Complete home electrical services from panel upgrades to custom lighting design
What's Included
Panel upgrades & replacements
Whole-home rewiring
EV charger installation
Custom lighting design
Outlet & switch upgrades
Electrical safety inspections
Serving Greater Vancouver
We complete residential electrical projects across Richmond, Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Coquitlam, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, and surrounding municipalities. All projects include permit handling, Technical Safety BC inspections, and WorkSafeBC compliance.
Tell us about your project — we'll respond within one business day.
Residential Electrical Services in Greater Vancouver
Most residential electrical calls in Greater Vancouver start with one of three problems: a panel that can't keep up with modern loads, wiring that was adequate thirty years ago but isn't today, or a renovation that requires a new circuit. We handle all three — and every stage in between, from a single outlet replacement to a complete whole-home rewire.
What Vancouver Homes Actually Need
Vancouver's housing stock is older than most of the region. Character homes in Kitsilano, Dunbar, Kerrisdale, and Mount Pleasant were often built with 60A fuse panels and knob-and-tube wiring. Pre-1990 homes across the city commonly sit on 100A breaker panels — adequate when the home had gas heat and a fraction of today's electrical loads, but tight the moment you add an EV charger, heat pump, or induction range.
We assess the full picture before quoting: existing service size, panel condition, branch wiring type (knob-and-tube, aluminum, or copper), and the load your project will add. That assessment determines whether the work is a straightforward circuit addition or whether a service upgrade is the right first step.
Permits and Inspections
Every residential electrical job we complete in BC is permitted under our FSR (Field Safety Representative) licence through Technical Safety BC. Anything beyond replacing a like-for-like switch or fixture in BC requires a permit — new circuits, panel work, service upgrades, EV chargers, and rewiring all fall in this category. We file the permit, coordinate the inspection, and provide the closed-permit documentation at job close. This matters for your home insurance, your insurer's renewal, and eventual resale.
Knob-and-Tube and Aluminum Wiring
If your Vancouver home was built before 1950, active knob-and-tube wiring is likely. Most BC insurers now require active K&T to be remediated before renewing a homeowner policy. We assess active circuits, identify branch runs in insulated cavities, and quote remediation as part of a renovation or alongside a panel upgrade.
Solid aluminum branch wiring — common in some 1965–1975 BC homes — has documented failure modes at terminations. We assess every connection, install AlumiConn or COPALUM connectors, and document the work for your insurer.
Are you licensed to do residential electrical work in BC?
Yes. Line In Electric is a licensed BC electrical contractor with an FSR (Field Safety Representative) on every job. Every residential job we do is permitted with Technical Safety BC and inspected before close.
Do I need a permit for residential electrical work in Vancouver?
Almost always. Anything beyond replacing a like-for-like fixture or switch in BC requires a Technical Safety BC permit. New circuits, panel work, service upgrades, and EV chargers all require permits, which we file under our contractor licence.
How much does it cost to rewire a Vancouver home?
A whole-home rewire on a typical 2,000–2,800 sq ft Vancouver house runs $12,000–$25,000+ depending on access, lath-and-plaster vs. drywall, knob-and-tube remediation needs, and finishing. We quote after a site visit and load assessment.
How do I know if my home's wiring is safe?
Warning signs: warm switch plates or outlets, frequent breaker trips, lights dimming when appliances start, two-prong outlets, scorch marks, or any aluminum or knob-and-tube wiring still active. We can do a full electrical safety inspection (typically $200–$400) and provide a written report with recommendations.
Do you replace knob-and-tube wiring?
Yes. Knob-and-tube remediation is a regular part of our Vancouver workload, especially in pre-1950 character homes. Most insurers in BC now require active K&T to be remediated before they will renew a homeowner policy.
Can you add outlets to my older home without tearing up walls?
In most cases yes. We use fishing techniques through walls, floor cavities, and attic/crawlspace runs to add outlets and circuits with minimal drywall damage. Patching is usually limited to 2–4 small access cuts.
How long does it take to upgrade a panel in a residential home?
A typical 100A → 200A panel upgrade is one full day on site, plus BC Hydro coordination for the disconnect/reconnect. From quote to energized panel is usually 2–4 weeks depending on BC Hydro scheduling.
What's involved in installing an EV charger at a residential home?
Load calculation, dedicated 240V circuit from the panel to the charger location, mounting and commissioning the unit, and Technical Safety BC permit. If the panel does not have capacity, a service upgrade is required first. See our EV charger + service upgrade page for combined costs.
Do you handle aluminum wiring remediation?
Yes. Solid aluminum branch wiring (common in some 1965–1975 BC homes) has known failure modes at terminations. We assess every connection, install AlumiConn or COPALUM connectors, and document the work for your insurer.
Can you install a smart home system in an older home?
Yes. Smart switches, smart panels, and Z-Wave/Zigbee/Matter devices can usually be retrofitted into an older home with the existing wiring, provided the boxes are deep enough and a neutral wire is present. We assess this on site.
How long do residential electrical jobs typically take?
Outlet/switch replacements: under an hour each. Panel upgrades: one day on site. EV charger install: half-day. Whole-home rewire: 2–4 weeks. Custom lighting design: depends on scope. We give written timelines in every quote.
Do you do emergency residential electrical service?
We respond same-day to safety-critical issues (sparking, burning smell, partial power loss, scorched outlets) when our schedule allows. Call us first — many issues can be triaged over the phone before a truck rolls.
Will I lose power during the work?
For most circuit-level work, no — we isolate the affected breaker. For panel upgrades and service-entrance work, yes — power is off for the working window (4–8 hours). We schedule disconnects in writing in advance.
What's the difference between a 100A and 200A residential service?
A 100A service supports a typical home with gas heat and cooking. A 200A service is now the modern standard and is usually required for homes adding an EV charger, heat pump, induction range, hot tub, or significant additions. The cost difference is usually $1,500–$3,000.
Are your residential electricians insured?
Yes. Line In Electric carries general liability insurance and is registered with WorkSafeBC. We provide proof of insurance and a clearance letter on request before any job starts.
