Pasadena Tenant Improvement Electrical: Permits & Timeline

Signing a lease in Pasadena is the easy part. The electrical work for a tenant improvement (TI) is where schedules slip: new circuits for equipment, a lighting layout that has to pass Title 24, sometimes a bigger service from Pasadena Water & Power (PWP). Pasadena runs its own Building & Safety Division and its own electric utility, so a TI here follows a different path than one in Los Angeles or an SCE city. Here's how the electrical side of a Pasadena office, retail or restaurant buildout moves from plans to power in 2026, and what you can do early to keep it moving. Planning a buildout? Request a free estimate or call 747-255-8595.

Who Approves Electrical Work on a Pasadena TI

Two City departments touch the electrical side of almost every buildout:

• Pasadena Building & Safety reviews the plans, issues the permits and does the final electrical inspection. The Permit Center is at 175 N. Garfield Ave, (626) 744-4200, open Monday–Thursday and alternate Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• PWP Electric Service Planning gets involved when the service itself changes: a new meter, a larger service, or a new meter location. You can reach them at (626) 744-4495 or ESP@cityofpasadena.net.

The City's TI checklist also notes that approvals may be needed from Zoning, Fire, Design & Historic Preservation, Public Works, Water, Power and, for food uses, the Pasadena Health Department. Pasadena now runs concurrent plan review, so every required reviewer looks at the submittal at the same time and the corrections come back in one consolidated report.

The Electrical Permit Is Separate From the TI Permit

This is the step that surprises a lot of tenants. The building permit for the TI covers the walls, ceilings, exits and accessibility work. It does not cover the wiring. The City's TI submittal requirements say it directly: a separate permit is required for any electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire sprinkler work.

That's why the electrical contractor needs to be part of the plan from the start, not a call you make after the framing is up. Every contractor who pulls a permit in Pasadena also needs a current City business license. We pull the electrical permit under our C-10 license and hold a current Pasadena business license, so the permit isn't held up waiting on paperwork. If you're not sure where your job falls, our Pasadena electrical permits guide covers the basics.

What the Plans Need to Show

Pasadena's TI checklist lists the minimum plan set. For the electrical scope, the items that matter most are:

• Electrical plans showing the proposed work. The City's checklist calls for plans prepared by a registered electrical engineer when they apply, so on larger or more complex buildouts expect an engineer's stamp.
• Title 24 energy compliance for lighting (and mechanical) when it applies
• A full floor plan of the tenant space that separates existing areas from new work, plus occupancy, square footage and occupant load

Plans go in as PDFs through the City's online portal. Each sheet has to be flattened, unlocked, and sealed and signed by the designer of record. The City is blunt about it: "We do not accept incomplete submittals." Some minor projects can be reviewed over the counter, but anything involving a new service, new panels or a full lighting redesign should be planned for full plan review. A load calculation done before the drawings are final avoids most of the surprises later.

Title 24 Lighting: The Step That Adds Paperwork

Commercial lighting in California falls under the 2025 Energy Code, and lighting alterations come with their own forms. The lighting compliance certificate (NRCC) is submitted with the permit application, and it lists which lighting-control tests the job needs.

After installation, a certified lighting controls acceptance test technician has to test the occupancy sensors, time switches, daylighting controls and other controls, then sign the acceptance forms before the final inspection. The Energy Commission's manual says acceptance testing isn't required when new lighting controls serve 20 or fewer luminaires on the whole alteration. Larger alterations, including those with 4,000 watts or more of general lighting, carry more control requirements. Plan this into the schedule early. It's a common reason a finished space can't get its final. For fixtures, signs and exits, see our guides to commercial lighting installation and emergency lighting and exit signs.

When the Buildout Needs More Power From PWP

Restaurants, salons, medical offices and light-industrial tenants often need more capacity than the last tenant used. If the service has to change, the PWP steps are:

1. Request a meter spot from Electric Service Planning and complete their questionnaire
2. Get PWP's approved meter spot and its quote for the service work
3. Pull the City electrical permit
4. Pay PWP (check only) at 1055 E. Colorado Blvd, Suite 350
5. Have PWP unlock the meter. Only PWP can do this, and a tampering fee starts at $300.
6. Complete the work, then pass PWP's inspection and the City's final electrical inspection

Once all clearances are in, PWP's posted target is to energize all commercial jobs within 21 business days. One rule matters a lot for commercial space: any new or upgraded service over 200 amps single-phase or over 100 amps three-phase needs provisions for a City-owned transformer on the property. That can change the electrical room layout, so find out early. If your equipment needs three-phase power, raise it at the first site walk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Pasadena tenant improvement need a separate electrical permit?

Yes. The City's TI submittal requirements state that a separate permit is required for any electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire sprinkler work, apart from the building permit for the TI itself.

Who serves power to commercial buildings in Pasadena?

Pasadena Water & Power, not SCE. Any meter or service change goes through PWP Electric Service Planning at (626) 744-4495.

How long does PWP take to energize a commercial service?

Once every inspection and clearance is complete, PWP's posted target is within 21 business days for all commercial jobs. Plan review and inspection time come before that.

Do Title 24 lighting rules apply to a small TI?

Usually. Lighting alterations need Energy Code compliance forms. Acceptance testing by a certified technician isn't required when new controls serve 20 or fewer luminaires on the whole project.

Can electrical plans be submitted on paper in Pasadena?

The City accepts TI submittals through its online portal as flattened, unlocked PDFs, with every sheet sealed and signed by the designer of record. Incomplete submittals aren't accepted.

Planning a Pasadena Buildout? Talk to a Licensed C-10 First

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 electrical side of commercial tenant improvements for offices, retail and restaurants across Pasadena: load calculations, the electrical permit, PWP service coordination, lighting and Title 24 controls, and final inspection. Request a free estimate, call 747-255-8595 or visit https://911electrics.com. 24/7 emergency service available.