Guide
Do I need a licensed electrician in California?
California lets you do a limited amount of electrical work yourself — here's exactly where that line sits, and when the law requires a licensed C-10 contractor.
As of September 2026, California's statewide minor-work exemption (AB 2622) allows unlicensed electrical work up to $1,000 total (labor and materials) when no permit is required and no employees are used — anything beyond that, or anything requiring a permit regardless of cost, legally requires a licensed C-10 electrical contractor.
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The $1,000 exemption, in full
Assembly Bill 2622 raised California's statewide minor-work exemption to $1,000 total, effective January 1, 2025. It's a general statewide rule — it applies the same way to electrical, plumbing, and other trades. All three conditions below have to be true at the same time for the exemption to apply:
Total project value ≤ $1,000
Labor and materials combined for the whole job — not just the materials, and not just one part of a larger project.
No building permit required for the work
If the specific work item needs a permit, a licensed contractor is required regardless of how small or inexpensive the job is.
No employees on the job
The unlicensed person doing the work can’t employ anyone else to help — it has to be genuinely a one-person job.
If any one of these fails — the job costs more than $1,000 total, the specific work requires a permit no matter the cost, or more than one person is doing the work — a licensed C-10 electrical contractor is required, full stop.
What actually needs a C-10 contractor
The C-10 "Electrical Contractor" classification, issued by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), covers electrical contracting work generally. In practice, most of what a Redding homeowner calls an electrician for falls outside the $1,000 exemption once you factor in permits:
- Panel or service upgrades — always requires a permit, so always requires a licensed contractor regardless of cost. See our panel upgrade cost guide.
- New circuits (including most EV charger installs) — typically requires a permit. See our EV charger installation guide.
- Whole-house rewiring — well beyond $1,000 in almost every case, and generally permitted. See our electrical repair cost guide.
- A simple like-for-like repair (a single switch or outlet swap, no new wiring) — often small enough to qualify for the exemption if no permit is triggered, though many homeowners choose a licensed electrician anyway for the workmanship and liability protection.
See our Redding electrician hub for a fuller breakdown of what each job type typically costs.
Why it matters beyond the legal question
Unpermitted or unlicensed electrical work isn't just a legal risk — it's a real safety and financial one. Work that skips inspection can create a fire hazard that goes unnoticed until it's a bigger problem, and unpermitted work can complicate a home sale or an insurance claim down the line if damage is later traced back to it.
Electricians we connect you with report holding an active California C-10 electrical contractor license and insurance. Verify any contractor yourself at the CSLB license lookup (cslb.ca.gov) before hiring.
Common questions
What is California’s $1,000 electrical work exemption? +
California’s statewide minor-work exemption (Assembly Bill 2622, effective January 1, 2025) allows a person without a contractor’s license to perform electrical work if the total project value is $1,000 or less, the work doesn’t require a building permit, and the person doesn’t employ anyone else on the job. If any one of those conditions fails, a licensed C-10 electrical contractor is required.
Can I replace a light fixture or outlet myself in California? +
A simple like-for-like swap — the same type of fixture or outlet in the same location, no new wiring or circuit changes — is often small enough in cost to fall under the $1,000 exemption and typically doesn’t require a permit. Adding a new circuit, moving wiring, or any panel-related work is a different situation and generally requires a licensed contractor and a permit.
Do I need a permit for a panel upgrade or new circuit in Redding? +
Generally yes — panel upgrades and new circuits typically require a building permit regardless of cost, which means the $1,000 exemption doesn’t apply and a licensed C-10 contractor is required. See our panel upgrade cost guide for what that typically involves.
How do I verify an electrician’s C-10 license? +
Use the CSLB’s free "Check a License" tool at cslb.ca.gov, which shows whether a license is active, its classification, and whether there’s a bond on file. Always verify a specific contractor yourself before hiring, even one you were referred to.
Need a licensed electrician for the job?
Tell us what you need and we'll connect you with an available independent, C-10 licensed local electrician — free to use, no obligation.