What's Required in Tucson
- Get a trade permit for any service panel replacement, upgrade or modification up to 400 amps.
- Count each added item, such as a new circuit, at $50 on top of the first $150 item.
- No permit is needed for a same-type, same-rating breaker or fuse replacement in the same location.
- Follow every condition of PDSD Policy 2016-01 to replace a main breaker without a city inspection.
- Get a reconnect permit if the electric service has been off for six consecutive months.
- Do the work to the 2023 National Electrical Code as amended by Tucson for applications filed on or after July 1, 2026.
- File the Owner/Builder Affidavit to do your own work on a home you occupy; rental properties need a licensed contractor.
Do you need a permit to replace an electrical panel in Tucson?
Yes. Planning and Development Services (PDSD) puts electrical reconnections, service increases, and panel replacement or repair on its list of residential work the property owner must permit. Replacing a panel like for like and upgrading or modifying a service panel are both trade permit items in the city fee schedule, up to 400 amps. There are two narrow exceptions. Replacing a breaker, fuse or switch with the same type and rating in the same location needs no permit. A main breaker swap can skip the city inspection under PDSD Policy 2016-01, but only if every condition in the policy is met. Parcels outside city limits are permitted by Pima County, not the city.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Replacing the service panel like for like | Trade permit | Up to 400 amps; $150 item |
| Upgrading service, e.g. 100 to 200 amps | Trade permit | Upgrade/modify panel up to 400 amps; $150 item |
| Panel upgrade plus a new EV or appliance circuit | Trade permit, 2 items | $150 + $50 |
| Replacing a branch breaker, same type and rating | No permit | Same location, no change in power or layout |
| Replacing the main breaker like for like | Depends: Policy 2016-01 | No city inspection if all conditions are met |
| Power off 6 months or more, reconnecting | Reconnect (clearance) permit | Required before the utility restores service |
| Service upgrade as part of a solar install | Solar permit, supplementary item | $28.09 per added item |
How much does a Tucson panel permit cost?
Under the fee schedule effective July 1, 2026, a panel job is a flat trade permit, not a valuation-based building permit. The first listed item is $150 and covers up to half an hour of review and processing plus two inspections. Each additional item is $50, and extra review or inspection time is billed at the hourly rate. Add the digital filing fee of 1% of the total, minimum $18.54.
- Panel replacement or upgrade alone: $150 + $18.54 = about $169.
- Panel upgrade plus one new circuit (up to two 20-amp branches): $150 + $50 + $18.54 = about $219.
Amperage does not change the price up to 400 amps. A reconnect after the power has been off six consecutive months costs $135.59 according to PDSD's Residential Permits page, while the FY2027 schedule lists Electric Clearance Only (no new work) as a $150 trade item. Confirm which figure applies when you apply.
The main-breaker exception
Policy 2016-01 lets you replace a main breaker without a city inspection when every one of these is true. A qualified person under Arizona Title 32 does the work, to the adopted electrical code, with a listed device. The service is 200 amperes or less, 120/240 volt, single phase. The old device has a maximum 10,000 ampere interrupting capacity, and the new one is rated no higher than the equipment and conductors it serves. The utility may then re-energize without a PDSD clearance, and the owner takes full responsibility for compliance.
Who can do the work
A homeowner can pull the permit and do the work on a home they own and occupy by filing the Owner/Builder Affidavit under A.R.S. 32-1121.A.5. Rental properties require a licensed contractor. Residential electrical permits run in PDSD's same-day Express Lane, and applications filed from July 1, 2026 follow the 2023 National Electrical Code as Tucson amended it.
How to Get a Electrical Panel Permit in Tucson
Step 1: Define the job
Decide whether it is a like-for-like replacement, an upgrade or modification, or a breaker-only swap that may need no permit.
Step 2: List the items
Count each trade item, such as the panel and each new circuit, because the fee is $150 for the first and $50 for each additional.
Step 3: Apply in TDC Online
File the trade permit as a licensed contractor, or as the owner with the Owner/Builder Affidavit.
Step 4: Coordinate with the utility
Schedule the disconnect and reconnect with the power company around the city inspection.
Step 5: Pass inspection
The permit includes two inspections. PDSD's approval clears the utility to restore power.