Electrical Permit in Arlington, TX
Permit Summary
Who Can Do the Electrical Work?
Homeowner Eligibility Rules
A homeowner may personally install electrical branch circuits within his or her legal residence after passing the homeowner electrical examination administered by Building Inspections. The homeowner pathway is limited to a maximum of three new alternating-current branch circuits or circuit extensions, each not exceeding 30 amperes, and it does not include service feeders or service equipment. Service equipment may be changed by a homeowner only if the homeowner holds a Texas Residential Wireman, Journeyman, or Master Electrician license and receives Building Official approval.
Contractor Rules
Except for specifically exempted work and the qualifying homeowner exception, persons performing electrical work over 24 volts must comply with Arlington's licensing and registration rules. A business performing permit-required electrical work must hold a valid City registration and identify the applicable Texas-licensed Master of Record. Permits for licensed work are issued only to a registrant that designates the appropriate licensee responsible to the Building Official for prosecution and supervision of the work. Persons performing electrical work under a registered business must carry proof of the applicable Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation electrical license or apprentice license, and apprentices may work only under proper supervision.
Permit & Plan Review
Electrical Work Covered
A permit is required before electrical equipment is installed or an alteration or addition is made to existing electrical equipment in or on a building, structure, or premises in Arlington, unless an express exemption applies. The Electrical Chapter also requires a separate permit for each separate building, store space, or apartment and requires a service permit for those units, subject to the chapter's stated trailer-court exception.
Plan Review Rules
Plan and specification requirements depend on project scope. When plans are required, Arlington's Electrical Chapter requires scaled, sufficiently detailed plans and specifications showing code compliance, including the project address, owner and preparer information, and a plot plan showing proposed and existing buildings. Final plans or other documents retained by the City must be submitted electronically in the format specified by the City. The current fee schedule also authorizes the Building Official to set a fee based on scope and/or investigation or plan review for Electrical Chapter permits not otherwise listed.
Quick / No-Plan Permit Rules
Arlington accepts applications for Building Permits for Electrical Work through ArlingtonPermits.com. Current official materials reviewed do not establish a distinct electrical instant, self-issued, over-the-counter, or universally no-plan-review permit program separate from the normal online permitting process.
Service, Panel & Utility Requirements
Service / Panel Rules
Electrical service and subpanel installation, repair, or replacement is permit work unless an applicable exemption applies. The current fee schedule charges $35 for each service or subpanel up to and including 200 amps, $60 over 200 through 400 amps, and $75 over 400 amps. The homeowner license exception does not allow ordinary homeowner work on service feeders or service equipment; a homeowner may change service equipment only when holding a Texas Residential Wireman, Journeyman, or Master Electrician license and with Building Official approval.
Service Reconnect Rules
Oncor's currently published Arlington inspection matrix states that rewiring, repairs, and upgrades at an existing location require a rewire inspection for reconnect service orders; that inspection is listed as valid for 90 days and for one order. The same matrix states that energizing an existing residential or mobile-home location where service is off does not by itself require an inspection, while non-residential energization requires a tenant inspection. Oncor also notes that no inspection is required for billing or nonpayment issues or a change of retail provider. Where an inspection is required, City approval must be completed before the applicable Oncor service action.
Low-Voltage Rules
The Arlington Electrical Chapter exempts electrical wiring, apparatus, and equipment operating at 24 volts or less from the electrical permit requirement. The permit article also excludes equipment owned and used by an electricity supply company or communications agency for electricity generation, transmission, or distribution, or for signals or transmission of intelligence. Work outside those exemptions remains subject to the Electrical Chapter as applicable.
Utility Coordination Rules
Utility coordination is required for project scopes involving new electric service, meter setting, certain reconnects, or other utility-side work. Oncor's Arlington inspection matrix identifies City inspection requirements for new meter locations and for reconnect orders following rewiring, repairs, or upgrades. Oncor's service guidance states that, when a City inspection is required, the City sends confirmation of the passed inspection before Oncor completes the applicable service order. Ordinary branch-circuit work that does not affect utility service does not generally require utility coordination.
Inspections & Permit Life
Electrical Inspection Stages
Permit-required electrical installations are subject to City inspection. The Electrical Chapter requires the licensed electrician to notify the Office of Electrical Inspection when the permitted installation is complete; the Building Official then endeavors to inspect within 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, or as soon thereafter as practicable. Additional project-specific inspections can apply, including service or rewire inspections for utility-related work before the applicable Oncor service action.
What You Need Before Applying
Requirements
Obtain the electrical permit before installing electrical equipment or making covered alterations or additions. Applications must describe the work. Work requiring licensing must be performed under the applicable City registration and Texas electrical license, except for the narrow qualifying homeowner pathway. Permitted work must comply with Arlington's Electrical Chapter and adopted 2020 National Electrical Code, and required inspections must be requested and passed.
Exemptions
No electrical permit is required for constructing, installing, altering, extending, maintaining, repairing, or replacing electrical wiring, apparatus, or equipment operating at 24 volts or less. The permit article also does not apply to equipment owned and used by an electricity supply company or communications agency for electricity generation, transmission, or distribution, or for operation of signals or transmission of intelligence. An exemption does not authorize work that violates other applicable codes or laws.
Required Documents
The permit application must include a description of the proposed work. When plans and specifications are required, Arlington's Electrical Chapter requires them to be drawn to scale with enough clarity and detail to show code compliance; the first sheet must identify the work address, owner, and preparer, and plans must include a plot plan showing proposed and existing buildings. Final plans or other documents that will be archived must be submitted in the electronic format specified by the City.