Electrical panel upgrade in Los Angeles: cost, permits and utility steps

Updated Oct 23, 2026 · Sources checked Oct 23, 2026

An electrical panel upgrade replaces your main breaker panel, often going from 100 to 200 amps, so your home can safely carry new loads like an EV charger, heat pump or ADU. In LA County, the work needs an electrical permit from your city or the county, and the utility (LADWP, SCE or a city utility) has to be involved before power is restored. National cost guides put a 100-to-200-amp upgrade at about $1,300–$3,000 [1]. Before you pay for one, ask the electrician for an NEC load calculation, because many EV chargers fit without one.

EV Installer Hub is an independent directory. We are not a contractor and don't perform electrical work. Costs and program details come from the linked sources, last checked Oct 23, 2026. Confirm current terms with your utility and building department.

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What an electrical panel upgrade is

Your main panel (the breaker box) splits incoming power into circuits. Its rating, such as 100 or 200 amps, is the most it is built to carry. A panel upgrade swaps that box for a larger one. A service upgrade goes further: it also replaces the parts that bring power in, such as the meter socket, the service entrance wires and sometimes the overhead or underground connection, so the whole path from the utility can carry the higher rating. Angi notes that a new 200-amp panel behind a meter and wires still rated for 100 or 150 amps won't give you the full benefit, so those parts usually need upgrading too [2]. Because the meter and the utility connection are involved, a service upgrade always means working with your utility.

How much does an electrical panel upgrade cost in Los Angeles?

We did not find a published, LA-specific cost survey from an official source. The ranges below are national figures from two dated consumer cost guides. Treat them as a starting point and compare them against itemized local quotes.

Item	Published range	Source
Panel upgrade, most projects	$800–$4,000	This Old House, updated Mar 31, 2026 [1]
Upgrade from 100 to 200 amps	$1,300–$3,000	This Old House [1]
200-amp panel plus installation	$1,300–$2,000	Angi, updated Aug 3, 2026 [2]
Meter box replacement	$1,800–$3,500 installed [1]; $500–$2,100 [2]	This Old House; Angi
Moving the panel	$800–$3,000	This Old House [1]
Permit	typically $50–$300, by location	This Old House; Angi [1][2]

What drives the price

Amperage. Larger panels cost more in parts and labor [2].
Panel only, or full service. Replacing the meter socket and service wires adds cost and utility coordination [1][2].
Relocation and access. Moving the panel, tight spaces and rewiring push quotes up [1].
Wall repair. Drywall, stucco or paint patching after the work may be extra [1].
Permit fees. Set by your city or the county. Ask whether the quote includes them.

Cost to upgrade from 100 to 200 amps

This Old House puts a 100-to-200-amp upgrade at $1,300–$3,000 [1], and Angi puts a 200-amp panel with installation at $1,300–$2,000 [2]. Both are national. Ask each electrician to separate panel, service equipment, utility-side work, permit and patching so you can compare like for like.

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Do you need a 200-amp panel? The NEC load calculation

California's electrical code is the 2025 California Electrical Code (Title 24, Part 3), which is based on the 2023 National Electrical Code and took effect January 1, 2026 [9]. Under state law, the code in effect when the permit application is filed is the one applied, so ask your electrician or LADBS which edition covers your job [10].

For an existing home, the NEC gives electricians two optional ways to check whether new loads fit:

NEC 220.83 (calculated): a bottom-up sum of the home's loads. Without new heating or cooling, it counts the first 8,000 watts at 100% and the rest at 40% [11].
NEC 220.87 (measured): uses your home's actual maximum demand from 12 months of data, usually from the utility. If a year isn't available, a recording meter can log the highest 15-minute average over at least 30 days; that shortcut isn't allowed with solar, wind or peak load shaving. The maximum demand is taken at 125%, the new load is added, and the total can't exceed the service rating [12].

If the numbers fit your current service, you may not need an upgrade at all. Ask for the calculation in writing.

Panel upgrade for an EV charger: when you don't need one

An EV charger doesn't automatically mean a new panel. If the load calculation is tight, a charger set to a lower, labeled amperage or a load management system can sometimes keep you within your existing service. Our guide to panel upgrade vs load management walks through those options and the code sections behind them. If you're also adding a heat pump, induction range or ADU, an upgrade is more likely to make sense.

Permits: LADBS and other LA County cities

LADBS electrical permit and inspection (City of Los Angeles)

LADBS says electrical permits are required for any electrical work [3]. Many residential jobs qualify for an express permit with no plan check: LADBS lists electrical work under 600 volts and up to 400 amps total load in existing residential buildings, and EV charging installations with up to 400 amps of service including any needed service upgrade [4]. Express permits can be issued online through PermitLA or by appointment at an LADBS counter [4]. Installations over 400 amps need electrical plan check [3]. Fees are set by LADBS; ask your electrician to list the permit cost in the quote. After the work, an LADBS inspector checks it before the utility restores service.

Unincorporated LA County and other cities

Outside the City of Los Angeles, the permit comes from a different office. Unincorporated areas use LA County Public Works Building and Safety. Many cities, such as Long Beach, Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank, run their own building departments. Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank also have their own city electric utilities (for example, Pasadena Water and Power and Burbank Water and Power), so the LADWP and SCE steps below don't apply there. Check with your city.

Utility steps: LADWP vs SCE

LADWP: service upgrade and rebates

LADWP's Electric Service Requirements say it energizes a service only after the installation has been inspected and cleared by both LADWP and the permitting agency. The customer obtains the electrical permit, the permitting agency's final release is sent to LADWP (which can take several days), and LADWP inspects the facilities it specifies before scheduling the work [5]. You can track a service upgrade by address in LADWP's Power System Work Request Information System [5].

We did not find a standalone LADWP panel-upgrade rebate on ladwp.com as of Oct 23, 2026. LADWP's Residential EV Charger Rebate pays up to $1,000 toward buying and installing a qualifying Level 2 charger, and its eligible installation costs include panels, circuit breakers and meter sockets when a licensed electrician does the work, plus permit costs. Lifeline and EZ-SAVE customers can get $500 more, and a dedicated EV meter adds $250. You apply after the charger is installed, within 12 months of buying it [6].

SCE: Charge Ready Home

SCE's Charge Ready Home program offers up to $4,200 toward replacing a main panel rated under 200 amps with one rated 200 amps or more and adding a 240-volt EV outlet, or up to $1,000 for the outlet alone if your panel is already 200 amps or more [7]. It's not open to everyone: you must be an SCE residential customer and either be income-qualified (under 80% of area median income, or enrolled in a listed assistance program) or live in a designated disadvantaged community [8]. A licensed contractor must do the work, permits and inspection records are required, and a Level 2 charger must be installed within 180 days of receiving the rebate [8]. You can apply before, during, or up to six months after the work [8]. For other SCE areas, see our Orange County and Inland Empire installer lists for other SCE areas.

Timeline: from quote to re-energized

Electrician visits, does the load calculation and gives an itemized quote.
Electrician applies for the permit (LADBS, the county or your city).
If the service changes, the electrician or you open a service request with the utility.
Power is shut off, and the panel and service equipment are replaced.
The building department inspects and sends its release to the utility.
The utility inspects its part, then reconnects or energizes the new service [5].

We don't publish durations because we found no official source for typical LA timelines. Ask each electrician for their estimate and who schedules the utility work.

How to choose an electrician

Check the license on the CSLB license lookup. Look for an active C-10 (electrical) license. SCE's program also accepts a General B contractor [8].
Confirm the contractor pulls the permit and books the inspection.
Ask for the load calculation in writing and which NEC method was used.
Get every quote itemized: panel, service equipment, utility coordination, permit, patching.
If you're on SCE, ask whether they've done Charge Ready Home jobs. Use our EV charger installation checklist for the rest.

Tax credit note

The federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) used to cover panelboards of 200 amps or more needed for qualifying efficient equipment, up to $600. The IRS says it can be claimed only for improvements made through December 31, 2025, so it doesn't apply to panels placed in service in 2026 [13].

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Tell us about your project and we'll email you a free shortlist of CSLB license-checked installers for your area. You can also browse our LA EV charger installers yourself.

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FAQ

How much does it cost to upgrade an electrical panel in Los Angeles?

We found no official LA-specific survey. National cost guides put most panel upgrades at $800–$4,000, and a 100-to-200-amp upgrade at about $1,300–$3,000 (This Old House) or $1,300–$2,000 for a 200-amp panel installed (Angi). Meter, service wire, relocation and wall repair add to that, so compare itemized local quotes.

Do I need a permit to upgrade my electrical panel in Los Angeles?

Yes. LADBS says electrical permits are required for any electrical work in the City of Los Angeles. Many residential jobs up to 400 amps qualify for an express permit online through PermitLA. Unincorporated areas use LA County Public Works, and cities like Long Beach, Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank have their own building departments.

Can I get a free or discounted panel upgrade through SCE Charge Ready Home or LADWP?

SCE's Charge Ready Home offers up to $4,200 toward replacing a panel under 200 amps and adding an EV outlet, but only for income-qualified customers or those in designated disadvantaged communities. We found no standalone LADWP panel rebate; LADWP's EV charger rebate of up to $1,000 can count panel work done for a qualifying charger install.

Do I need a panel upgrade to install an EV charger?

Not always. It depends on a load calculation of your home's existing demand plus the charger. If it's tight, a lower charger setting or load management may avoid an upgrade. Our panel upgrade vs load management guide explains the options, and your electrician and inspector make the final call.

How long does a panel upgrade take in LA?

We found no official source for typical LA timelines, so we don't publish one. The steps are a quote and load calculation, the permit, any utility service request, the work itself, the building inspection, and the utility's release and reconnection. Ask each electrician for their estimate and who schedules the utility.

Is a 100-amp panel enough for an EV charger?

Sometimes. The answer comes from an NEC load calculation, not the panel's size alone. Under NEC 220.87, an electrician can use 12 months of your actual peak demand, add 25%, then add the charger; if the total fits within the service rating, no upgrade is needed. A lower charger setting can also help.

Who contacts LADWP or SCE, me or the electrician?

Usually your electrician coordinates, but ask who will. LADWP's service requirements say the customer obtains the electrical permit, and LADWP energizes the service only after both LADWP and the permitting agency have inspected and cleared it. For SCE's Charge Ready Home, you apply and your contractor completes the rebate steps.

What's the difference between a panel upgrade and a service upgrade?

A panel upgrade replaces the breaker box with a higher-rated one. A service upgrade also replaces the meter socket, service entrance wires and sometimes the utility connection, so the whole path can carry the new rating. Angi notes a new 200-amp panel behind 100-amp service parts won't give the full benefit.

Written by: EV Installer Hub editorial team. Not reviewed by a licensed electrician. Last updated: Oct 23, 2026.