Yes. In New Jersey, replacing or upgrading an electrical panel or service generally needs a permit from your town's construction office, followed by an inspection. A licensed electrical contractor normally pulls the permit. PSE&G also says it will not install meters until your local inspection authority has inspected the wiring.
Here is how the process works, who handles each step, and how to tell whether your home may have outgrown its current service.
What New Jersey rules say about permits
Electrical work in New Jersey falls under the Uniform Construction Code (UCC), which the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) administers and your municipality enforces. The rule on permits says you may not construct, alter, repair or renovate without first filing an application and getting the required permit. There are exceptions, and one of them is ordinary maintenance.
A panel or service upgrade is not ordinary maintenance. It changes the equipment that feeds every circuit in the house, so plan on a permit.
The finished work is inspected against the state's electrical subcode, which uses the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70). The DCA currently lists the 2023 edition.
Who can pull the permit
State rules say electrical work must be done by people licensed to perform it. The one exception is a single-family homeowner working on his or her own dwelling. In practice, almost every panel upgrade is done by a licensed electrical contractor.
When a contractor handles the job, the application lists the contractor's name and license number. The application may be made by the owner, the owner's agent or the contractor. If someone other than the owner applies, the application has to include an affidavit confirming the owner authorized the work.
Gareffa Electric holds NJ Electrical Contractor License #18578. Every job we do is permitted in our name, performed by licensed electricians on our crew, inspected and closed out. If a contractor offers to skip the permit, treat that as a red flag.
The utility side: PSE&G and Rockland Electric
Your electric utility is PSE&G or, in some areas, Rockland Electric Company. Check your bill if you are not sure which one is yours.
PSE&G states that your local inspection authority must inspect all electrical wiring before PSE&G can install meters. You then need a certificate of approval, which PSE&G calls a cut-in card, before it installs electric meters. If you are upgrading to 200 amps or less, PSE&G also has you pick up a meter pan and present the original of your city permit.
Rockland Electric has its own rules and may differ from PSE&G. If it is your utility, your electrician should confirm its requirements and scheduling directly with the company before work starts.
Utility coordination is why a service upgrade often takes more planning than a simple panel swap. Ask whoever you hire who is handling the utility side and how the timing will work.
What the inspection involves
The inspection is done by an inspector from your local construction office, not by the electrician. The inspector reviews the finished work against the permit and the electrical code. If something fails, the electrician corrects it and the inspector returns.
For PSE&G customers, passing that inspection is what leads to the cut-in card. That is a big reason to hire one licensed contractor to handle the permit, the inspection and the close-out as a single package. You should not have to chase paperwork between agencies.
Signs you may need an upgrade
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) lists warning signs of an overloaded electrical system. Any of these is a reason to have a licensed electrician take a look:
- Breakers that trip often, or fuses that blow
- Lights that flicker, or dim when appliances turn on
- Buzzing, crackling or sizzling from outlets or switches
- Warm or discolored outlets, wall plates or switches
- A burning smell
Warm outlets, a burning smell or sparks are urgent. Stop using the affected outlet and have it checked.
These signs do not always mean you need a new panel. A loose connection or a single bad device can cause some of them. A proper check looks at the whole system, and swapping in a bigger breaker is not a fix.
100-amp versus 200-amp service
The amp rating is the total capacity coming into your home. A 100-amp service has half the capacity of a 200-amp service. Adding a big new load, such as a Level 2 EV charger, puts more demand on whatever service you have. If you are planning one, see our EV charger page.
Whether you need 200 amps depends on your home's total load, not on what a neighbor did. An electrician can add up the load and tell you whether your current service has room. Our panel and service upgrade page covers what we handle, from 100A service entrances up.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Will the permit be pulled in your company's name, and what is your license number?
- Who schedules the local inspection, and who is present for it?
- Who coordinates with the utility, and what happens if the inspection fails?
- What will the written price include?
A straight answer to each is a good sign. Vague answers about the permit are not.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pull the permit myself?
A single-family homeowner may do electrical work on his or her own dwelling under state rules. Condos, townhouses and multi-family buildings are a different situation, so ask your construction office. Most homeowners hire a licensed electrical contractor for service work.
Will the power company connect meters without an inspection?
PSE&G says local inspection comes before it installs meters, and it requires the certificate of approval (cut-in card). Check with Rockland Electric if that is your utility.
Do I need a permit to replace just a breaker?
Ordinary maintenance is exempt, and the state code defines what counts. A new panel or a service upgrade is not maintenance. If you are unsure about a smaller job, call your local construction office before work starts.
Next step
If your breakers trip, your lights dim or you are planning a big new load, we can look at your panel and tell you what it needs. You can book a scheduled service call online (flat from $150) or call (973) 662-4333. We are open Monday through Saturday, 7 AM to 6 PM.
Related guides and services
- Federal Pacific (Stab-Lok) panels: what NJ homeowners should know
- The smoke and CO certificate when selling a house in New Jersey
- Installing an EV charger at a New Jersey home
- Why does my breaker keep tripping?
- Panel upgrades
We serve all four counties: Bergen County, Essex County, Hudson County and Passaic County.