Commercial Electrician in Los Angeles and Long Beach
The Handy Geeks sends commercial electricians to offices, stores and restaurants across Los Angeles and Long Beach for repairs, panel upgrades, LED retrofits and EV charger circuits, as part of our commercial handyman services in Los Angeles. Send the address and a short scope and we reply with a written price. We carry $2M in general liability insurance, and a certificate is available on request. Call +1 818-835-0556 or request a commercial electrical quote.
What does a commercial electrician do for a Los Angeles business?
A commercial electrician installs, repairs and tests the wiring, panels, lighting and equipment circuits inside a business property. In Los Angeles that means panel upgrades for new tenants, LED retrofits, EV charger circuits, tripped-breaker diagnosis and code fixes after inspections, scheduled around store or restaurant hours to limit downtime.
| Job type | Typical trigger | Operations impact |
|---|---|---|
| Preventive inspection | Insurance review or lease renewal | Low: one visit, no shutdown |
| Tripped breakers or dead circuits | New equipment or aging wiring | Medium: one visit to diagnose |
| Panel upgrade | Tenant buildout or added load | High: planned power shutdown |
| LED retrofit | High utility bill or failing fluorescents | Low to medium: done floor by floor |
| EV charger circuit | Fleet or customer parking | Low: panel capacity check first |
| Partial rewiring | Water damage or an older building | Medium: multi-day, area by area |
How much does commercial electrical work cost in Los Angeles?
Commercial electrical work in Los Angeles typically costs $150 to $500 for an inspection, $500 to $3,000 for an LED retrofit, $2,000 to $6,000 for a panel upgrade, $2,000 to $8,000 for an EV charger circuit and $4,000 to $15,000 for partial rewiring. Building age, panel capacity and finish repair set the final number.
| Job | Typical range (2026) | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Preventive inspection | $150 to $500 | Number of panels and building size |
| LED retrofit | $500 to $3,000 | Fixture count, ceiling height, controls |
| Panel upgrade | $2,000 to $6,000 | Amperage, utility coordination, permit |
| EV charger circuit | $2,000 to $8,000 | Distance to the panel, charger count |
| Partial rewiring | $4,000 to $15,000 | Wall access, conduit, finish repair |
These are planning ranges that match our Long Beach commercial electrical cost guide; a written quote after a site visit sets the real price. Service visits carry a $110 to $210 minimum in Los Angeles plus a $20 to $95 trip fee. See the Pasadena commercial electrical guide for the same ranges in the San Gabriel Valley.
Should a tenant space get a panel upgrade or a sub-panel?
A panel upgrade fits when the main panel is full, undersized or carries damaged breakers. A sub-panel fits when the main panel has spare capacity and the tenant needs more circuit positions near new equipment. An electrician confirms the answer with a load calculation, not by counting open breaker slots.
| Situation | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Main panel full and loaded near capacity | Panel upgrade | New circuits would add to an overload |
| Spare capacity, new equipment far from the main | Sub-panel | Shorter wire runs and more circuit positions |
| Scorched, rusted or recalled breakers | Panel replacement | The hardware is at end of life |
| Adding a kitchen line or server room | Load calculation first | These loads run continuously for hours |
LED retrofit or spot relamping: which pays off?
An LED retrofit pays off when you replace many aging fluorescent or metal-halide fixtures at once, because LEDs are typically rated around 50,000 hours against 20,000 to 30,000 for linear fluorescent. Spot relamping fits a few failing fixtures, a short lease or a space you will renovate within a year.
| Factor | Fluorescent | Metal halide | LED |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical rated life | 20,000 to 30,000 hours | 10,000 to 20,000 hours | 50,000+ hours |
| Warm-up | Short | Several minutes | Instant |
| Common failure | Ballast | Lamp and ballast | Driver |
| Best for | Spot replacement | Replace when possible | Whole-floor or whole-store upgrades |
Rated life comes from typical manufacturer data. California’s energy code, Title 24, sets lighting control rules for retrofits, and our commercial energy efficiency savings guide covers the utility side.
Why do breakers keep tripping in a restaurant or retail space?
Breakers trip in commercial spaces for four main reasons: a circuit loaded past 80 percent of its rating for hours, a loose connection that heats the breaker, a failing breaker, or a ground fault in a wet area. Each cause shows a different pattern, so an electrician tests the circuit before swapping breakers.
| Cause | Pattern you see | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Overloaded circuit | Trips after hours of continuous equipment use | Measure load against the 80 percent continuous-load limit in the National Electrical Code |
| Loose connection | Warm panel, flickering lights | Thermal scan and torque check |
| Failing breaker | Trips well below its rating | Test the breaker, replace if it fails |
| Ground fault | Trips when wet equipment starts | Insulation test on the circuit and GFCI check |
What does after-hours commercial electrical work cost?
After-hours commercial electrical work costs 1.25 to 1.6 times the daytime rate, and emergency call-outs cost 1.4 to 1.75 times. For a job priced at $400 during the day, that means $500 to $640 after hours and $560 to $700 for an emergency. Scheduled night work costs less than a call at closing time.
| Scheduling | Multiplier | A $400 daytime job becomes |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime | 1.0x | $400 |
| After-hours or weekend | 1.25x to 1.6x | $500 to $640 |
| Emergency call-out | 1.4x to 1.75x | $560 to $700 |
Account clients get an urgent confirmation within 2 to 4 hours. Night and weekend crews follow the same commercial maintenance rates and quote process we use across Los Angeles.
Does commercial electrical work in Los Angeles need a permit?
Panel changes, new circuits, rewiring and EV charger installs in Los Angeles and Long Beach typically need a building permit and an inspection, while like-for-like swaps of fixtures, switches and outlets often do not. The city building department sets the final rule for your address, so confirm before work begins.
| Job | Permit usually needed? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Panel upgrade | Yes | Inspection before power is restored |
| New circuit | Yes | Applies to equipment and kitchen lines |
| EV charger circuit | Yes | Panel capacity is checked first |
| Rewiring | Yes | Scope decides the number of inspections |
| Like-for-like fixture swap | Often no | Check lighting control rules |
| Like-for-like outlet or switch swap | Often no | Same location and rating |
Confirm with the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety or Long Beach Development Services before scheduling.
How do I book a commercial electrician in Los Angeles?
Send the property address, a short description of the problem and any photos of the panel door label to The Handy Geeks. We reply with a written scope and price, then schedule the visit around your hours. Urgent requests from account clients get a confirmation within 2 to 4 hours.
| What to send | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Property address and access hours | Lets us plan around opening times |
| Short punch list or symptom | Sets the scope for a written price |
| Photos of the panel and its label | Shows capacity before the visit |
| Certificate of insurance requirements | We provide $2M general liability certificates on request |
Electrical rarely stands alone. The same visit can cover door closers, restroom partitions and punch lists in one commercial maintenance plan for Los Angeles properties.
Commercial electrician FAQ
Do you work nights and weekends on commercial electrical jobs?
Yes. We schedule after-hours and weekend work for occupied stores, offices and restaurants at 1.25 to 1.6 times the daytime rate, and emergency call-outs at 1.4 to 1.75 times. Night work is booked ahead so the space is ready for opening.
Do you provide a certificate of insurance?
Yes. We carry $2M in general liability insurance and issue a certificate of insurance on request, usually the same day, naming your management company when you need it before the first visit.
Which areas do you serve?
We serve commercial properties in Los Angeles and Long Beach, plus Pasadena and the rest of Southern California, and the Bay Area. All work is coordinated from our office at 6020 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles.
How fast can you confirm an urgent electrical call?
Account clients get a confirmation within 2 to 4 hours on urgent requests. Emergency call-outs are billed at 1.4 to 1.75 times the daytime rate, so a scheduled inspection is the cheaper way to catch a failing panel.
Related guides: why a restaurant breaker keeps tripping and exit sign and emergency light testing in California.