______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
City of East Palo Alto-Community & Economic Development Department
Building Division-1960 Tate Street
Phone 650-853-3189 Fax 650-853-3179
Monday-Friday 8am-4pm
www.cityofepa.org
RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL PANEL
REPLACEMENT
BUILDING DIVISION REQUIREMENTS
An electrical permit is required for replacement and upgrade of the main electrical service panel prior to
installation of the new panel. T h e following is a list of the general requirements for electrical panel
replacements based on the 2013 California Electrical Code (CEC). For additional information, contact the
Building Division.
General Requirements - The main electrical service shall be installed with rigid conduit. Electrical
metallic tubing may be used where the service drop is attached to the building. The service entrance
cable may be used, provided the approved fittings are used with the cable, such as a rain-tight service
head or forming the cable goose-neck, taped or painted, and held securely in place by a fitting
approved for the purpose (CEC, article 230).
The minimum size service conduit shall be 1-1/4”. The minimum size service entrance wire shall be
rated 100 amperes minimum if the load is 10 kW or more, or has more than 6 two-wire branch circuits. A
larger service may be required for new homes or additions to existing homes.
Service Entrance Conductors (Wires) – Conductors shall have a vertical clearance of not less than 8’
above the roof surfaces. The service head shall be so located that the service drops together with the
open wires between the service head and service drop will have a minimum clearance of 10’ vertically
above ground and three feet radius from doors and windows (CEC 230.24).
Conductors and cables exposed to direct sunlight, including overhead service conductors, shall be listed
and marked as “sunlight resistant.” Service entrance conductors and conduit shall be sized according to
the following table (CEC Table 310.5[b] [7] and Chapter 9 Table 1):
SERVICE ENTRANCE CONDUCTORS SIZE AND RATING
Service or
Feeder Rating
Copper
Conductors
Aluminum or
Copper-Clad
Aluminum
Minimum
Conduit
Size
100 Amps
#4 AWG
#2 AWG
1 ¼ inch
125 Amps
#2 AWG
#1/0 AWG
1 ¼ inch
150 Amps
#1 AWG
#2/0 AWG
1 ¼ inch
200 Amps
#2/0 AWG
#4/0 AWG
1 ½ inch
The grounding conductors must be identified by white or grey tape at both ends (CEC, 200.6).
Meter location - The height of the meter shall be between 48” and 66” above the ground.
Working space - The clear working space in front of the panel shall be 30” wide by 36”
deep with a minimum headroom clearance of 6’-6” (CEC 110.26).
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
City of East Palo Alto-Community & Economic Development Department
Building Division-1960 Tate Street
Phone 650-853-3189 Fax 650-853-3179
Monday-Friday 8am-4pm
www.cityofepa.org
Grounding of Services - Grounding shall consist of a continuous grounding electrode
conductor run from the panel to a ground rod (grounding electrode) and to the cold water
pipe. Grounding of the electrical service at the main water line must be within the first
5’ of water piping into the building. The underground water service shall not be used as
the grounding electrode without supplemental electrode (CEC 250.53 [d]).
For existing structures and additions not affecting the main electrical service panel location, the
grounding electrode shall be nonferrous (copper), listed, and not be less than ½” in diameter. The
electrode shall be installed such that at least 8’ of length is in contract with the soil. The upper end of
the electrode shall be flush with or below ground level unless the above-ground end and the
grounding electrode conductor attachment is protected against physical damage.
The required grounding electrode conductor (from electrode to panel) size is listed in the
following table:
Size of Main
Panel
Copper
Conductors
Aluminum or Copper-Clad
Aluminum
100 Amps
#8 AWG
#6 AWG
125 Amps
#8 AWG
#6 AWG
150 Amps
#6 AWG
#4 AWG
200 Amps
#4 AWG
#2 AWG
Bonding - Bonding of the hot, cold, and gas lines is required when the electrical panel is
replaced. Bonding of the hot, cold, and gas lines is required with water service
replacements (if using a less conductive material than is existing) and for all re-pipes.
Bonding shall consist of a continuous bond jumper installed at the water heater between
the hot, cold, and gas lines. The bonding jumper shall be sized based on the following
table:
BONDING JUMPER SIZING (Table CEC 250.122)
Size of Main
Panel
Copper
Conductors
Aluminum or Copper-Clad
Aluminum
100 Amps
#8 AWG
#6 AWG
125 Amps
#6 AWG
#4 AWG
150 Amps
#6 AWG
#4 AWG
200 Amps
#6 AWG
#4 AWG
Important PG& E Requirements-Only authorized PG&E employees can connect or
disconnect PG&E’s electric service to the building. Unauthorized persons must not tamper
with or break PG&E seals placed on meters and associated service equipment. Only
authorized PG&E employees can remove, replace, or interfere with PG&E’s meters, seals,
connections, padlocks, or other locking devices. Refer to PG&E Electric & Gas Service
Requirements at:
http://www.pge.com/en/myhome/servicerequests/building/greenbook/index.page?WT.mc_id=
Vanity_greenbook
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
City of East Palo Alto-Community & Economic Development Department
Building Division-1960 Tate Street
Phone 650-853-3189 Fax 650-853-3179
Monday-Friday 8am-4pm
www.cityofepa.org
PERMIT PROCESS
1. Prior to submittal for a building permit,
contact the Planning Division to
determine if a separate permit is
required.
Building Permit Review
1. Building permits for electrical panel
replacements are available at the
Building Division counter from 8am-4pm
Monday to Friday.
Inspections
1. A minimum of two inspections are
required, a utility release and a final.
The utility release inspection should be
scheduled when the new panel is
installed and ready to be hooked up the
PG&E supply. The building inspector
will provide a utility release form which
will need to be provided to PG&E to
have the supply hooked up to the new
panel. A wire lath inspection is
required for stucco repairs. A final
inspection should be scheduled after all
of the work is complete.
2. All work exceeding $1,000 requires the
installation of listed/approved smoke
alarms in all bedrooms, adjoining hall,
and at each level per the CA Residential
Code section R314. A carbon monoxide
alarm is required, when there is an
attached garage or fuel burning
appliance, in the adjoining hallway(s) of
the bedrooms and on every level of a
dwelling unit including basement. For
additional information please see City of
East Palo Alto Smoke & Carbon
Monoxide Alarms Owner Certificate of
Compliance and Examples of Locations
for Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm
Handout.
Important Note: Building plans may be required at the time of the submittal if rewiring,
modifying/altering, or adding new branch circuits. Please inquire with staff.
Building Permit Application Requirements
A completed Building Permit Application
If panel is to be relocated, a letter of
approval from PG&E for the new
location.