It is important to be aware of your local laws regarding electrical repairs.

Electrical in Los Angeles

It is important to be aware of your local laws regarding electrical repairs.

In many towns, there are limitations on the work an unlicensed person may do... even the homeowner! There are also distinctions made between what an unlicensed homeowner can do and what an unlicensed tradesman can do. For example, a homeowner (with the proper permits) may be allowed to wire an addition to his or her home. If she wanted to hire someone to do the work, though, she might be required to hire a licensed electrician for this work.

There are also distinctions made within types of electrical work. Appliance installation, for example, is often not considered restricted electrical work if the original wiring and connection was made by a licensed electrician.

Local codes exist because of and are often based on local concerns. Densely populated areas, such as large cities, tend to have electrical codes severely limiting homeowner electrical work because errors can endanger hundreds or thousands of people! Rural codes are often less stringent, allowing more owner flexibility and involvement in the work. Local environmental conditions such as the possibility of earthquakes, tornados or hurricanes, the level of the water table, amount of rainfall and general humidity, soil conditions, and the types of building materials available also influence the local electrical code.