Long Beach, CA Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LBMC § 18.04.010(C)
- Adopted code
- 2025 California Electrical Code, LBMC § 18.42.010
- Voltage/wattage trigger
- >25 volts or capable of >50 watts
- Smoke-detector exemption
- Licensed contractor swap, no electrical permit needed (§18.04.020(D)(10))
- Penalty
- Unpermitted structure/installation, misdemeanor
Summary
Long Beach requires an electrical permit for new wiring, alterations and most equipment operating above 25 volts or 50 watts, under LBMC § 18.04.010(C), enforced through the City's own adopted 2025 California Electrical Code. A defined list of minor, low-voltage or portable work is exempt.
C. Electrical permits. No new electrical installation shall be made nor any alteration or addition performed to any existing wiring, nor shall any wiring for the placing or installation of any electric light, power or heating device, or any apparatus which generates, transmits, transforms or utilizes electricity operating at a voltage exceeding twenty-five (25) volts between conductors or capable of supplying more than fifty (50) watts, be made without first obtaining an electrical permit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 52 Update 1 | City Charter: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
LBMC § 18.04.010(C) provides: "No new electrical installation shall be made nor any alteration or addition performed to any existing wiring, nor shall any wiring for the placing or installation of any electric light, power or heating device, or any apparatus which generates, transmits, transforms or utilizes electricity operating at a voltage exceeding twenty-five (25) volts between conductors or capable of supplying more than fifty (50) watts, be made without first obtaining an electrical permit." A separate permit is required for each building or structure.
Chapter 18.42, in § 18.42.010, adopts "the 2025 Edition of the California Electrical Code," Part 3 of Title 24 based on the 2023 National Electrical Code, together forming the Long Beach Electrical Code. Section 18.04.020(D) exempts limited categories: temporary theater or motion-picture set wiring, portable cord-and-plug appliances, festive lighting under 90 days, and reinstallation of the same wall plugs or switches, but subsection (D)(10) specifically carves out "the replacement of defective smoke detectors in a one- or two-family dwelling and related accessory building and structure when the work is performed by a contractor with a valid contractor license issued by the State and a valid business license issued by the City." None of these exemptions apply in areas classified hazardous under NEC Article 500 or to fire alarm wiring under Article 760.
Violations & Fines
Electrical work performed without a required permit creates an unpermitted structure or installation under LBMC § 18.09.070, exposing the responsible party to misdemeanor prosecution under Title 18's general penalty clause, and the Building Official may de-energize or order removal of noncompliant wiring until it is permitted and inspected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to rewire an outlet in Long Beach?
What electrical code does Long Beach enforce?
Can a contractor replace a smoke detector without an electrical permit?
Is festive holiday lighting exempt from an electrical permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Long Beach to another location·View the California building safety overview
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Electrical Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle electrical permits.