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Electrical Permit in El Paso, Texas

A separate subcontractor permit is required for electrical work under the City's technical codes; electrical contracting must be performed under a licensed master electrician or a registered employer of one.

Reviewed 2026-09-06 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Separate subcontractor permits are required for electrical work (Sec. 18.02.105.4); for new construction, the master (building) permit must be obtained first (Sec. 18.02.105.3).
  • No person or entity may engage in electrical contracting without holding a master electrician's license or being the registered employer of a full-time master electrician; work must be performed under a master electrician's control, supervision, direction, and responsibility (Sec. 18.02.104.6).

Required documents

Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.

Not ready yet0 of 2 required documents checked.

This checker covers one permit. A full project usually triggers several — our checklist will assemble all of them, free →

Fee schedule

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Electrical Permit permit actually take in El Paso?

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Inspection process

  1. 1

    Electrical sign inspections are made after wiring and equipment are installed, at the electrical permit holder's place of business, and are required prior to final inspection (Sec. 18.02.107 — Signs subsection).

See the full El Paso inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • A homeowner starting electrical work on their own residence without a permit pays double the permit fee; a contractor doing the same pays triple (FY2027 Schedule C, lines 458-460).

Frequently asked questions

El Paso requires an electrical permit for: Separate subcontractor permits are required for electrical work (Sec. 18.02.105.4); for new construction, the master (building) permit must be obtained first (Sec. 18.02.105.3).; No person or entity may engage in electrical contracting without holding a master electrician's license or being the registered employer of a full-time master electrician; work must be performed under a master electrician's control, supervision, direction, and responsibility (Sec. 18.02.104.6).. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of El Paso Planning & Inspections Department — One Stop Shop at (915) 212-0104 before starting work.

El Paso does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of El Paso Planning & Inspections Department — One Stop Shop at (915) 212-0104 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Building Permit Application indicating electrical scope of work; Contractor Registration Application / Contractor Authorization Form (for the licensed electrical contractor). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

El Paso requires 1 inspection(s) for an electrical permit, in order: Electrical sign inspections are made after wiring and equipment are installed, at the electrical permit holder's place of business, and are required prior to final inspection (Sec. 18.02.107 — Signs subsection).. Schedule each through City of El Paso Planning & Inspections Department — One Stop Shop ((915) 212-0104).

Apply through City of El Paso Planning & Inspections Department — One Stop Shop at 811 Texas Ave., El Paso, TX 79901. Phone: (915) 212-0104, email: OSSHelp@elpasotexas.gov. Office hours: Call Center: Mon-Thu 7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Fri 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Lobby: Mon-Thu 8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Fri 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (effective Oct 30, 2023). Official information: https://www.elpasotexas.gov/planning-and-inspections.

El Paso, Texas has adopted: 2021 International Building Code (ICC) — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.08; 2021 International Residential Code (ICC) — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.10; 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (ICC) — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.70; 2021 International Mechanical Code (ICC) — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.12; 2020 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.16; 2021 International Plumbing Code (ICC) — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.20; 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (ICC) — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.24; 2021 International Existing Building Code (ICC) — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.28; 2021 International Fire Code (ICC), per City's own 'Currently Adopted Codes and Amendments' summary; 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ICC) — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.30; 2021 International Property Maintenance Code (ICC), per City's own 'Currently Adopted Codes and Amendments' summary; Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS) under the Architectural Barriers Act (Tex. Gov't Code Ch. 469) and ICC/ANSI A117.1-2009; Locally authored 'Recommended Requirements to Code Officials for Solar Heating, Cooling and Hot Water Systems' (not an ICC-numbered edition) — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.32; Outdoor Lighting Code, Landscape Code, and Irrigation Systems regulations — El Paso Municipal Code Chs. 18.18, 18.46, 18.47 (locally authored, not ICC editions). Local amendments apply — see the El Paso overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-06.

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the El Paso building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

El Paso's permit history isn't searchable here yet

This page covers what the permit requires. What we don't have for El Paso yet is the record of permits actually issued — the history you'd search by street address. That is a gap in our coverage, not a statement about any particular property.

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