Yes. In Dallas-Fort Worth cities a panel replacement or service upgrade needs an electrical permit and a city inspection. A licensed electrical contractor normally pulls it; Dallas and Fort Worth limit what homeowners can do themselves.
This guide is part of our Electrical Panel Upgrades service in Dallas–Fort Worth.
Yes. In Dallas-Fort Worth cities, replacing an electrical panel or upgrading the service needs an electrical permit and a city inspection. A licensed electrical contractor normally pulls the permit. Homeowners are limited: Dallas requires a city homeowner exam before you do electrical work on your own homestead, and Fort Worth does not let homeowners work on the service at all.
Can a homeowner pull an electrical permit in Texas?
Sometimes, and rarely for a panel. State law exempts electrical work done in a dwelling by a person who owns and lives in it, but only work "not specifically regulated by a municipal ordinance" (Texas Occupations Code §1305.003(a)(6)). Inside city limits, the city's rules decide:
- Dallas: a homeowner may not physically do electrical work on a residential homesteaded property "unless they have passed a homeowner's exam" (City of Dallas electrical permit checklist).
- Fort Worth: the homestead electrical affidavit says homeowners "may not work on the service"; that work "must be permitted and performed by a Master Electrician" (City of Fort Worth homestead affidavits).
- Other cities: check with the city's building inspections office before you start.
If a contractor asks you to pull the permit in your own name for work they will do, that is a warning sign. A licensed contractor pulls their own permit. You can check any Texas electrical contractor on TDLR's license search; ours is TECL #40628.
Which electrical code does the inspector use?
The edition your city has adopted, plus local amendments. Texas adopted the 2026 National Electrical Code as the state electrical code effective September 1, 2026 (TDLR), but cities adopt editions on their own schedules. We list the current edition city by city in which electrical code applies in DFW.
What does the inspector check on a panel replacement?
Inspectors check the work against the NEC (NFPA 70) and local amendments. On a panel job, typical checks include:
- Working space in front of the panel: at least 30 in. wide, 36 in. deep for typical residential voltages, and 6½ ft of headroom (NEC 110.26)
- Breaker handles no higher than 6 ft 7 in. above the floor (NEC 240.24(A))
- Wire sized to its breaker, for example no 14 AWG copper on a 20-amp breaker (NEC 240.4(D))
- AFCI and GFCI protection where the adopted edition requires it (NEC 210.12 and 210.8)
- The grounding electrode system and its conductor (NEC Article 250)
- Neutral and ground bonded at the service only, not at subpanels (NEC 250.24 and 250.142)
- A legible, accurate circuit directory (NEC 408.4)
If something fails, the electrician corrects it and the city re-inspects. If an inspector flags our work, we come back and fix it at no charge.
What does the permit cost and how long does it take?
Each city sets its own fee schedule, so the fee varies by city and by job. On our panel jobs the permit and inspection are included in the written quote, which for a typical 100-amp to 200-amp replacement is estimated at $2,200–$4,800 all in (panel upgrade pricing). The panel swap itself usually takes one working day on site, typically 4 to 8 hours. The utility has to disconnect and reconnect the service, and the inspection is booked with the city, so the calendar depends on their schedules.
What happens if a panel is replaced without a permit?
The city can require the work to be permitted and inspected after the fact, and walls or covers may have to come off so the inspector can see it. Separately, doing electrical work without the required Texas license is a criminal offense, a Class C misdemeanor (Texas Occupations Code §1305.303). A permitted, inspected job leaves a city record you can show a buyer or an insurer.
Who should I call for a panel upgrade in DFW?
A licensed electrical contractor who pulls the permit in their own name and gives you a written price first. Clements Electric (TECL #40628) has worked in Dallas-Fort Worth since 1982. We pull the permit, coordinate the utility disconnect, schedule the inspection, and quote in writing before any work starts. See our panel upgrade pages for Dallas, Fort Worth and Plano, or call (817) 803-4444, Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 7 PM.
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Frequently Asked Questions
In Dallas only after passing the city's homeowner exam, and in Fort Worth not at all for service work, which must be permitted and performed by a master electrician. Elsewhere, ask the city. Even where it is allowed, the work has to pass the same inspection.
Yes. Under the model International Residential Code, a permit becomes invalid if work does not start within 180 days of issue or stops for more than 180 days, and the building official can extend it (IRC R105.5). Cities can amend that, so check yours. We schedule the work soon after the permit is issued.
The inspector needs access to the panel. If it is inside the house or in a locked garage, someone has to let them in during the inspection window. We tell you the window when it is booked.
Yes. A burned or failed panel is replaced under a permit like any other. If the panel is unsafe, the first step is making the house safe; see when to call an emergency electrician.
