Seattle, Washington
Electricians in Seattle
Across most of Washington the state inspects electrical work. Seattle is one of the cities that does it itself, through the Department of Construction and Inspections, and the city also owns the electric utility, Seattle City Light.
- Licensing
- Washington Labor & Industries
- Permits and inspection
- Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections
- Utility
- Seattle City Light
- Typical older housing
- Craftsman and box houses, 1900 to 1930
- Main hazards
- Autumn and winter windstorms
How a permitted job runs in Seattle
Check the contractor
The electrical contractor license and the electricians' certificates are issued by the state and searchable on the Labor & Industries site.
City permit
The contractor buys the electrical permit from the city's Department of Construction and Inspections, not from the state.
City Light service application
For a service change, Seattle City Light reviews the request and sets requirements for the meter and service point.
City inspection
A city electrical inspector inspects, and City Light connects after approval.
What older Seattle houses tend to have
- Knob-and-tube
- Common in houses built before about 1930, especially on upper floors and in attics. See knob-and-tube replacement.
- Insulation conflicts
- Weatherization programs will not blow insulation over live knob-and-tube, so the wiring is often replaced first.
- Small services
- Sixty and 100-amp services in houses that now want heat pumps and EV charging.
- Basement apartments and backyard cottages
- Added units need a load calculation and often a subpanel or separate meter.
Why panel capacity comes up so often
Seattle's electricity comes largely from hydropower and has historically been inexpensive, so electric heat is common, and city and state policy now favor heat pumps and electric water heating over gas and oil.
- Oil-to-heat-pump conversions
- Replacing an oil furnace adds a large new electrical load to a house that may have a 100-amp service.
- EV charging
- Adds another 30 to 60-amp circuit. See EV charger installation for load management options.
- The usual answer
- A load calculation first. Many houses manage with load management, and some need a service upgrade.
Windstorms and overhead services
Most outages in the city come from autumn and winter windstorms dropping limbs from tall conifers and bigleaf maples onto overhead lines. Older neighborhoods have overhead service drops running through trees to a mast on the roof.
If a limb pulls the mast or the service wires off the house, City Light makes its line safe and an electrician repairs the mast and service entrance under a city permit before reconnection. A transfer switch is the safe way to use a portable generator while you wait.
Confirming Seattle requirements
Permit rules come from the city and license records from the state. Outside the city limits, see electricians in Washington.
Seattle electrical questions
Do I get my permit from the state or the city?
Inside Seattle city limits, from the city. In unincorporated King County and many suburbs, from Labor & Industries.
Can I do my own electrical work in Seattle?
Washington allows property owners to do electrical work on their own property with a permit and inspection. Rental property is restricted.
Is my utility Seattle City Light or Puget Sound Energy?
City Light serves Seattle and a few adjoining cities. Puget Sound Energy serves most of the rest of King County. Your bill shows which.
Reach an electrician in Seattle
Call to be connected with an independent electrical contractor that works in the Seattle area, where one is available, or leave your number and one will call you back.
(888) 555-0167Call availability varies by area and time of day
Breakerwick is a referral service. Your call or request goes to an independent electrical contractor that sets its own prices and schedule. Ask for the license number, proof of insurance and a written scope before work starts. How this works
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