What it costs, what's permitted, and what to ask before you hire.
Last verified: 2026-05-31 · Well-sourced
Panel / electrical
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Permit likelihood
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Permit snapshot
electrical permit
As of 2026-05-31, residential electrical service panel upgrades in the City of San Diego require an electrical permit from the Development Services Department (DSD), typically filed by a C-10 licensed electrical contractor authorized to perform the work. A full service upgrade (replacing the main panel, increasing service ampacity, or relocating the service mast) routes through a Plan-required Electrical Permit — the electrician submits a one-line electrical diagram and panel schedule through the DSD portal, and a parallel SDG&E service upgrade application is typically filed with SDG&E for any service-side modifications. Like-for-like meter resets and minor circuit additions may qualify for a Simple Electrical Permit issued instantly upon payment, but full panel replacements typically do not qualify for the Simple pathway. Verify current Plan-required scope, ampacity thresholds, and SDG&E coordination steps with DSD and SDG&E before scheduling the upgrade.