What's Required in Sacramento
- Panel change-outs, upgrades and new circuits need a Residential Minor Electrical permit.
- The building permit fee is a flat $105 plus technology, General Plan and green building fees.
- No plans are required for panel work; code compliance is verified in the field.
- Contractors can apply online; homeowners apply by email with the owner-builder form.
- A relocated exterior panel must be screened from all street views under the Planning Express form.
- Level 2 EV chargers need a plan submittal with a one-line diagram and the CDD-0213 load calculation.
- SMUD reconnection after a shutoff may require a separate $107 safety inspection.
Do you need a permit to replace an electrical panel in Sacramento?
Yes. The City of Sacramento Building Division treats main and sub service panels as residential electrical minor work: a minor permit, with no plans required and the code review done by the inspector in the field. The same permit can cover several electrical scopes at once: replacing the main panel, adding or replacing a subpanel, re-wiring all or part of the house, and adding new branch circuits. Licensed contractors can pull it online through the Public Permit Portal as a Web-Minor Electrical record. Homeowners are not on the online list for electrical work; an owner-builder applies by emailing the Universal Building Permit Application (CDD-0200), the owner-builder form (CDD-0220) and the Planning Exemption Form Express (CDD-0035) to EZ Permit.
How much does a panel upgrade permit cost in Sacramento?
The Residential Minor Electrical permit has a flat $105 building permit fee on the current fee table (Table B.1, effective July 19, 2025), the same for a 100-amp swap or a 200-amp upgrade, with no plan review fee. The city then adds a technology surcharge of 10 percent of the permit fee, a General Plan fee of $2.60 per $1,000 of job value, a green building fee of $1 per $25,000, and the business operations tax (value x 0.0004) when a contractor holds the permit.
- Panel change-out, $3,000, owner-builder: $105 + $10.50 + $7.80 + $1 = $124.30.
- 100 to 200 amp service upgrade, $6,000, contractor: $105 + $10.50 + $15.60 + $1 + $2.40 = $134.50.
The city’s average-cost web page still lists $95 for a panel change-out, which is below the $105 permit fee in the current table; budget from the fee table. If SMUD has cut power and asks for a city safety inspection before it reconnects, that is a separate $107 Safety Inspection that authorizes no work.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Like-for-like main panel replacement | Residential Minor Electrical permit, $105 | No plans; field inspection |
| 100 to 200 amp service upgrade | Residential Minor Electrical permit, $105 | Planning Express form allows 100 to 200 amp upgrades in place |
| Moving the panel to a new exterior spot | Minor permit plus Planning Express form | New location must be screened from street views |
| Adding a subpanel or new circuits | Same minor permit | One permit can cover several electrical scopes |
| Level 1 EV charger on a 120V dedicated 20-amp circuit | Minor electrical permit online | CDD-0154: no plans required |
| Level 2 EV charger on a 240V circuit | Plan review submittal | Site plan, one-line diagram, CDD-0213 load calculation |
| SMUD asks for an inspection before reconnecting | Safety Inspection, $107 | Inspection only; authorizes no work |
What does the inspector check?
The city’s SMUD safety inspection checklist (CDD-0309) gives a good picture of what inspectors look at on service equipment: clear working space in front of the panel, grounding electrode connections and bonds, no openings to live parts (missing dead fronts or breaker blanks), and service drop clearances. Arrange the disconnect and reconnect with SMUD; the city does not publish SMUD’s scheduling rules. Level 2 EV charger plans are reviewed in 24 hours, and EV charger permits use virtual inspections from January 12, 2026. Outside city limits, Sacramento County issues panel permits online through its own portal.
How to Get a Electrical Panel Permit in Sacramento
Confirm jurisdiction and scope
Check the lot is in the City and list everything you are doing: panel, subpanel, circuits or EV charger.
Complete the Planning Express form
Mark the electrical panel category on CDD-0035; same-spot replacements and 100 to 200 amp upgrades qualify.
Apply
Contractors apply online as Web-Minor Electrical; owner-builders email CDD-0200, CDD-0220 and CDD-0035 to EZ Permit.
Coordinate with SMUD
Arrange the service disconnect and reconnect with SMUD before the work day.
Pass the inspection
Schedule the inspection through the portal; the inspector checks the panel, grounding and clearances in the field.