Electrician in Burbank, CA: Panel Upgrades & EV Chargers

Burbank runs on its own municipal utility, has its own permit counter, and is full of 1920s–1950s bungalows and Rancho-district ranch homes that were wired long before anyone owned an induction range or an EV. That combination is exactly why hiring a Burbank electrician who works this city regularly saves you weeks of back-and-forth on a job that should take days.

What Makes Electrical Work in Burbank Different

Most of Los Angeles is served by LADWP or Southern California Edison. Burbank is not — the city is served by Burbank Water and Power (BWP), a municipal utility. Anything that touches your service — a panel upgrade, a meter relocation, going from overhead to underground — is coordinated with BWP, not with LADWP. Permits and inspections go through the City of Burbank's own building division rather than LADBS.

In practice that means the sequence matters: an electrician in Burbank, CA who has pulled these permits before knows when to schedule the disconnect, how the city inspector likes the work presented, and how to line up the reconnect so you are not without power over a weekend. An out-of-area contractor learning the process on your job is where the delays come from.

The Calls We Get Most Often in Burbank

Housing stock drives the work. Across Magnolia Park, the Rancho, Toluca Lake and the hillside streets above Kenneth Road, the same handful of problems come up again and again:

• Undersized service — 60- or 100-amp panels that trip whenever the AC and a second large appliance run together.
• Obsolete panels — Zinsco and Federal Pacific Stab-Lok equipment that insurers and home inspectors now flag on sight.
• Two-prong outlets and ungrounded circuits in original cloth-wrapped or knob-and-tube branch wiring.
• Home offices and garage studios added without a dedicated circuit, so a space heater takes down half the house.
• EV chargers that need a new 240V circuit — and often a panel with room to accept it.
• Detached garages and ADUs fed by a single undersized run that cannot support a workshop or a mini split.

Panel Upgrades in Older Burbank Homes

A service upgrade is the single most common job in this city, usually from 100 amps to 200 amps. It is not just a bigger box: the work typically includes a new meter main, service conductors, grounding and bonding brought to current code, a permit, a city inspection and a BWP reconnect. Our electrical panel upgrade service covers the full scope.

Signs You Have Outgrown Your Panel

• Breakers trip when two large appliances run at once, or you rely on extension cords for permanent loads.
• The panel is a fuse box, or a brand with a documented failure history.
• There are no open slots left and the panel is already full of tandem breakers.
• Lights dim noticeably when the AC compressor or a well pump kicks on.
• You are planning an EV charger, heat pump, induction range or ADU — all of which add substantial load.

What It Generally Costs

In the Burbank area a straightforward 200-amp service upgrade commonly lands in the $3,500–$6,500 range, with permits and utility coordination included. It runs higher when the mast and weatherhead need replacing, when the meter has to move, or when the existing wiring needs remediation before the new panel can be energized. Treat any range you read online as a starting point only — pricing depends on your specific service, and we quote after seeing the panel.

EV Charger Installation for Burbank Drivers

Burbank has one of the higher EV densities in the region, and EV charger installation in Burbank is straightforward when the panel cooperates: a dedicated 240V circuit, a load calculation, a permit, and a hardwired charger or NEMA 14-50 receptacle. When the panel is full, the options are a service upgrade or a load-management device that lets the charger share existing capacity. We are EVITP-certified — the EV-specific training standard many rebate and incentive programs require — and handle both approaches. See our EV charger installation page for details.

Because Burbank is served by BWP rather than SCE, the rebate programs are different from the ones your neighbors in Glendale or Pasadena use. Check BWP's current residential EV and electrification incentives directly before you buy equipment — program amounts and eligibility rules change from year to year, and the charger you choose can affect whether you qualify.

Repairs, Emergencies and Everything In Between

Not every job is a big one. Flickering lights, a dead outlet circuit, a buzzing panel, a tripped GFCI nobody can find, recessed lighting, ceiling fans and smoke detector replacement are all routine residential electrician work. When something is genuinely urgent — burning smell, scorched outlet, half the house dark, water intrusion into a panel — shut the main off and call. We offer 24/7 emergency electrical service across Burbank and the surrounding valley.

How to Vet a Burbank Electrician Before You Hire

• Verify the C-10 license on the CSLB website — search the license number, not just the company name, and confirm it is active and bonded.
• Ask whether the quote includes the permit and the city inspection. A price that skips permitting is not a lower price; it is a future problem at resale.
• Confirm they have coordinated with BWP before, specifically for service work.
• For EV work, ask whether the installer is EVITP-certified and get it in writing.
• Get the scope in writing: panel size, breaker brand, wire gauge, what is being replaced versus reused.

More about our local coverage is on the Burbank electrician service page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for electrical work in Burbank?

Yes for most of it. Panel and service upgrades, new circuits, EV charger installs, rewiring and new fixtures on new wiring all require a permit from the City of Burbank, plus inspection. Swapping a like-for-like light fixture or a receptacle on an existing circuit generally does not. A licensed contractor pulls the permit as part of the job.

How long does a panel upgrade take in Burbank?

The physical work is usually one day. The full timeline is longer because it includes permit issuance, scheduling the city inspection, and coordinating the disconnect and reconnect with Burbank Water and Power — typically one to three weeks start to finish, depending on inspection availability.

Will my power be off during the work?

Yes, for the service upgrade itself — generally most of a working day while the old panel comes out and the new one goes in and gets inspected. We schedule it so power is restored the same day whenever the inspection slot allows, and we tell you in advance so you can plan around refrigeration and work-from-home needs.

Is 100 amps enough for a Burbank home?

It can be for a small home with gas heat, gas cooking and no EV. It stops being enough quickly once you add electric vehicle charging, a heat pump, an induction range or a converted garage. A load calculation gives a real answer rather than a guess — and it is what the permit process requires anyway.

Do you serve areas near Burbank?

Yes. We work throughout Burbank and the surrounding communities including Toluca Lake, North Hollywood, Glendale, Studio City, Sun Valley, Sherman Oaks and the wider San Fernando Valley, plus Pasadena and the foothill cities.

Talk to a Licensed Burbank Electrician

911 Construction & Electric Inc. is a licensed, bonded and insured C-10 electrical contractor (CA Lic. #1027421) serving Burbank, Pasadena, Glendale, Altadena, the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles. Whether it is a 200-amp service upgrade, an EV charger, a rewire or a 2 a.m. emergency, we handle the permits and the utility coordination so you do not have to. Request your free estimate or call 747-255-8595.