Buffalo, NY Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Chapter 165, Article IV of the Buffalo City Code governs general electrical permits. Section 165-27 bars installing, changing, or adding electrical work without a permit from the Commissioner, except work performed in their own plants by persons not required to be licensed under Article I. 1, added in 2004, narrows what can skip a permit: minor repairs and replacements-in-kind at existing one- and two-family dwellings (sub-30-volt devices, lamps, ballasts, lenses, surface-mounted fixtures and fans, fuses, cover plates) done by homeowners or licensed handymen/contractors, and similar minor work at commercial buildings done by factory-certified technicians or licensed contractors.

Even exempt work must still meet Underwriters Laboratory standards, the electrical code, and BCNYS building code requirements. All other new work, or any change to services, conduit, wiring, or smoke/fire detection and alarm systems, requires a permit and payment of fees, and must be performed by a master electrician licensed by the City of Buffalo or a journeyman supervised by one. Section 165-16 makes the National Electrical Code part of the chapter and requires that all electrical work in the City conform to it, regardless of whether a permit is otherwise required; a copy is kept on file with the City Clerk.

A permit is issued only to a licensed master electrician (Section 165-18/165-28), except that an owner-occupant of a one- or two-family dwelling may obtain one after proving to the Chief Electrical Inspector that they are personally qualified. Under Section 165-29, the application must state the owner's and applicant's name and address, the nature of the work, and confirmation the work will follow the National Electrical Code; Section 165-30 requires the issued permit to restate that information. Section 165-32 sets permit fees under the flat-fee schedule: a $25 application fee plus $50 for new electrical work in a one-family dwelling or one unit of a two-family dwelling, $75 for work in both units of a two-family dwelling, and $50 for the first meter release with $25 for each additional meter; larger commercial or area-calculated jobs use a separate use-multiplier table in Chapter 175.