Electrical Panel Upgrade Cost in Los Angeles (2026)

A permitted electrical panel upgrade in Los Angeles, done as a full service upgrade, typically costs $8,000 and up in 2026. That covers the panel, meter, service wires, grounding, permit, utility coordination and the stucco and drywall patching around the work. Underground service, a panel move or 400-amp service push the job higher. You may see lower online numbers for a bare panel swap, but those usually leave out the meter, grounding, patching or utility work.

The panel itself is only a small part of the price. Instead, the meter, the service wires, the panel location and the utility’s work move the number. This guide explains each tier and the permit and utility steps in Los Angeles. It also shows when a remodel or ADU really needs a bigger service.

Electrical panel upgrade cost in Los Angeles at a glance

Scope	Typical 2026 range	Notes
100-amp to 200-amp service upgrade	$8,000 and up	New panel, meter, service wires, ground, permit, utility coordination, patching
Same-size panel replacement	Priced by scope	Same spot, same size, meter in good shape; often done during a remodel
New meter socket or service entrance	Adds $1,000 – $2,000	When the old one is corroded or too small
Moving the panel	Adds $1,500 – $3,500	New wire runs, patching, extra check
Moving lines underground	Adds $4,000 – $8,000+	Usually optional; street work costs more
400-amp or dual 200-amp service	Above a 200-amp upgrade	Large homes, homes with an ADU, all-electric homes
Subpanel	Priced by scope	More breaker space, but no more power

These ranges reflect permitted work managed by a licensed contractor in 2026. They are planning numbers, not quotes. Timing, material choices and selections can push the final cost higher.

Panel replacement versus service upgrade

People use “panel upgrade” for two different jobs. So the difference matters for your electrical panel upgrade cost.

A panel replacement swaps an old panel for a new one at the same amperage. It fits when the panel is unsafe, full or a bad brand. However, the home’s total load still fits the old service.

A service upgrade raises how much power the house can draw, most often from 100 to 200 amps. So it includes a new meter socket, larger service wires, updated grounding and a planned shutoff with the utility. As a result, the electrical panel upgrade cost is higher, because more than the panel changes.

When a remodel or ADU needs a bigger panel

A load math check decides this, not a rule of thumb. Before it approves new circuits, the building department wants proof the service can carry old and new loads together. For older homes, the California Electrical Code offers a simpler method for added loads. It also allows using 12 months of real usage data from your utility bill instead of a guess on paper.

In practice, these projects most often push a 100-amp house over the limit:

An ADU or junior ADU with its own kitchen, water heater and HVAC. For example, a detached ADU often gets a subpanel fed from an upgraded main service. Our ADU permitting process guide shows where the load calculation fits in plan check.
A kitchen remodel with induction. An induction range usually needs a 40 to 50-amp circuit. Add a second oven and a dishwasher, and the kitchen alone uses much of a 100-amp service. Our major kitchen remodel cost breakdown shows where electrical sits in that budget.
Heat pumps for heating, cooling or hot water, especially when they replace gas.
An EV charger, which often needs a 40 to 60-amp circuit.
A room addition or second story with bedrooms, a bathroom and HVAC. Our step-by-step home addition guide covers when that decision gets made.

If the math shows you are close but not over, there are other options. For instance, an energy management system or smart panel can limit how many loads run at once. Also, a circuit-sharing device can serve an EV charger. Likewise, a 120-volt heat pump water heater needs no large circuit. These are real code paths, and they can cut thousands from the electrical panel upgrade cost.

Panels to replace no matter the load

Some homes need a new panel even when the load is fine. In particular, Los Angeles homes built from the 1950s through the 1970s often still have:

Zinsco or Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels. Both are widely reported to have breakers that may not trip. Many insurers and inspectors flag them on sight.
Fuse panels or split-bus panels with no single main shutoff.
Double-tapped breakers, scorch marks or aluminum branch wiring that need repair anyway.
Full panels with no open spaces, which makes any new circuit a problem.

Because of that, if you are already planning a remodel, replace a problem panel as part of it. The walls are often open, so you pay for permits and inspections only once.

Permits and inspections in Los Angeles

First, every panel replacement or service upgrade needs an electrical permit and a final inspection. In the City of Los Angeles, LADBS issues the permit. Then an inspector must approve the work before the utility powers a new service. A simple same-size swap can often use an express permit. A service upgrade, on the other hand, may need a load calculation and a short plan review.

Permit and inspection fees for a typical home panel job often run about $150 to $500. Cities such as Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley run their own building departments with similar rules.

Still, skipping the permit is a false saving. Work done without a permit can void insurance, fail a buyer’s inspection and need to be opened up again later. Our post on whether contractors obtain building permits for you explains who pulls them.

LADWP or SCE: the utility side

Next, your address decides who serves you. LADWP serves most of the City of Los Angeles, including Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Encino and Sherman Oaks. Southern California Edison serves most nearby cities, such as Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley.

LADWP

For homes with service up to 320 amps, the electrician requests a meter spot online.
If the existing LADWP line can carry the new demand, LADWP generally charges no installation fee, according to its electric services FAQ.
If the job needs conduit in the street, transformer work or street repair, an LADWP planning engineer prices it. For underground service, LADWP advises allowing six to eight weeks for that estimate.
After LADBS signs off, LADWP sets the meter and restores power.

Southern California Edison

SCE handles upgrades through its new or upgraded service request process. Timing depends on the job and how busy SCE is. Anything that needs a new transformer, a longer line or underground work goes through SCE planning. As a result, that step takes longer and may add fees.

In both cases, the electrical work itself usually takes one to two days. Power is typically off for part of one day. Most of the calendar time, therefore, goes to permits and utility scheduling.

What raises the electrical panel upgrade cost

Meter and panel location. A panel on an outside wall next to the meter is the easiest job. By contrast, a panel in a closet adds wire length and patching.
Overhead or underground service. Most older Valley homes have an overhead line and mast. Hillside homes, however, are more likely to be underground, which can mean trenching.
Grounding. Many older homes need new ground rods and new bonds to the water and gas pipes.
Wall repair. A recessed panel means cutting and patching stucco or drywall.
Utility work. The utility prices its own street work, so it adds to the electrical panel upgrade cost outside your electrician’s quote.

Plan the panel early

In short, the cheapest panel upgrade is the one you plan for. On remodels, additions and ADUs, the load calculation should happen during design, before you choose appliances and HVAC. At that stage, you can still pick between a bigger service and load control. Also, the electrical panel upgrade cost lands in the budget instead of in a change order.

Not sure where your home stands? Start with three things: the amperage on the main breaker, the brand on the panel label, and the electric appliances you plan to add. With those, a builder or electrician can usually tell you in one conversation whether you need a swap, an upgrade or nothing at all. For the bigger picture, our guide to budgeting a home remodel in Los Angeles shows where systems work belongs in the plan.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to upgrade from 100 amps to 200 amps in Los Angeles?

A permitted 100-amp to 200-amp service upgrade typically costs $8,000 and up in 2026, including the meter, service wires, grounding, permit, utility coordination and patching. Replacing a corroded meter socket, relocating the panel or converting to underground service adds to that.

Do I need a 200-amp panel for an ADU?

Not always. A load calculation decides it. Many homes need an upgrade once an ADU adds a kitchen, water heater and HVAC, but load management devices or efficient appliance choices can sometimes keep a 100-amp service.

How long does an electrical panel upgrade take?

The electrical work usually takes one to two days, with power off for part of one day. Permits and utility scheduling take longer, and underground services with LADWP can need six to eight weeks for cost planning alone.

Does LADWP charge for a panel upgrade?

If the existing LADWP service can carry the new demand, LADWP generally charges no installation fee. Charges apply when the job needs conduit work in the street, transformer work or resurfacing.

Should I replace a Zinsco or Federal Pacific panel?

Yes, in most cases. Both brands are widely documented for breakers that may fail to trip, and many insurers and inspectors flag them. Replacing one during a planned remodel avoids a second round of permits.

Planning an Electrical Panel Upgrade in Los Angeles?

Send us the amperage on your main breaker and what you plan to add. We will tell you whether your remodel, ADU or addition needs a panel swap, a service upgrade or neither.

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