Get Quotes from Top Electricians in Sacramento, CA

What Do I Need to Know Before Hiring an Electrician in Sacramento? 

It is never a good idea to put off dealing with any electricity-related issues at home, on your property, or trying to fix them yourself. This puts you and your loved ones at risk of electrical injuries and can also result in the loss of thousands of dollars in property damage. Therefore, you should always call a licensed and experienced Sacramento electrician whenever you find yourself in any of the following situations: 

• You need to upgrade your home’s wiring, lighting fixtures, or outlets 
• You smell burning or smoking wires 
• You need to replace a faulty breaker or electric panel 
• Your home has sustained water damage, especially around electrical outlets and fixtures 
• You need to correct a code violation on your property  

Are You Licensed as an Electrician in Sacramento? 

Electricians who offer services worth $500 or more to home and business owners in Sacramento must hold a C-10 Electrical Contractor License from the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). The requirements for getting this license include the following: 

• Having at least four years of journeyman-level electrical work experience and submitting acceptable documentation to verify this 
• Submitting an Application for Original License Form, along with a non-refundable application fee 
• Passing a CSLB-administered licensing examination 
• Complying with the CSLB’s bond and insurance requirements  

Note that unlicensed electrical work in Sacramento is considered a misdemeanor. Violators face statutory and administrative penalties that include fines of up to $15,000, jail time of up to six months, or a combination of both.  

You can confirm that your preferred Sacramento electrician has a valid CSLB-issued license by contacting the board at (800) 321-2752 or using its Check a Contractor License platform. Doing this before reaching agreements with the electrician is always a good idea.  

What Rates Do You Charge for Your Electrical Services in Sacramento? 

While electricians in Sacramento typically charge an average of $65 - $120 per hour for their services, the actual cost of hiring these professionals is usually determined by several factors, like:  

• The nature and scope of the task 
• The cost of materials and permits required  
• The labor intensity of the job 
• The electrician’s level of experience and local reputation 
• The urgency of the job 
• Your location within the city 

You should always get and compare price quotes from at least three local electricians before making your hiring decision. This way, you can get a fair estimate of the going rate for your required services in your area and identify electricians who try to con unsuspecting clients by overcharging them.  

Are You a Master Electrician in Sacramento? 

Electricians in Sacramento are typically grouped into three categories based on their level of training and experience: 

• Apprentice Electricians: these are unlicensed electricians still enrolled in an apprenticeship program. These electricians are always required to work under the supervision of a licensed electrician. 
• Journeyman Electricians: these are electricians who have finished an apprenticeship or training course. They generally have enough experience to offer various electrical services and complete tasks without supervision. Journeyman electricians typically have to gain at least four years of electrical work experience and pass an examination before getting licensed. 
• Master Electricians: this is the highest level of experience an electrician can achieve. Master electricians usually spend several years as journeymen before reaching this title. These electricians are typically sufficiently qualified and experienced to work on any electrical project, regardless of its complexity. 

Always ascertain your preferred electrician's level of experience and ensure they are qualified to deal with the task before making any commitments to them.  

Will My Electrical Project Require a Permit in Sacramento? 

You need a permit from the Sacramento Community Development Department before doing any work that involves installing, altering, removing, or repairing electrical systems. The department’s Building Division issues these permits, which can only be obtained by appropriately licensed contractors, property owners, or an authorized agent of any of these parties. 

You can direct inquiries concerning the permitting process for electrical projects in Sacramento to the city’s Building Division via email, by calling (916) 808-5318, or in person at the division’s Permit Counter located at: 

Note that you may be required to schedule an appointment for in-person inquiries.  

What Type of Electrical Services Do You Offer in Sacramento? 

Sacramento-based electricians generally offer several kinds of electrical services to interested city residents, such as: 

Will You Be Doing the Work, or Do You Outsource the Electrical Work in Sacramento? 

While one skilled electrician may often complete many home electrical projects alone, this is only sometimes true for commercial or industrial projects, especially those that must be completed on schedule. As a result, it is always a good idea to determine whether your electrician will be using any subcontractors if you are working on a big project. If the answer to this question is yes, you should do the following: 

• Determine the number of subcontractors that will be involved 
• Verify that each of them has been appropriately licensed and is also aptly experienced 
• Ensure that each subcontractor is adequately bonded and insured 
• Consider getting a lien waiver. This way, you will not have to bear liabilities if the electrician does not pay the subcontractors   

Are You a Fully Insured and Bonded Sacramento Electrician? 

The California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) mandates all Sacramento-based electricians to post a surety bond of at least $25,000 and carry worker’s compensation insurance before providing services to interested city residents. This agency also strongly recommends that electricians carry commercial general liability insurance and requires them to inform potential clients of their liability insurance status before they perform any work on residential property.  

Therefore, always request and validate copies of your intended electrician’s bond and insurance certificates when negotiating your electrical services. You can also contact the CSLB at (800) 321-2752 to get more information on its bond and insurance requirements for Sacramento-based electricians. 

Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your Electrical Work in Sacramento? 

You should be highly suspicious of Sacramento electricians who say they do not provide a work warranty covering their services and the materials they use or who seem hesitant to do so. Note that you might be offered a separate parts warranty for some of the project's materials, depending on the extent of the work. 

Also, even though the conditions of these warranties may vary by electrician, ensure that your warranty is valid for at least a year. It is also a good idea to ask for a written copy of the warranty to study its specific terms and scope of coverage. 

How Do I Resolve Any Issue I Have with Your Electrical Services in Sacramento? 

You can report unsatisfactory electrical services, suspected unlicensed electrical work, and electrician scams in Sacramento to the California Contractors State License Board using the resources available on its Filing a Construction Complaint webpage. 

Complaints of this nature can also be filed locally with the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office through its Consumer and Environmental Protection Division by submitting a Consumer Fraud Complaint Form to this division via email, fax to (916) 321-2232, or mail-in to: