the scope of work. See the Electrical permit issuance and inspection fees schedule for details.
Requirements
You need an electrical permit before installing new wiring or making alterations, extensions, or additions to existing electrical installations. See exemptions in San Francisco Electrical Code Section 89.121.
Contractors must hold a B, C7, C10, C45, C46, C61, or D34 contractor license to apply for an electrical permit in general.
If you are a contractor authorized for Express Permits on PermitSF, you can skip City staff review and pay for your permit right away.
What to do
1. Gather information about your electrical work
In the form, we will ask you for:
- Information about the building, including whether the project is residential/commercial, and which floor the work is being done on
- Number of devices or outlets
- The size of the space you're wiring for
- Estimated valuation of the work, including all materials and labor
- Type of electrical permit
- If you'll be doing any category 3 electrical work (services, subpanels, generators, transformers, fire pumps, or UPS equipment)
- If you'll be doing any category 5 miscellaneous electrical work
- Contractor information
- The last section of the Contractor Authorization form completed and the contractor's driver's license, if you are an authorized agent for a contractor and are not connected to an AUTH record
- Business information, if the work will be done for a business
Depending on the building and the work, we may also ask you for:
- The overall building area where the work is being performed
- The number of rooms or building dwelling units being worked on
- Service size (in amps) of any service distribution and utilization equipment
- The number of items or components being installed
- Associated building permit numbers, if any
2. Apply for an electrical permit online
Use PermitSF to apply online. The application will ask you about your planned electrical work.
If you are authorized for Express Permits, you can skip City staff review.
After your permit is issued, have your electrical work inspected before covering wiring.
Special cases
Contractor license scopes
The following license types are allowed to apply for an electrical permit:
- A license for general engineering work
- B license, after approval based on the scope of work (electrical work related to a kitchen or bath permit on PermitSF can be approved immediately for B contractors)
- C7 license only for electrical work for low voltage
- C10 license for any electrical work, including fire alarms
- C45 license only for electrical work on electrical signs
- C46 license only for electrical work related to solar panels
- C61 license for electrical work related to office furniture
- D34 license only for electrical work on prefabricated office workstations
Your permit scope may be further limited depending on your license type.
Solar permits
You need a separate solar permit to work on photovoltaic panels or energy storage systems.
If you're just working on the associated wiring and not installing panels, you can apply for an electrical permit for wiring.
Homeowners
Only property owners of stand-alone single-family dwellings (R-3 occupancy) may apply for an electrical permit to do the work themselves. Check your home’s official status in the Assessor’s map.
After completing the online form, visit the Permit Center help desk on the second floor at 49 South Van Ness to talk to an inspector. They may tell you to hire a licensed contractor and have them apply for a new permit instead.
Bring your ID to prove you are the owner listed for the property. If the property was recently purchased, you may need to show proof of ownership. If the property is owned by a trust, you need to show proof that you are an authorized signatory for that entity.
Work on Port property
If you're doing electrical work on Port property:
- Apply for a construction permit through the Port Permit Desk.
- Apply for your electrical permit using the pier address.