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Erie, PA Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Administration fee
$25 per electrical permit
200-amp service fee
$50
401+ amp service fee
$20 per 100 amps
No permit: fee doubled
$100 minimum penalty
Pool wiring inspection
$325 for first two trips
Enforcing office
City Building Code Official

Summary

Any electrical work in Erie regulated by the Uniform Construction Code needs a permit from the Building Code Official before wiring begins, per City Code Section 1503.41(a). The Bureau of Building Standards and Safety charges a flat $25 administration and technology fee, then a service fee running from $50 for a 200-amp service up to $20 per additional 100 amps over 400 amps, per Section 1502.03.

§ 1502.03. Electrical permit fees. ... (a) Administration and Technology Fee $25 (b) Service and Feeders 200 amp or less $50 201 amp to 400 amp $85 Over 400 amp $20 per 100 amp Sub-feeders or sub panels Over 600 volt $25 Additional meter $10 ... (f) Miscellaneous ... Emergencies and weekend call-out inspections $300 Pool inspections - two trips $325 Third and each additional trip $50

Full Breakdown

03 sets Erie's electrical permit fee schedule under a $25 administration and technology fee that applies to every electrical permit application. Service and feeder fees are tiered by amperage: $50 for a service of 200 amps or less, $85 for 201 to 400 amps, and $20 per additional 100 amps for anything over 400 amps, plus $25 for sub-feeders or sub-panels over 600 volts and $10 for an additional meter. Residential flat-rate inspections are capped at two trips: $50 covers the minimum trip up to 15 devices, with $25 for each additional trip and $1 per additional device or fixture.

Commercial work runs $75 for a minimum trip covering up to 15 devices, plus $1 per additional device, and the same $75 minimum applies to signaling, communication and alarm work. 0 hp up to $100 for anything over 100 hp, doubled for equipment operating over 600 volts. A temporary pole service permit costs $50, and pool wiring inspections run $325 for the first two trips and $50 for each trip after that. 41(a) requires the property owner or an authorized agent to apply to the Building Code Official and obtain the permit, and emergency repairs must still be reported with a permit application within three business days. 41(c)(2). Emergencies and weekend call-out inspections cost a flat $300 regardless of the underlying job.

Violations & Fines

Starting electrical work without the required permit doubles every fee due under the Permit Fee Schedule, with a minimum charge of $100, under City Code Section 1503.51. Paying the doubled fee does not excuse the contractor from bringing the work into compliance or from any other penalty the Uniform Construction Code allows. A Building Code Official or Fire Inspector can also issue a written stop-work order under Section 1503.52 halting the job until the listed conditions are met.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to add an outlet in Erie?
Yes. Installing or altering wiring regulated by the Uniform Construction Code requires a permit from the Building Code Official under Section 1503.41(a) before work starts, unless it falls under a listed exemption such as replacing a same-rated receptacle. The permit carries a $25 administration fee plus the applicable service or device fee set in Section 1502.03.
How much does an electrical permit cost for a 200-amp service upgrade?
A 200-amp or smaller service costs $50 under Section 1502.03, plus the $25 administration and technology fee, for $75 total before any device fees. A 201-to-400-amp service costs $85 instead, and anything over 400 amps is billed at $20 per additional 100 amps.
What happens if I wire without a permit in Erie?
Section 1503.51 doubles every fee that would have applied, with a minimum penalty of $100, and the doubled fee does not excuse the work from being brought up to Uniform Construction Code standards. The Building Code Official can also issue a stop-work order under Section 1503.52 until the violation is corrected.

Sources & Official References

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