Residential Electrician In Los Angeles
Outlets, switches, lighting, new circuits, panels and rewiring for houses, condos and ADUs. One licensed contractor, the permit when the job needs one, and the price in writing before work starts.
- Est. 1–3 hours for most repairs
- Licensed & insured · CA License #1159199
Small Jobs Are Real Jobs
| Job | Typical time on site |
|---|---|
| Standard outlet on an existing circuit | 30 to 60 minutes |
| GFCI outlet | 30 to 60 minutes |
| 240 volt outlet with a new circuit | 2 to 4 hours |
| Ceiling fan on existing wiring | 1 to 2 hours |
| Recessed light | 2 to 3 hours |
Typical times on an existing circuit. Yours comes in writing with the price.
On small repair jobs of $750 or less that you called the contractor for, California’s rules for service and repair contracts allow only one service charge, including any trip or inspection fee, and no payment is due until the work is done (Business and Professions Code 7159.10).
Older Los Angeles Homes
Three things come up again and again in houses built before 1980.
- Knob and tube wiring. Standard before 1930 and used in some areas into the 1950s. Two separate wires on porcelain knobs, with no ground. It is not illegal to have, but it should not be buried in insulation, and insurers ask about it. Rewiring a whole house usually takes 40 to 120 hours of work, done room by room.
- Zinsco and Federal Pacific panels. Installed from the 1950s to about 1980. Why they get replaced.
- Two-prong outlets. No ground. A GFCI outlet is an accepted fix in many cases, and cheaper than rewiring.
Who Is Allowed To Do The Work
A handyman can take jobs under $1,000 in total only when the job needs no permit and there are no employees. Most electrical work needs a permit, so a handyman cannot take it: it takes a C-10 contractor. People who work as electricians for a C-10 contractor have to be certified by the state, and the state has a public search for that too.
Bigger Projects
Panel upgrades, EV chargers and lighting have their own pages with prices.
Questions We Hear A Lot
Can a handyman do electrical work in California?
Only under $1,000 in total, with no permit required and no employees. That rule changed on January 1, 2025. Before that the limit was $500.
How do I find a residential electrician I can trust?
Check the license number at the CSLB before you call, ask whether the permit is in the price, and ask for the price in writing. A contractor who does those three things without being pushed is a good sign.
Do you take small jobs?
Yes. There is no minimum beyond the service call.
How much deposit can a contractor ask for in California?
For home improvement contracts the down payment cannot be more than $1,000 or 10% of the price, whichever is less.
Let’s Get Your Lights On
Call, text a photo or email us. We’ll tell you how many hours the job takes. The price comes in writing before any work starts.