What's Required in Indianapolis
- Electrical permit for any panel replacement, subpanel, relocated service or amperage upgrade (Residential Development Permits page; Sec. 536-201(b)(29))
- Exempt: same-size, same-place meter base, riser or weatherhead repair; breaker and fixture maintenance; appliances on existing circuits
- Fee: $169 up to 1,000 sq ft, plus $23 per additional 500 sq ft; no application fee; reinspection $175; self-certification tag $22
- Permit pulled by a city-licensed electrical contractor (master or residential license) or by an owner-occupant with the board's written approval under Sec. 875-222
- No power connection or use until the city inspects and stickers the service equipment, or a licensed contractor self-certifies (Sec. 536-404)
- Rough inspection with the panel set and wires pulled before covering; final requested with the Completion Card
- Work must stay available for inspection 48 hours after notice
- Lawrence, Beech Grove, Speedway and Southport license contractors separately
Do You Need a Permit to Replace an Electrical Panel in Indianapolis?
Yes. The Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (DBNS) requires a permit for any construction activity related to an electrical power distribution system, and none of the exemptions in Sec. 536-201(b) reach a panel. The exemptions cover repair or replacement of an electrical meter base, riser and weather head where such equipment is not relocated or upgraded, with the code itself giving "upgrading from a 100 amp service to a 200 amp service" as the example of what is not exempt; a single circuit of up to 60 amperes feeding a furnace, air conditioner, water heater or disposer when a building permit has already been issued for that equipment; appliances plugged into existing circuits; and fan replacements. Swapping a damaged meter base for the same size is permit-free; replacing the panel, adding a subpanel, moving the service or going to 200 amps is a permitted electrical job with a rough and a final inspection.
Indianapolis Electrical Panel Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Replacing the panel in place, same amperage | Electrical permit ($169) | Repair, alteration or remodel of a power distribution system |
| Service upgrade, 100 to 200 amps, new meter base and riser | Electrical permit ($169); form asks from/to amps | Sec. 536-201(b)(29) excludes upgrades from the exemption |
| Same-size meter base, riser or weatherhead repair, not relocated | None | Sec. 536-201(b)(29) |
| Subpanel for a garage, shop or EV charger | Electrical permit ($169) | Alteration of the distribution system |
| Dedicated circuit up to 60 A for a new furnace or water heater that already has its permit | None (covered by the equipment permit) | Sec. 536-201(b)(19) |
| Replacing a breaker, or a plug-in appliance on an existing circuit | None | Sec. 536-201(b)(18) and (b)(20) |
| Panel in a house of 2,500 sq ft | Electrical permit $238 ($169 + 3 x $23) | $23 per additional 500 sq ft over 1,000 |
How Much Is an Electrical Permit in Indianapolis?
The January 5, 2026 DBNS fee schedule prices electrical work by the size of the building, not by amperage or job value. Repair to an existing structure or residential addition: $169 for a structure of up to 1,000 square feet, plus $23 per additional 500 square feet. A 1,000 square foot bungalow pays $169; a 1,500 square foot house $192; a 2,000 square foot house $215; a 2,500 square foot house $238. Craft permits carry no separate application fee (the $40 application fee applies to structural, demolition, sign and infrastructure permits) and were not increased in 2026. Two small extras exist: a general service activity permit is $89, and a self-certification tag, which lets a licensed contractor certify the work so the utility can reconnect before the city inspects, is $22. A reinspection after a failed one is $175. No structural permit or Improvement Location Permit is involved in a panel change.
Who Can Pull the Permit and Do the Work?
Sec. 875-201 requires a city electrical contractor license to install, alter, replace, service or repair a system distributing electrical power, and the Homeowner's Guide says electrical permits must be pulled by a licensed contractor in that craft. Indianapolis issues its own licenses (there is no state electrician license): a master license for unlimited work and a residential license for one- and two-family homes. The city posts the current list of licensed electrical contractors monthly; working without the required license is a $250 first-offense fee, and the contractor, not you, carries the permit's violations. The one exception is Sec. 875-222: a person who both owns and occupies a one- or two-family home may do their own electrical work without a license, provided they obtain the electrical permit and written approval from the board or its designee that they have the knowledge and skill, which DBNS administers through a homeowner exam. Landlords and flippers do not qualify. Also note the excluded cities of Lawrence, Beech Grove, Speedway and Southport license their own contractors.
Inspection and Reconnection
Sec. 536-404 forbids connecting or using power on a permitted job until the city has inspected and attached its sticker to the service equipment, unless a licensed contractor certifies the work by phone under the self-certification alternative (the $22 tag), which is how most same-day utility reconnections are handled. The rough inspection happens with the panel set and wires pulled before anything is covered; the final is requested with the Completion Card. Apply in the Accela Citizens Access portal, where the electrical application asks for the permit type (alteration/remodel for a panel change), the detailed scope and the service upgrade from and to amps.
How to Get a Electrical Panel Permit in Indianapolis
Hire a licensed electrical contractor, or qualify yourself
Check the city's monthly licensed-contractor list. Owner-occupants who want to do the work need the homeowner approval from the electrical board first.
Apply for the electrical permit in Accela Citizens Access
Permit type alteration/remodel, detailed scope, square footage of the house, and the service upgrade from and to amps. Pay $169 plus $23 per 500 sq ft over 1,000.
Schedule the utility disconnect and do the work
The contractor coordinates the shutdown with the utility; the old meter base and riser come out with the panel if the service is upgraded.
Rough inspection or self-certification
Call the rough inspection with the panel set and wires pulled, or have the licensed contractor self-certify ($22 tag) so power can be reconnected the same day.
Close the permit
Submit the Completion Card for the final inspection within 14 days of finishing; the city attaches its sticker to the service equipment.