Electricians in San Francisco, CA
Licensed electricians serving San Francisco, California. Panel upgrades, EV chargers, rewires, and service calls. License data and local permit requirements.
Last updated: April 2026 · Cost data from RSMeans & BLS regional indices · Permit data from official city .gov sources
Local context for San Francisco
San Francisco permits are issued by the Department of Building Inspection, which uses an online tracking portal going back to the 1980s. SF enforces the 2013 Mandatory Soft Story Program, which required retrofits on roughly 4,800 wood-frame buildings with five or more units that were permitted before 1978. California Title 24 energy code, updated for 2025 and effective January 1, 2026, also applies to most remodel and replacement projects.
Permits filed through San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI) · official portal
Top Rated Electricians in San Francisco
MFC Electric Inc.
LicensedEV CertifiedSan Francisco Bay Area electrician covering East Bay, North Bay and South Bay with a residential, commercial and HOA focus. Bonded and insured and licensed C-10 in California.
San Fran Electric
EV CertifiedSan Francisco residential electrician with more than 17 years of experience, also serving Sausalito, Mill Valley, San Rafael, Larkspur, Novato and Belvedere. Strong focus on older-home rewires, panel upgrades and ADU electrical.
Brookline Electric Co.
LicensedSan Francisco electrical contractor active since 1972 with a specialty in Victorian and Edwardian rewires and panel upgrades across SF neighborhoods, Brisbane, Colma and Daly City. One of the longest-running residential shops in the city.
Wells Electrical, Inc.
EV CertifiedSan Francisco electrical contractor in business for more than 30 years, covering the North Bay, Peninsula, East Bay and South Bay. Qmerit-certified for EV charger installs and fully bonded and insured for residential and commercial work.
Aguilar Electric
LicensedEV CertifiedSan Francisco Bay Area electrician with more than 20 years of experience, specializing in knob and tube replacement, service upgrades and full rewires for older SF housing stock. Licensed, bonded and insured for residential and commercial work.
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Before you hire in San Francisco
A short checklist of things to verify before you sign a contract or hand over a deposit. These apply whether you find your contractor here, on Angi, or anywhere else.
- 1
Building permit on the contractor, not you
Most cities require a permit for any structural work. The contractor should pull the permit in their name so they carry the liability for code compliance. If a contractor offers to skip the permit or asks you to pull it as a homeowner, that is a warning sign. - 2
Licensed electrician (California)
California requires C-10 Electrical Contractor through the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Ask for the license number and verify it on the state lookup before signing.Verify on California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) - 3
General liability + workers comp
Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) with you listed as a certificate holder. In California: workers comp is required by state law. For general liability, most contractors carry $500K–$1M in coverage. If an uninsured worker is hurt on your property, you can be liable. - 4
Written contract with clear terms
Get it in writing. The contract should cover: scope of work, total price (not hourly unless explicitly agreed), materials and brands, start and finish dates, payment schedule tied to milestones (not calendar dates), warranty period, and procedures for change orders. Never pay more than 1/3 up front, and never pay the final payment until the work passes inspection. - 5
References and public reputation
Ask for 3 references on recent similar projects and actually call them. Cross-check reviews across Google, the Better Business Bureau, and the state licensing board's complaint history. A contractor with zero online footprint is a risk, even if they come highly recommended.
Every contractor we list is verified against public records, but verification is not a quality guarantee. Run through this checklist on any contractor you are seriously considering.
How to Choose a Electrician in San Francisco
Follow these steps to find a reliable, licensed electrician in the San Francisco, California area.
Verify the master electrician license
Any permitted electrical work must be signed off by a licensed master electrician. Look up the license on your state electrical board before hiring.
Confirm liability insurance and bonding
Electricians should carry at least $1M general liability plus workers compensation. Bonded contractors give you recourse if work fails inspection.
Require permits on every job
Panel upgrades, new circuits, EV chargers, and rewires all need a permit. A licensed electrician pulls the permit — not you. Cash deals without permits void your insurance.
Get 3+ written bids for big work
Panel upgrades and rewires should have itemized bids. Watch for "too good to be true" pricing, which often signals unlicensed labor or corner-cutting on conductors.
Ask about EV charger certification
For Level 2 installs, ask if the electrician is familiar with your panel brand and local utility requirements. Some utilities require load management gear.
Demand a written warranty
Quality electrical work comes with a 1-year workmanship warranty at minimum. Equipment manufacturer warranties (panels, chargers) run 5-25 years separately.
Working with electricians in San Francisco
- SF historic resource review is triggered for work on buildings over 45 years old, which is almost every home west of Van Ness or in the Mission
- The Bay Area is seismic Design Category D or E, so retrofits, additions, and any structural work must account for SF-specific soft-story and shear-wall rules
- Rent-controlled buildings under the SF Rent Board face passthrough limits on capital improvement costs, which changes how owners phase major work
Electrical Costs in San Francisco, CA
Typical prices for residential electrical work in San Francisco. Ranges reflect full-installation pricing with permit included where applicable — not service-call minimums. Hourly rates run $85-$176 per hour for troubleshooting and small repairs.
| Service | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service call / troubleshooting | $188 | $241 | $318 |
| New outlet install | $229 | $293 | $387 |
| Ceiling fan replacement | $304 | $390 | $515 |
| 200A panel upgrade | $2,839 | $3,640 | $4,805 |
| Level 2 EV charger install | $1,673 | $2,145 | $2,831 |
| Generator transfer switch | $1,369 | $1,755 | $2,317 |
| Whole-house rewire (1,800 sq ft) | $11,154 | $14,300 | $18,876 |
Cost data derived from RSMeans regional indices, BLS construction wage data, and NECA market surveys. Actual quotes will vary based on scope, panel condition, and utility coordination. Permit fees in San Francisco typically run $78-$455.
Get a Detailed Cost EstimateElectrical Permit Requirements in San Francisco
Nearly all electrical work in San Francisco requires a permit — panel upgrades, new circuits, outlet additions beyond simple fixture swaps, EV chargers, generator transfer switches, and whole-house rewires. Your licensed electrician pulls the permit, not you. Permit fees typically range $78-$455. Work without a permit is a code violation that can void homeowners insurance and block a future home sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do electricians charge in San Francisco, California?
Electricians in San Francisco typically charge $85-$176 per hour, with a minimum service call fee around $188-$318. Job-based pricing is more common than hourly for installs: adding an outlet runs $229-$387, a ceiling fan swap runs $304-$515. Complex work like panel upgrades or whole-house rewires is quoted per project.
How much does a panel upgrade cost in San Francisco?
Upgrading from a 100-amp to a 200-amp service panel in San Francisco typically costs $2,839-$4,805, including the panel, meter socket, permit, and utility coordination. Older homes with aluminum or cloth-wrapped wiring, or panels requiring a meter relocation, can push the high end over $6,247. Most residential EV charger installs and solar tie-ins require a 200-amp panel.
How much does it cost to install a Level 2 EV charger in San Francisco?
Level 2 EV charger installation in San Francisco runs $1,673-$2,831 for a 40-amp circuit on a short cable run from the panel. Longer runs, trenching to a detached garage, panel upgrades, or load management gear push costs higher. The federal Section 30C credit (30% up to $1,000) is still available through June 30, 2026 for residential installs in qualifying census tracts — ask your electrician to confirm eligibility before the deadline.
Do I need a permit to hire an electrician in San Francisco?
Yes. Nearly all electrical work in San Francisco requires a permit — panel upgrades, new circuits, outlet additions, EV chargers, generator transfer switches, and whole-house rewires. Permit fees typically range $78-$455 and your licensed electrician should pull the permit (not you). Simple fixture swaps on existing circuits are the main exemption. Work without a permit is a code violation that can void your homeowners insurance and block a future home sale.
How do I verify an electrician is licensed in California?
Most states publish a searchable licensing roster you can use to confirm an electrician's license status, bond, and disciplinary history. In California, look up the state electrical board (or department of labor) online license lookup before hiring. Ask to see the license card, confirm the license number matches public records, and require proof of liability insurance and workers comp (never pay cash without these verified).
What is a master electrician vs a journeyman?
A master electrician has passed an advanced exam (typically requiring 7,000+ hours of field work plus written and practical tests) and can pull permits, sign off on work, and supervise journeymen and apprentices. A journeyman electrician has completed a 4-year apprenticeship and can do most wiring work under a master's license. For any job requiring a permit in San Francisco, a master electrician must be on the license — confirm this before signing a contract.
How does the SF soft-story ordinance affect a small remodel?
If your building is already classified and retrofit is complete, it does not affect most remodels. If the building is soft-story and not yet retrofitted, DBI generally requires the retrofit to be in progress or completed before signing off on major permit work.
Why do San Francisco permits take longer than other California cities?
DBI plan review routinely coordinates with Planning, Historic Preservation, Public Works, and Fire. For projects over 45 years old or in a historic district, expect an extra 4 to 8 weeks for historic preservation clearance beyond the basic DBI review.