Pasadena Electrical Permits: Panels, EV Chargers & Rewires

Pasadena homeowners usually hit the permit question at the worst moment: the panel quote is on the table, the EV is in the driveway, and someone asks whether "the city really needs to be involved." In Pasadena the answer is almost always yes. The process also has two parts most of the county doesn't: Pasadena Building & Safety issues the permit and inspects the work, and Pasadena Water & Power (PWP) gets involved whenever the electric service itself changes.

Which Electrical Work Needs a Permit in Pasadena?

Pasadena's list of electrical work that's exempt from a permit is very short. Per the city's "Work Exempt from Building, Electrical, Mechanical & Plumbing Permit" handout, an electrical permit is not required only for:

• Wiring, devices and equipment operating at less than 25 volts and not capable of supplying more than 50 watts
• Equipment used for radio and television transmission (its power supply, towers and antennas still need permits)
• Temporary systems installed only to test or service electrical equipment

Everything else on a home's 120/240-volt system falls outside those exemptions. That includes like-for-like swaps. Replacing a breaker with the same size breaker, or swapping an outlet, switch or other device, still needs an electrical permit in Pasadena. The city's electrical permit application lists breakers as their own work class, alongside main panels, service and sub panels, fixtures, water heaters, ranges, washer/dryer circuits, generators, motors, transformers and temporary services. Plan on a permit for:

• Replacing a breaker or device, even with an identical one
• Replacing or upgrading a main service panel, or going from 100 to 200 amps
• Adding a subpanel for a garage, addition or ADU
• New 240-volt circuits for a Level 2 EV charger, electric water heater, range or dryer
• Rewiring all or part of a house, including knob-and-tube replacement
• Generators and transfer equipment

Pasadena enforces the 2025 California Electrical Code, effective January 1, 2026, with local amendments in Title 14 of the Municipal Code. Work inspected in 2026 is judged against that edition.

How Pasadena's Online Permits and Inspections Work

Most trade permitting in Pasadena now runs through the Permit Center's online portals:

• Express Permit Portal. Electrical, mechanical and plumbing ("sub-trade") permits can be issued online "within minutes" when no plan review is needed.
• Plan submittal. Larger projects such as additions, ADUs and new construction are submitted electronically. The city runs concurrent plan review, so all reviewers comment at once in one consolidated report.
• Online inspections. You book inspections online and get a call, text or email confirming your inspection window.
• Online fees and tracking. Fees are paid by card or e-check, and the application's status can be tracked online.

Pasadena requires a city business license for every contractor, or contractor's agent, who pulls a permit. 911 Construction & Electric holds a current City of Pasadena business license. A routine residential job then runs in this order: site visit and load calculation, the permit, utility coordination if the service changes, installation, inspection, and final sign-off. The walk-in Permit Center is at 175 N. Garfield Ave. (626-744-4200).

Panel and Service Upgrades: Where PWP Comes In

Pasadena is served by its own municipal utility, Pasadena Water & Power, not Southern California Edison. For a panel upgrade that changes the service, PWP's Electric Service Planning group is part of the permit path. Per PWP's "Requirements for New or Upgraded Electric Services" page:

1. Request a meter spot from PWP Electric Service Planning (626-744-4495 or ESP@cityofpasadena.net) and complete the panel upgrade questionnaire a utility planner emails you.
2. Receive an approved meter spot and a quote for any utility-side work.
3. Get the electrical permit from Building & Safety.
4. Pay PWP Electric Service Planning. PWP lists check payment only.
5. Schedule PWP to unlock the meter. Only PWP may unlock a meter, and PWP lists a tampering fee starting at $300 if anyone else does.
6. Do the electrical work, then have PWP inspect the new panel and conduit.
7. Building & Safety performs the final electrical inspection.
8. PWP energizes the service within 14 business days for small residential jobs (21 for large and commercial jobs) once all clearances are in.

Services over 200 amps single-phase (or over 100 amps three-phase) also require provisions for a city-owned transformer on private property, and all PWP charges must be paid before the service is energized. That's why a one-day panel swap can still take a few weeks from first call to permanent power.

Pasadena vs. Neighboring Cities

Cross the city line and both the utility and the permit office change. Altadena is unincorporated LA County, so permits go through LA County Public Works, Building & Safety and power comes from SCE. See our electrician in Altadena page for that path. South Pasadena, San Marino, Arcadia and Sierra Madre are also SCE territory, with permits from each city's own building division. For everything we do inside city limits, see our electrician in Pasadena page.

EV Charger Permits in Pasadena

A Level 2 charger needs a permit in Pasadena. The city's Building Department requires an electrical permit for EV charging station installations, and California law (AB 1236 and AB 970) requires every city to offer a streamlined, checklist-based permit process for EV chargers, limited to health and safety review.

What drives the cost and timeline is capacity. PWP's guidance is to confirm your home's available electric capacity first. If charging pushes past it, you'll need a service panel upgrade and the PWP steps above. See EV charger installation for what the install involves. Permits matter for rebates too: PWP's charger rebate is currently listed at $600 for a Wi-Fi/internet-connected Level 2 charger or $200 for a standard one (charger cost only), and its panel rebate requires a final, signed City of Pasadena electrical permit. Our Pasadena panel upgrade rebate guide covers the documents and the 180-day filing window.

Rewiring an Older Pasadena Home

Pasadena's Craftsman bungalows and 1920s Spanish homes often still have original knob-and-tube or ungrounded two-wire circuits. Rewiring is permitted work, inspected in stages, and it often goes together with a panel upgrade. Planning both under one permit, with PWP involved early if the service is changing, avoids paying for two rounds of scheduling. Our electrical repair and rewiring team can document what's behind the walls first. If your home is in a historic district and the work moves the meter, panel or conduit on the exterior, ask early whether design review applies.

Who Pulls the Electrical Permit?

On a professional job, the electrical permit is pulled by the licensed C-10 electrical contractor doing the work. That's how 911 Construction & Electric handles every job: we pull the permit under our own C-10 license and Pasadena business license, schedule the inspections, and close the permit out. Pasadena does have a separate path for property owners who do the work themselves, but the city's Permit Center says it "highly recommends" hiring a licensed contractor. Once you hire one, the permit should be in the contractor's name, not yours. Pasadena permits are valid for 180 days from issuance, and regular inspections keep them active.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to replace a breaker in Pasadena?

Yes. Even a like-for-like breaker replacement needs an electrical permit in Pasadena, and so does swapping an outlet, switch or other device. Breakers are listed as their own work class on the city's electrical permit application. A licensed electrician pulls the permit and arranges the inspection.

Do I need a permit to replace an electrical panel in Pasadena?

Yes. If the service changes, you'll also go through PWP Electric Service Planning for the meter spot, meter unlock, PWP inspection and re-energizing.

Does a Level 2 EV charger need a permit in Pasadena?

Yes. Pasadena requires an electrical permit for EV charging station installs. If the charger exceeds your home's available capacity, a panel or service upgrade through PWP comes first.

How long does PWP take to turn power back on after a panel upgrade?

Once all clearances are in, PWP lists up to 14 business days for small residential jobs and 21 business days for large and commercial jobs.

What electrical work doesn't need a permit in Pasadena?

Only narrow categories: low-voltage, low-energy equipment under 25 volts and 50 watts, radio/TV transmission equipment (but not its power supply), and temporary test or service setups.

Get Your Pasadena Electrical Work Permitted

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 pull every permit under our C-10 license and current City of Pasadena business license, coordinate PWP Electric Service Planning, and schedule the inspections, so your job closes with a signed-off permit you can use for rebates and resale. Request a free estimate, call 747-255-8595 or visit https://911electrics.com. 24/7 emergency service available.