The rule
From SDCI's Tip 132, updated 25 July 2022 and read 23 October 2026:
- "Electrical permits are required for all electric vehicle charger installations."
- "In general, the person installing the electric vehicle charger needs to obtain the required permits. A homeowner of a single family residence may perform their own installation and obtain the permit." SDCI still recommends "a state licensed and bonded electrical contractor".
- "Electrical permits for a Level II Charger (40 amp) single-family residence require no plan review and may be obtained online."
- Level II and III chargers "may require plan review if being fed by services or feeders rated 400 amps or more".
- Chargers "cannot be located in the public right-of-way", and all charging equipment must be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.
In a condo or apartment the building owner or association controls the electrical room and garage, so Tip 132 says to get their permission before committing.
What it costs
Car chargers have their own line in Table D-15 of SDCI's 2026 Fee Subtitle (read 23 October 2026):
| Charger | 2026 fee |
|---|---|
| Level 1 (120 V), each | $26.28 |
| Level 2, 15 to 25 A | $26.28 |
| Level 2, 30 to 50 A (most home chargers) | $52.56 |
| Level 2, 60 to 225 A | $108.04 |
| Level 2, 250 A or more | plan review |
| Level 3 (DC), 15 to 50 A | $73.00 |
| Administrative fee, every permit | $55.48 |
| Minimum, standard online permit | $105.12 |
| New or altered service, 150 to 200 A, if needed | $292.00 |
A charger on a 40- or 50-amp circuit falls in the 30-to-50-amp line: $52.56 plus the $55.48 administrative fee is $108.04, just over the $105.12 minimum. On a 60-amp circuit it is $108.04 plus $55.48, or $163.52. Both are before the 5% technology fee. A panel or service upgrade adds its own line.
When Seattle City Light comes in
Tip 132: "You will need to contact Seattle City Light (SCL) if your electrician determines that your electric service is not adequate. You must contact SCL before starting your project", and complete an electrical service application package "prior to commencing any work". SCL's numbers in the Tip: (206) 615-0600 north of Denny Way, (206) 386-4200 south. The service upgrade then needs its own SDCI electrical permit and inspection.
How to apply and get it inspected
Apply in the Seattle Services Portal under Permit – Trade, Construction, and Land Use. SDCI's electrical permit page says the installer schedules inspections online or on (206) 684-8900, and most electrical permits need cover, service and final inspections. Check the electrician's license on L&I Verify.
What 3,347 Seattle EV charger permits show
| Measure | Seattle EV chargers |
|---|---|
| Permits on homes, October 2023 to September 2026 | 3,347 |
| Firms | 385 |
| Firms with exactly one charger permit | 166 (43.1%) |
| Usual filed value | $1,701 |
| Middle half of firms' usual value | $1,200 to $2,800 |
| Completed (permits a year or more old) | 94.0% |
| Usual days from issue to completion | 20 |
| Firms matched to an active L&I license | 87.3% |
A Seattle charger install is usually a small, quick job: the usual filed value is $1,701, and the usual permit closes in 20 days, against 42 for Seattle electrical permits as a whole. A quote far above $2,800 usually means a panel or service upgrade or a long run to the garage; ask for those as separate lines.
See every Seattle EV charger installer by permits completed →
Related
All other wiring: Seattle electrical permit. Other cities' rules: do I need a permit for an EV charger. Prices and value: EV charger installation cost and is a Level 2 EV charger worth it?. Choosing the electrician: hiring an electrician in Seattle. Seattle counts by month: Seattle permit statistics.
What this does not tell you
Tip 132 dates from 2022; the 2026 Fee Subtitle is current. A charger installed under a bigger electrical permit, such as a panel upgrade, may sit in our electrical count rather than the EV one. License status is our name match to L&I.
How we know this
The permit rule, homeowner rule and City Light steps are quoted from SDCI Tip 132 (updated 25 July 2022) and SDCI's Electrical Permit page, and fees from Table D-15 of SDCI's 2026 Fee Subtitle, all read 23 October 2026. Counts are SDCI electrical permits on Seattle homes that we classify as EV chargers, October 2023 to September 2026; "completed" uses permits a year or more old. License status is our name match to Washington L&I.
Numbers come from City of Seattle (SDCI) building, trade and electrical permits on single-family and duplex homes (the city's open-data exports), data through October 17, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- How much is an EV charger permit in Seattle?
SDCI's 2026 Fee Subtitle lists a Level 2 charger at $26.28 for 15 to 25 amps, $52.56 for 30 to 50 amps and $108.04 for 60 to 225 amps, plus a $55.48 administrative fee, a $105.12 minimum for a standard online permit and a 5% technology fee. A new service or circuit is charged separately.
- Can I install my own EV charger in Seattle?
Yes, in a single-family home you own. SDCI's Tip 132 says 'A homeowner of a single family residence may perform their own installation and obtain the permit', though it recommends a state-licensed and bonded electrical contractor.
- Does a Level 2 charger need plan review in Seattle?
Not for a house. Tip 132 says a Level II (40 amp) charger at a single-family residence needs no plan review and the permit can be obtained online; plan review applies when chargers are fed by services or feeders of 400 amps or more.
- How long does an EV charger permit take in Seattle?
An online permit without plan review can be printed the same day. In our file the usual Seattle EV charger permit was completed 20 days after issue, against 42 for Seattle electrical permits overall.
- Do I need to call Seattle City Light for an EV charger?
Only if your service is not big enough. Tip 132 says to contact Seattle City Light before starting if your electrician finds the service inadequate, and to submit an electrical service application before any work.
Build your own list
Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.
Related guides
- Do I need a permit to install an EV charger? Yes for Level 2: the rule in 9 cities
- How to get an owner-builder permit: who qualifies, what you sign, and the resale rule
- Do I need a permit for an EV charger in Bellevue, WA? Yes: same-day electrical permits, who can wire it, and how fast they close
- EV charger installation cost in 2026: what 13 cities' permits show
- Do I need a low-voltage permit in Seattle? Not usually, unless it's a security alarm
For one city
- Tip 132: Installation of Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger for Single-Family and Multifamily Homes (updated 25 July 2022) — SDCI (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Electrical Permit — Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (accessed 2026-10-23)
- 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC 22.900), Table D-15 Electrical Permit Fees — SDCI (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Seattle Services Portal — City of Seattle (2026-10-23)
- Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business — Washington L&I (2026-10-22)