Electrician questions and answers for Pennsylvania homeowners
Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team
Does Pennsylvania license electricians?
Not at state level. The Department of Labor and Industry says the state has no licensing for most construction contractors, and that some municipalities license electrical contractors themselves. Philadelphia is one of them. The full picture is in what Pennsylvania requires.
Does an electrician have to register with the state?
Usually. The Attorney General's office says electrical contractors who repair, replace, install or alter anything on private homes are covered by the home improvement registration law, which applies to jobs over $500. Small contractors doing under $5,000 a year are exempt.
Do you need a permit to change a light fixture?
Often not, but it depends on the job and the town. The state's code regulation exempts ordinary repairs and says adding or relocating wiring is not one. Philadelphia's permit page lists replacing switches, receptacles and lighting fixtures "to existing conditions" among work that may not need an electrical permit. A new fixture where there was none means new wiring, which does.
Do you need a permit for a new outlet or circuit?
Yes, in general. Adding wiring takes the job outside the ordinary-repair exemption in the state regulation, so a permit and an inspection follow.
Can you do your own wiring?
The state regulation lets "an owner or authorized agent" apply for a permit. Some towns are stricter: in Philadelphia, a licensed electrical contractor must perform all work under an electrical permit. Ask your code office first.
What does an electrician cost?
Angi's 2026 national average is $351 a visit, with most homeowners paying $163 to $538, and it puts hourly rates at $50 to $100. Expect a minimum charge of one or more hours even for a quick job. Figures for bigger jobs are in the cost guide.
When should you call an electrician right away?
The National Fire Protection Association lists frequent blown fuses or tripping breakers, a tingling feeling when you touch an appliance, warm or discolored outlets, a burning or rubbery smell from an appliance, flickering or dimming lights, and sparks from an outlet.
Why does your breaker keep tripping?
The Electrical Safety Foundation, a nonprofit safety group, says a tripped breaker is most likely too many appliances on one circuit. Its steps: turn off or unplug what is on the circuit, switch the breaker fully off and back on, and call an electrician if it keeps happening.
Can you put a bigger fuse in?
No. The same foundation says a replacement fuse must match the circuit's rating and calls a larger one a very dangerous practice and a serious fire hazard.
Is it safe to use extension cords and power strips?
For short-term use. The U.S. Fire Administration says never to run a major appliance on an extension cord, not to overload outlets or power strips, and to keep cords out from under rugs. The NFPA says extension cords are intended for temporary use.
What do GFCI and AFCI mean?
A ground-fault circuit interrupter cuts power to protect people from shock; an arc-fault circuit interrupter cuts power when it detects the dangerous arcing that can start a fire. The NFPA says to test both monthly and to have them installed by a qualified electrician.
Can you plug a generator into a wall outlet?
No. The Public Utility Commission says to connect devices directly to the generator, not to the home's wiring, to protect utility workers. The Electrical Safety Foundation says a transfer switch is the only safe way to power the house wiring. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says to run a portable generator outside only, at least 20 feet from the house.
Can you charge an electric car from a normal outlet?
Often. The Department of Energy says many drivers meet daily needs with the Level 1 cord supplied with the car, provided an outlet on a dedicated circuit is near where they park. A faster Level 2 charger needs installation, and an electrician can tell you whether your panel has room.
How do you know if your house has aluminum wiring?
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says to look at the cable markings in an unfinished basement, attic or garage for "Al" or "Aluminum" every few feet, and not to open the inside of the panel yourself.
Who installs hardwired smoke alarms?
The U.S. Fire Administration says only qualified electricians should install them. Hardwired alarms usually have a backup battery to replace once a year, and every alarm should be replaced 10 years after it was made.
The power is out. Do you call an electrician or the utility?
The utility first. The PUC says to report the outage yourself rather than assume the utility knows, and not to call 9-1-1 for an outage alone. If only your house is out, or the service wire was torn down, note what PECO says about ownership: it owns the service wire and the meter, and the customer owns the weather head, the meter box and the service entrance cable, which an electrician repairs.
How do you pick an electrician?
Confirm the local license, the state registration and insurance, have the electrician pull the permit, and get the estimate in writing. How to choose an electrician goes through each check, and local businesses are on the electricians directory page.
Sources
- Contractor Licensing, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
- Frequently Asked Questions: Home Improvement Contractor Registration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
- 34 Pa. Code § 403.62. Permit requirements and exemptions., Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Code)
- Get an Electrical Permit, City of Philadelphia
- How Much Does an Electrician Cost to Hire? [2026 Data], Angi
- Electrical Home Fire Safety, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
- Understanding Your Home Electrical System, Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI)
- Appliance and Electrical Fire Safety, U.S. Fire Administration
- Winter Storm May Knock Out Power; CPSC Warns of Deadly Carbon Monoxide and Fire Risks, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Generator Safety, Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI)
- Charging Electric Vehicles at Home, U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center
- May Is National Electrical Safety Month: Good News for Homeowners - Aluminum Wiring Fix Still Available, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Smoke Alarms, U.S. Fire Administration
- Equipment Responsibility, PECO
- Prepare Now for Post-Christmas Winter Storms - PUC Shares #UtilitySafety Tips, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission