This covers the City of Philadelphia only; the suburbs issue their own permits.
The rule
L&I's Get an electrical permit page (read 24 October 2026) covers electrical and communication systems: installation, alteration, renewal, replacement and repair. It lists work that may not need a permit under Title 4-A-301.2.3 of the Philadelphia Code: routine maintenance such as replacing lamps, fuses or receptacles, connecting approved portable equipment, utility-owned equipment, and wiring removed during demolition. A new service may also need a separate PECO service and meter application.
| Question | Philadelphia answer |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | Any property owner or authorized agent (licensed electrical contractor, PA design professional, attorney, licensed expediter) |
| Who does the work | A licensed electrical contractor, with active license, current City taxes and insurance on file with L&I |
| Who inspects | A licensed electrical inspection agency hired by the owner or agent |
| Plans needed? | Not for EZ work: small one- and two-family jobs under 200 amps, low-voltage telecom wiring, some EV chargers |
| Review | Without plans: while you wait in person, usually 5 business days online; with plans: 20 business days |
Third-party inspection
Philadelphia is unusual: L&I does not send its own electrical inspector. "The owner or the owner's agent must hire a licensed electrical inspection agency to perform all inspections," and the agency completes an electrical permit inspection certification. Ask your electrician which agency they use and whether its fee is in the quote.
What it costs
| Fee item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Filing fee (nonrefundable, credited to the permit fee) | $100 |
| Permit fee | $25 per $1,000 or fraction of estimated electrical cost |
| Minimum / maximum | $63 / $18,975 |
| Rough-in permit (optional) | $150 |
| City and State surcharges | $3 and $4.50 per permit |
The same rates are in the City's fee summary revised July 2026. At $25 per $1,000, a $4,000 panel upgrade is a $100 permit fee, which the $100 filing fee already covers; the inspection agency bills separately.
How to apply
- The electrician applies in eCLIPSE after linking their license to the account, or by appointment at the Permit and License Center, 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
- Most home work goes as an EZ permit with no plans.
- Pay the balance when L&I approves.
- The inspection agency inspects and certifies the work.
What 9,822 Philadelphia electrical permits show
From Philadelphia electrical permits, residential permits issued October 2024 to September 2026:
| Measure | Philadelphia electrical |
|---|---|
| Issued | 9,822 (17% of all residential permits) |
| Last 12 months / 12 months before | 5,039 / 4,783 (+5%) |
| Filed as Addition and/or Alteration / New Construction | 8,345 / 1,477 |
| Busiest / quietest month (index) | October (117) / November (83) |
| Completed, permits issued Oct 2024 to Sep 2025 | 84.9% (3.3% expired) |
| Usual days, issue to completed | 80 (middle half 22 to 175) |
| ZIPs with the most | 19146 (602), 19143 (581), 19134 (473) |
Electrical permits rarely lapse in Philadelphia: only 3.3% expired, against 12.4% for plumbing and 21.0% for HVAC. Filing is fairly even through the year, so there is no slow season worth waiting for. Year and month counts for every kind of work are on Philadelphia permit statistics; the rows are on browse Philadelphia permits.
Before you hire
Check what is already permitted at the address with the Philadelphia building permit search guide, and the firm's state registration with how to check a contractor's license in Pennsylvania. Rules elsewhere: electrical work and a panel upgrade. Costs: electrical work cost.
What this does not tell you
The open file has no job value, so we show no costs, and contractor names are not matched to licence records, so there are no firm lists. A completed date is the day L&I marked the permit completed after the agency's certification. Residential permits only.
How we know this
The rule, exemptions, who may apply and perform the work, third-party inspection, fees and review times are from L&I's Get an electrical permit page, read 24 October 2026; rates were checked against the City's fee summary revised July 2026. Our counts are L&I's Building and Zoning Permits file on OpenDataPhilly, read 19 October 2026: residential electrical permits issued October 2024 to September 2026.
Numbers come from public permit records in 57 cities, data through October 19, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- Can I do my own electrical work in Philadelphia?
No. A property owner may apply for the permit, but L&I says a licensed electrical contractor must perform all electrical work. EZ permits for owner-occupants cover building work, not electrical.
- Do I need a permit to replace an outlet or light fixture in Philadelphia?
Not for routine maintenance. L&I's electrical permit page lists replacing lamps, fuses and receptacles as maintenance that may not need a permit, citing Title 4-A-301.2.3 of the Philadelphia Code. New circuits, a panel or service change, or rewiring need one.
- How much is an electrical permit in Philadelphia?
$25 for each $1,000 (or fraction) of estimated electrical construction cost, with a $63 minimum and an $18,975 maximum, plus a $100 filing fee that is credited to the permit fee and $7.50 in City and State surcharges.
- Who inspects electrical work in Philadelphia?
A private, licensed electrical inspection agency. L&I says the owner or the owner's agent must hire one to perform all inspections, and the agency completes an electrical permit inspection certification.
- How long does an electrical permit take in Philadelphia?
Online applications without plans are usually reviewed within 5 business days; with plans, within 20. The usual residential electrical permit issued October 2024 to September 2025 was marked completed 80 days after issue.
Build your own list
Pick your city and the kind of work. Every firm with a permit on record, sorted by what you value.
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- Get an electrical permit — City of Philadelphia (2026-10-24)
- Get permits without plans (EZ permits) — City of Philadelphia (2026-10-24)
- Summary of construction permit fees (PG 012), rev. July 2026 — City of Philadelphia (2026-10-24)
- Licenses and Inspections Building and Zoning Permits — OpenDataPhilly (2026-10-19)