Electrical Permit in Orange County, California

Frequently asked questions

Do you need an electrical permit in Orange County?

Orange County adopted the 2025 California Electrical Code by Ordinance No. 25-021 on November 4, 2025 and added Section 90-16, which bars any electrical installation, alteration or addition in the unincorporated area without a permit from the Building Official, subject to 17 listed exempt classes of work. The exemptions cover minor repair work such as replacing lamps and plugging in portable equipment, like-for-like repair or replacement of fixed motors, transformers, appliances, switches, overcurrent devices and sign electrodes, temporary decorative lighting, taping joints, removing wiring, and equipment operating at less than 25 volts and not capable of supplying more than 50 watts. This applies to unincorporated Orange County only; the county's 34 incorporated cities run their own building departments. Always confirm with the OC Public Works, OC Development Services (Building & Safety) before starting.

How much does an electrical permit cost in Orange County?

Electrical Permit Application Flat Fee, 1 to 75 fixtures: $340 for FY 2024-25, $356 for FY 2025-26, $362 for FY 2026-27; 76 or more fixtures: $531, $558 and $569 across the same three fiscal years. The flat fee covers receptacles, switches, lighting outlets and fixtures, residential and non-residential appliances, service panels and panel upgrades up to 400 amps. Stand Alone Electrical permit for individual appliances: $174, $182 and $185. Electric Vehicle Charging Station, up to 2 stations: $298, $314 and $320. Energy Storage System (ESS): $330, $346 and $353. Electrical Plan Check is 20% of the building permit fee for residential over 3,000 square feet or all non-residential projects as determined by the Building Official. From the OC Development Services Fee Schedule 2024-2027, fees effective July 21, 2024. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.

Where do you apply for an electrical permit in Orange County?

You can apply through the Orange County permit portal or contact the OC Public Works, OC Development Services (Building & Safety) directly. The links are listed on this page.

Can a homeowner pull an electrical permit themselves in Orange County?

Under California law (Business & Professions Code 7044(a)-(b); Business & Professions Code 7031.5): California exempts an owner from contractor licensing under section 7044 when they personally perform all the work on their own property, or any work they do not perform themselves is done by their own employees paid only wages, and none of the improvements are intended or offered for sale. It also exempts an owner who directly contracts with licensed contractors for each trade, as long as no more than four of the single-family residential structures involved are intended or offered for sale in a calendar year; this route does not apply if the owner instead contracts with a general contractor for the construction. A homeowner may also improve their own principal residence without a license, as long as the work is done before any sale, they have actually resided there for the 12 months before completion, and they have not used this exemption on more than two structures more than once in any three-year period. Selling a self-built structure within one year of completion creates a rebuttable presumption that it was built for sale, which defeats the exemption, and selling five or more structures within a year makes that presumption conclusive. Separately, every city or county that requires a permit must also require the applicant to file a signed statement giving their contractor license number or the basis of their claimed exemption; a false or missing statement carries a civil penalty of up to $500. Confirm how Orange County applies this before you apply.