Electrical panel replacement and service upgrades in Orlando

Yes. Replacing a panel or upgrading the electrical service is permitted work throughout Central Florida. Orange County lists panel changes and service upgrades among projects that need an electrical permit, and the City of Orlando requires trade permits for applicable residential work. The contractor normally pulls the permit, coordinates the disconnect and reconnect with your electric utility and schedules the final inspection. Keep a copy of the closed permit: insurers often ask for it.

Ask which items they need corrected (panel brand, capacity, condition or wiring type), what proof they accept (a closed permit, an invoice, photos or a letter from a licensed contractor) and the deadline. Federal Pacific (Stab-Lok) and Zinsco panels are commonly flagged on 4-point inspections, but requirements vary by insurer. Getting the answer in writing before work starts helps you avoid paying for work the insurer won’t accept.

The work itself often takes most of a day, and the power is off while it’s done. The overall timeline also depends on the permit office and on scheduling the utility disconnect, reconnect and inspection. A service upgrade that changes the meter base or the service size usually takes longer than a like-for-like panel swap. Ask the electrician for a timeline together with the estimate.

Common signs are a panel with no free spaces, breakers that trip when several large appliances run together, and plans to add an EV charger, a pool heat pump, a hot tub, an electric tankless water heater or a room addition. Many older homes have 100-amp or smaller services. An electrician can do a load calculation, which shows whether your current service is enough or an upgrade is needed.