Electrical panel upgrade permit in San Jose, CA
Verified local dataElectrical · Santa Clara County
Do you need a permit?
In California, an electrical service or panel upgrade always needs an electrical permit and an inspection, and almost always requires utility coordination for the temporary disconnect. It is pulled by a licensed C-10 contractor under the California Electrical Code (Title 24, Part 3). Common drivers: EV chargers, heat pumps, solar/battery, ADUs, and replacing legacy/recalled panels (Federal Pacific, Zinsco, Pushmatic).
Verified San Jose filing details
- Permit portal
- SJPermits.org (San José Online Permit Center)
verified May 22, 2026 · source · Online permit applications, payments, and status check via SJPermits; electronic plan review through SJePlans
- Submission methods
Online · In-person
verified May 22, 2026 · source · Online via SJPermits.org + SJePlans (electronic plan review); in-person at the Development Services Permit Center
- Adopted code edition
2025 California Building Standards Code
verified May 22, 2026 · source · 2025 California Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing Codes; applicable to permit applications filed on or after January 1, 2026
- Fee schedule
- FY 2025-26 Building Division Fee Schedule (effective August 11, 2025)
verified May 22, 2026 · source
Other local notes
Permit Center phone: (408) 535-3555, Monday–Friday 7 AM–4 PM.
verified May 22, 2026 · source
Hourly rates published in the FY 2025-26 Building Division Fee Schedule: $227/hr for permit issuance, $325/hr for plan review (15-minute minimum for over-the-counter; one-hour minimum for review intakes), $315/hr for building inspection. Many permit types have a flat-fee table; hourly rates apply when no table entry covers the work.
verified May 22, 2026 · source · FY 2025-26 schedule — fee tables in the same document take precedence where applicable
SJePlans is the city's electronic-plan-review portal; project plans for building, planning, public works, and fire review are uploaded there once an SJPermits application is opened.
verified May 22, 2026 · source
Contractors applying online via SJPermits must have a current City of San José Business Tax Certificate in addition to their CSLB license; permits may be issued only for work within the contractor's license classification.
verified May 22, 2026 · source
Documents to prepare
- Electrical permit application
- Contractor license and city business registration
- Load calculation per NEC Article 220 (existing load + new loads)
- Single-line diagram showing the new service size, meter, panel, main breaker, and grounding-electrode system
- Site plan with panel/meter location and the service drop or lateral route
- Cut sheet for the new panel (listing, AIC rating, bus rating, number of spaces)
- Utility coordination forms (PG&E, SCE, LADWP, SDG&E — varies by service area)
Common rejection reasons
- Load calculation missing, incomplete, or not matching the proposed service size
- No single-line diagram, or the diagram doesn't reflect the proposed work
- Grounding/bonding details missing (UFER + supplemental ground rods, bonding jumpers)
- AIC rating of the new equipment not coordinated with the utility's available fault current
- Service-conductor sizing not matching the new main breaker
- Working clearances around the panel not shown (NEC 110.26)
Inspection sequence
- Rough/service inspection before energization, with the panel set and grounding visible
- Utility coordination for temporary disconnect, meter pull, and reconnect
- Final inspection with the panel labeled, all circuits identified, and the service energized
Usually no permit
- Replacing a single breaker for one of the same type and rating
- Tightening lugs or replacing a feeder bus cover (maintenance, not modification)
- Re-labeling the panel directory
Who can pull it
Panel and service upgrades in California are performed by a C-10 (Electrical) licensed contractor; a B (General Building) contractor may pull within a larger project under CSLB rules. The licensed contractor pulling the permit typically also coordinates the utility cut and reconnect.
Verify with
- San José Planning, Building & Code Enforcement (official)
- Permit portal — SJPermits.org (San José Online Permit Center) · verified May 22, 2026
- FY 2025-26 Building Division Fee Schedule (effective August 11, 2025) · verified May 22, 2026