Installing an electric car charger at home in Pennsylvania

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

Do you need a charger installed at all?

Not always. The Department of Energy says most electric vehicle drivers charge overnight at home, and that many meet their daily driving needs with Level 1 charging, using the cord set that comes with the car, at no additional cost or installation, provided there is an outlet on a dedicated branch circuit near where they park. Level 2 equipment, at 240 volts, is for drivers with less regular schedules, longer commutes or large batteries that need more than a night to fill.

The Electrical Safety Foundation, a nonprofit safety group, gives typical rates: Level 1, from a standard 120-volt outlet, adds 3 to 5 miles of range per hour; Level 2 adds 10 to 20 miles per hour and requires a charger installation. If your daily driving fits inside a night of Level 1 charging, the question becomes only whether the outlet you would use is on its own circuit and in good condition.

Can you use an extension cord?

No. The foundation says never to use an extension cord to charge an electric vehicle, because it may lead to fires or electric shocks. If the nearest outlet is out of reach of the car's cord, that is a job for an electrician, not a longer cord.

Will your electrical panel handle a Level 2 charger?

That is the first question for the electrician. The Department of Energy says electricians can tell homeowners whether the home has adequate electrical capacity, that some homes do not have enough for Level 2 equipment, and that a qualified electrician can add circuits to provide the capacity. The foundation recommends a site assessment by a qualified electrician before installation to confirm the home has the right capacity.

Two technical points from the Department of Energy are worth knowing when you read a quote. The National Electrical Code treats EV charging as a continuous load, and most of the code's rules for charging equipment are in Article 625. Ask the electrician how the circuit was sized under them.

If the answer is that the service is too small, see the panel upgrade guide before agreeing to the larger job.

What equipment should you buy?

Certified equipment. The Department of Energy recommends safety-certified products, such as those carrying the ENERGY STAR label, which are tested by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, and a certified electrical contractor to install them. The foundation says chargers and charging cords should be certified by such a laboratory, and that the installation should have adequate ground-fault protection. The Department of Energy adds that outdoor charging is safe, even in the rain, with outdoor-rated equipment, and suggests checking the vehicle maker's guidance on charging equipment before you buy.

Does it need a permit?

Generally, yes. The Department of Energy says installations must comply with state and local codes, that permits may be required, and that in many areas a site installation plan must be approved before installation. In Pennsylvania, the state code regulation treats adding electric wiring as work that needs a permit, and a dedicated charger circuit is added wiring.

Philadelphia has rules of its own. Charger installations that meet the city's EVC permit standard can go through as EZ permits without plans. And the city's electrical license page says electrical contractors who install, upgrade or repair chargers must hold Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program certification, and that from July 1, 2026 the contractor named on any permit application that includes a charger must have it on file. If you live in the city, ask for it by name.

What does installation cost?

Angi, a home-services marketplace, gives a 2026 national average of $967 to install a home charger, from 4,398 projects, with most homeowners paying $555 to $1,380. Its other figures:

Angi gives the permit as $150 to $200 in one place on the page and $100 to $200 in another.

Is there a tax credit?

Possibly, depending on when the charger went in. The Internal Revenue Service's page on the alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit says that for charging equipment bought and placed in service at your main home from January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026, the credit equals 30% of the cost, up to $1,000 per charging port, and only in an eligible census tract (a low-income community or a non-urban tract). The page gives no amount for equipment placed in service after June 30, 2026, so for a charger installed later, ask a tax adviser. For one installed before, the IRS page explains how to check your census tract. The Department of Energy also says state and utility incentives may be available, and that some utilities offer time-of-use rates for charging; ask your utility what it offers now.

What should you ask the electrician?

• Is my panel's capacity enough for a Level 2 charger, and how did you work it out?
• Will the charger be on its own circuit, with ground-fault protection?
• Is the equipment you are quoting certified by a testing laboratory, and rated for outdoors if it will be outside?
• Will you apply for the permit, and what does it cost here?
• In Philadelphia: do you have EVITP certification on file with your license?

Prices for other electrical jobs are in the cost guide, the general checks on a contractor are in how to choose an electrician, and electricians are listed on the electricians directory page.

Sources

1. Charging Electric Vehicles at Home, U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center
2. Prepare your Home or Business for Electric Vehicles, Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI)
3. A Complete Guide to Electric Vehicle Charging Installation Costs [2026 Data], Angi
4. Get an Electrical Contractor License, City of Philadelphia
5. Get an Electrical Permit, City of Philadelphia
6. 34 Pa. Code § 403.62. Permit requirements and exemptions., Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Code)
7. Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit, Internal Revenue Service