Electrical Permit Requirements in Highland, CA

Highland Volt · Highland, CA · Updated 2026

Why Highland requires electrical permits

Highland is an incorporated city in San Bernardino County, so electrical work inside city limits is permitted and inspected by the City of Highland, not the county. The city enforces the California Electrical Code, which is Part 3 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations. The 2025 edition took effect statewide on January 1, 2026 and is based on the National Electrical Code published by the National Fire Protection Association. You can see the current editions on the California Building Standards Commission codes page.

A permit does two things. It puts the work on record with the city, and it triggers an inspection by someone who does not work for the installer. That second set of eyes is what catches an undersized conductor, a missing ground, or a breaker that does not match the wire it protects, before the wall is closed and the problem is hidden for twenty years.

Electrical work that needs a permit in Highland

• Panel replacements and service upgrades, including moving from 100-amp to 200-amp service. These also require coordination with Southern California Edison, the electric utility serving Highland.
• New branch circuits, such as a dedicated circuit for a range, dryer, air conditioner, heat pump, or spa.
• EV charger installations that add a 240-volt circuit.
• Rewiring all or part of a home, including replacing old aluminum or cloth-insulated wiring.
• New outlets, switches, or light fixtures in new locations, because they extend the wiring system.
• Subpanels for garages, workshops, additions, and accessory dwelling units.
• Solar, battery storage, and generator interconnections.

Work that is commonly exempt

The California Residential Code, section R105.2, lists a short set of electrical exemptions. They include minor repair work such as replacing lamps, connecting approved portable equipment to existing permanently installed receptacles, replacing a branch-circuit overcurrent device of the required capacity in the same location, and low-energy wiring operating under 25 volts and 50 watts. Cord-and-plug temporary decorative lighting is also exempt.

Notice what is not on that list: adding anything. The exemptions cover maintaining what is already there. Cities can also amend these rules locally, so when a job sits near the line, confirm with the City of Highland Building & Safety Division before work starts. An exemption from the permit is never an exemption from the code. The work still has to be done correctly.

Who is allowed to pull the permit

Two parties can take out an electrical permit on a home in Highland. The first is a contractor holding an active C-10 Electrical Contractor license from the California Contractors State License Board. The second is the property owner acting as an owner-builder, which means the owner accepts legal responsibility for the work and for anyone hired to help.

California also requires the electricians who perform work for a C-10 contractor to hold state electrician certification. When you hire a licensed contractor, the contractor pulls the permit, schedules the inspection, and meets the inspector. If someone asks you to pull an owner-builder permit for work they are doing, treat that as a warning sign, because it shifts the liability onto you.

What happens if electrical work is done without a permit

Unpermitted electrical work tends to surface at the worst time: during a home sale, an insurance claim, or a later permitted project when an inspector opens the panel. The city can require the work to be exposed for inspection, which may mean opening finished walls. Sellers in California must disclose known unpermitted work, and an insurer reviewing a fire claim will look closely at wiring that was never inspected.

The practical takeaway for Highland homeowners is simple. If the job adds to, replaces, or relocates part of the wiring system, plan on a permit. If it swaps a like-for-like device on an existing circuit, it is likely exempt, and a quick call to the city settles it.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to replace an electrical panel in Highland, CA?

Yes. A panel replacement or service upgrade in Highland requires an electrical permit and inspection from the City of Highland, plus coordination with Southern California Edison for the service disconnect and reconnect.

Do I need a permit to install an EV charger in Highland?

Yes, when the charger needs a new 240-volt circuit. California law requires cities to offer a streamlined permit process for EV charging stations, so the permit is typically routine.

Can a homeowner pull their own electrical permit in California?

Yes. A property owner can pull an owner-builder permit, but the owner then carries legal responsibility for the work and must still pass inspection under the California Electrical Code.

What electrical work does not need a permit in California?

California Residential Code section R105.2 exempts minor repair work such as replacing lamps, replacing a breaker of the required capacity in the same location, and low-energy wiring under 25 volts and 50 watts. Local rules can differ, so confirm with the city.

Who inspects electrical work in Highland, CA?

The City of Highland Building & Safety Division inspects permitted electrical work inside city limits and enforces the California Electrical Code, Title 24, Part 3.