Glendale Electrical Permits: GWP Service Upgrade Steps

Glendale runs its own permit office and its own electric utility, so electrical work there follows a different path than in Pasadena, Burbank or the City of LA. The City of Glendale Building & Safety Division issues the electrical permit and inspects the work. Glendale Water & Power (GWP), not SCE, owns the meter and the service coming into your house. For a panel upgrade, a new service or temporary power, GWP has to sign off before the permit application even goes in. Here's how the process works for Glendale homes in 2026, and where projects usually lose time. Planning a panel, EV charger or rewire in Glendale? Request a free estimate or call 747-255-8595.

Who Does What: City of Glendale and GWP

Two offices are involved in most Glendale electrical jobs:

• City of Glendale Building & Safety issues the permit and sends the inspector. Its Permit Services Center is at 633 E. Broadway, Room 101 (Building Permits 818-548-3200, Inspections 818-548-4836).
• GWP Electrical Engineering decides where the meter and service go and approves any new or upgraded service. It's at 141 N. Glendale Ave., Level 4 (818-548-3921, GWPElectricEngineeringInfo@Glendaleca.gov).

Glendale now takes every permit application online through the GlendalePermits portal. Nothing is submitted over the counter. Applications that are missing a required step are voided, so getting the order right matters.

Which Electrical Jobs Need a Permit in Glendale

Panel upgrades, service changes, EV chargers, new circuits, subpanels and rewiring all need an electrical permit. Smaller residential jobs, such as added outlets and light fixtures, hardwired smoke and CO alarms, and new branch circuits, go through the portal as simple online permits. The inspector checks the quantities and the code work in the field.

For single-family homes, the permit can be pulled by a licensed C-10 electrical contractor (or a B or A licensee). The contractor also needs a current City of Glendale business license before applying, plus a signed Construction Permit Declaration. Condos need an HOA letter, and every application needs the property owner's information, not the tenant's. Multi-family and commercial projects need separate electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits.

Panel and Service Upgrades: Start With GWP

This is the step that catches people. If your job is a new service, a service upgrade (like 100A to 200A) or temporary power, the City requires GWP Electrical Engineering's approval *before* the electrical permit application is submitted.

In practice the order looks like this:

1. Load check and plan. We look at your existing panel, meter and what you want to add (EV charger, heat pump, induction range, ADU) and size the new service.
2. GWP meter spot. We request a meter spot from GWP Electrical Engineering. GWP decides where the new meter and service can go, which may not be the same spot as your old meter.
3. City permit. With GWP's approval in hand, we submit the electrical permit in the GlendalePermits portal.
4. Installation. We install the new panel, meter socket and service equipment to the 2025 California Electrical Code.
5. City inspection, then GWP. Building & Safety inspects and signs off, and GWP handles the utility-side connection and meter.

Many Glendale homes still run on older, smaller services that weren't built for today's loads, which is why the panel upgrade is often the first job on the list. If you're also asking about GWP rebates, our Glendale panel upgrades and EV chargers guide covers what GWP customers should know. Confirm current rebate terms with GWP before you buy equipment.

EV Charger Permits in Glendale

A Level 2 charger needs an electrical permit, and Glendale asks for a site plan showing where the EV equipment goes. If the charger or its pedestal sits in a driveway or parking space, the plan has to show that the required driveway width and parking stall size are still met under the city's parking code (GMC 30.32).

If the charger fits on your existing panel, it's one permit. If your panel can't carry it and the service has to be upgraded, the GWP approval step above comes first. That's why we run a load calculation before quoting an EV charger installation, so you know up front whether it's a one-permit job or a service upgrade.

Inspections, Timelines and Common Delays

Once a permit is issued, inspections are requested in the GlendalePermits portal: create an account, link the permit, and schedule. An issued permit is good for 180 days, so the work and the final inspection need to stay on track.

Most delays on Glendale permits are avoidable:

• Submitting a service upgrade permit before GWP has approved the meter spot.
• Missing owner information or an HOA letter, which voids the application.
• An EV charger site plan that doesn't show driveway or parking clearances.
• Letting the 180-day permit window run down before the final inspection.

GWP sets its own schedule for utility-side work, so no contractor can promise a reconnect date. What we can do is file everything in the right order so the job doesn't stall on paperwork. For a look at how a neighboring city handles it, see our Pasadena electrical permits guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to upgrade my electrical panel in Glendale?

Yes. A panel or service upgrade needs a City of Glendale electrical permit, and GWP Electrical Engineering has to approve the new or upgraded service before the permit application is submitted.

Can I apply for a Glendale electrical permit in person?

No. Glendale takes permit applications, reviews and issuance through its online GlendalePermits portal. The Permit Services Center at 633 E. Broadway can still help with questions.

What is a GWP meter spot?

It's GWP's decision on where your new meter and service equipment can be located. Your electrician requests it from GWP Electrical Engineering at the start of a service upgrade.

How long is a Glendale electrical permit valid?

An issued permit is good for 180 days from the date it's issued, according to the City of Glendale.

Does an EV charger in Glendale need a permit?

Yes. It needs an electrical permit and a site plan showing the charger location. If the panel has to be upgraded for the charger, GWP's service approval comes first.

Planning Electrical Work in Glendale? Call a Licensed C-10

911 Construction & Electric Inc. is a licensed, bonded and insured C-10 electrical contractor (CA Lic. #1027421) at 1308 E Colorado Blvd Ste 141, Pasadena, CA 91106, serving Pasadena, Altadena, Glendale, Burbank, Arcadia, the San Gabriel Valley and greater Los Angeles. We handle the GWP meter spot, the City permit and the inspections for panel upgrades, EV chargers and electrical repairs and rewiring for homes across Glendale. Request a free estimate, call 747-255-8595 or visit https://911electrics.com. 24/7 emergency service available.