Whole-House Rewiring in California
Replacement of obsolete or unsafe wiring throughout a home — knob-and-tube, cloth-insulated, two-wire ungrounded or failing aluminium branch circuits.
Serving 870 cities and 46 counties across California, on Pacific / Eastern time.
Typical national range $8,000 – $30,000 · Planned project — free estimates typical
- Local crews who know your area’s permit office, inspection timelines and housing stock.
- Insurance and workers’ compensation verified before anyone arrives at your property.
- Permits pulled where the job requires one, so the work is inspected and documented for resale.
- 24/7 availability for genuine emergencies — burning smells, sparks, water damage and total power loss.
- Free phone triage: describe the symptom and find out whether it is urgent or can wait.
Whole-House Rewiring in California: when to call
- Knob-and-tube, cloth-wrapped or fabric-insulated wiring is visible
- Two-prong outlets throughout, or three-prong outlets with no ground path
- Aluminium branch circuit conductors on 15 and 20 amp circuits
- Home insurance refuses coverage, or a lender requires an electrical report
- Repeated nuisance breaker trips across multiple unrelated circuits
- Every repair uncovers a new problem because the wire itself is the problem
Cost in California
The line items below are national 2026 planning ranges for this work. Local variation in California comes from labour rates, permit fees and access — not from the job description.
| Work | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-home rewire, open access (attic/basement bays) | $8,000 – $16,000 | Roughly $4-$7 per sq ft in easy-access homes |
| Whole-home rewire, fully finished with plaster | $14,000 – $30,000 | Up to $15 per sq ft in dense markets |
| Partial rewire (circuit groups / one floor) | $2,500 – $9,000 | Often the first phase |
| Knob-and-tube removal and replacement | $3,000 – $12,000 | Depends on how much remains |
| Aluminium branch circuit remediation | $2,000 – $8,000 | Pigtailing copper at each device, or full replacement |
What the work involves
- Room-by-room wiring map and a written scope before work starts
- New grounded circuits, outlets, switches, boxes and plates
- New AFCI and GFCI protection as required by the adopted code
- Drywall patching of small access holes after the wire is run
- Panel coordination, permit filings and inspection sign-off
What drives the price in California
Access is the cost driver, not copper: a home with an unfinished attic, basement or crawlspace can cost half of one with plaster walls and no cavity access.
Phasing is common — many owners rewire circuit groups across several visits, which spreads the cost across budgets.
Whole-House Rewiring by city in California
Pick the city closest to you for the local page, including every covered ZIP code and the local electrician listing.
Whole-House Rewiring in Sacramento
Whole-House Rewiring in Los Angeles
Whole-House Rewiring in San Diego
Whole-House Rewiring in Fresno
Whole-House Rewiring in San Jose
Whole-House Rewiring in San Francisco
Whole-House Rewiring in Long Beach
Whole-House Rewiring in Oakland
Whole-House Rewiring in Pasadena
Whole-House Rewiring in Bakersfield
Whole-House Rewiring in Stockton
Whole-House Rewiring in Anaheim
Whole-House Rewiring in Riverside
Whole-House Rewiring in San Bernardino
Whole-House Rewiring in Glendale
Whole-House Rewiring in Burbank
Whole-House Rewiring in Van Nuys
Whole-House Rewiring in Inglewood
Whole-House Rewiring in Irvine
Whole-House Rewiring in Berkeley
Whole-House Rewiring in North Hollywood
Whole-House Rewiring in Orange
Whole-House Rewiring in Santa Ana
Whole-House Rewiring in Santa Monica
Map of California coverage for this service
The 14 largest covered cities in California for whole-house rewiring.
Sample ZIP codes in California
Whole-House Rewiring in California — FAQ
What does whole-house rewiring cost in California?
The national 2026 range for this work is $8,000 to $30,000. Expect California pricing to sit somewhere in that band, adjusted for local labour rates, permit fees and how accessible the wiring is. Ask for a flat price per task rather than an hourly estimate.
Which cities in California request this most?
The highest volume comes from Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, San Jose and the surrounding suburbs, which is where the densest housing stock and the oldest wiring systems tend to be.
Who does whole-house rewiring in California?
Whole-house rewiring in California is performed by licensed electrical contractors working within their own local service areas. The network covers 2,126 ZIP codes here, and requests are routed by address rather than by city name.
What warranty should I expect?
Workmanship warranties are set by the contractor, and one to two years on labour is common on larger jobs, with manufacturers covering the equipment separately. Ask for the warranty terms in writing on the invoice, not verbally.
How much does an electrician cost per hour?
Licensed residential electricians generally charge in the $50 to $150 per hour range in 2026, plus a service call fee of roughly $75 to $200. Most companies now price common jobs flat-rate rather than hourly, which means the number you are quoted is the number you pay if the scope does not change.
Does whole-house rewiring need a permit in California?
Permit requirements depend on the job and on your city or county, not just the state. Work involving a panel, a service change, new circuits or wet locations almost always needs one, and the inspection is carried out locally. Ask the contractor to confirm and to file it.
What should I do while waiting for an electrician?
For an urgent fault, switch the affected circuit off at the panel and leave it off. If the panel itself is hot, smoking, sparking or wet, do not touch it and keep everyone away from it. Never pull a meter or open a panel, and never pour water on anything electrical.
Is a permit needed for electrical work?
Permits are commonly required for panel replacements, service upgrades, new circuits, and work in wet locations like kitchens, bathrooms and outdoors. Simple device replacements often do not need one. Because requirements are set locally, the safest approach is to ask the contractor who will pull the permit and confirm the inspection record afterwards.
This service in other states
- Whole-House Rewiring in Texas
- Whole-House Rewiring in Pennsylvania
- Whole-House Rewiring in New York
- Whole-House Rewiring in Florida
- Whole-House Rewiring in New Jersey
- Whole-House Rewiring in Massachusetts
- Whole-House Rewiring in Illinois
- Whole-House Rewiring in Ohio
- Whole-House Rewiring in North Carolina
- Whole-House Rewiring in Washington
- Whole-House Rewiring in Iowa
- Whole-House Rewiring in Georgia
- Whole-House Rewiring in Maryland
- Whole-House Rewiring in Indiana
- Whole-House Rewiring in Minnesota
- Whole-House Rewiring in Connecticut
- Whole-House Rewiring in Michigan
- Whole-House Rewiring in Louisiana
- Whole-House Rewiring in Alabama
- Whole-House Rewiring in Colorado
Related services
Whole-House Rewiring in California — get a price
Free phone triage: describe what is happening and find out whether it needs a visit today or can be scheduled. No obligation, no charge for the call.
Call (619) 877-0478Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Ask for the licence number and the trip fee before anyone is dispatched.
Coverage: 18,671 US ZIP codes across 47 states. National service list: 20 categories.