Power from SCE
Electrician in Tustin: different panel checks by neighborhood
Tustin runs from older cottages in Old Town to homes built since 2014 at Tustin Legacy. Edison serves all of it, and the city publishes how long plan checks take.
Permit office
City of Tustin Community Development Department, Building Division
(714) 573-3130 (Building technicians); city main line (714) 573-3000 · Permit page · Online portal
Permit fees in Tustin
City of Tustin Community Development Department, Building Division
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Electrical permit issuance (base fee) FY 2026-27 Comprehensive Fee Schedule, Council Resolution 26-05, effective April 1, 2026. | $38.00 |
| Services, switchboard sections, panel boards: 600 V or less and not over 200 amps, each | $123.01 |
| Miscellaneous conduits and conductors | $123.01 |
| Receptacle, switch and lighting outlets, first 20 each | $6.15 |
| Fixed residential appliance not exceeding 1 hp, each | $123.01 |
| Temporary power service pole or pedestal, each | $123.00 |
Taken from the city's fee page. Fees change, and other charges such as plan check can apply. Confirm at the permit counter. Compare permit fees across cities.
Turnaround. Plan checkers and inspectors are usually available at the counter daily. Plan checks not finished at the counter are generally returned within 10 working days for first submittals and 5 working days for resubmittals. Expedited plan check is available for a higher fee. Permits are valid 180 days.
EV charger permits. Tustin's published checklist found is the 'Eligibility Checklist for Expedited Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permit' for non-residential buildings (revised April 2022), which lists charger levels from Level 1 15 or 20A and requires manufacturer specs and a load calculation worksheet. State law (AB 1236 and AB 970, Government Code 65850.7 and 65850.71) requires a published checklist and electronic submittal.
Inspections. Payments are only taken through the Citizen Self Service portal or at the City Hall Finance counter.
No city-run rebate is listed for Tustin. See the rebate finder for programs from SCE and the state.
$2,500 to $4,500
A regional range from the sources on the cost page. Your electrician gives the actual quote after a look.
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Three eras in one city
The original townsite, Old Town, has Craftsman houses and older cottages. Postwar tracts surround it. Tustin Ranch was built from the late 1980s through the 1990s. Tustin Legacy sits on the former Marine Corps Air Station Tustin, which closed in 1999, and homebuilding there began in 2014, with condos and townhomes still being added.
About 1 in 4 Tustin homes predate 1970, and the median year is 1983. Half the homes are single-family and half are not. Old Town panels are the oldest, and Tustin Legacy panels the newest. For old houses, read partial rewire and how to read your electrical panel.
Paying the city
The Comprehensive Fee Schedule took effect April 1, 2026. Its electrical fees are mostly flat per item rather than scaled by size, and the schedule has no separate EV charger line, so ask how a charger circuit is billed. Applications and payments go through the city’s Citizen Self Service portal, or the Finance counter at City Hall. Inspections are requested one day ahead by phone or online. Permits follow the 2025 California codes for plan reviews submitted on or after January 1, 2026. See the 2025 code changes guide.
Meter timing with Edison
Edison delivers and bills all power in the city. SCE’s TOU-D-PRIME plan fits homes with an EV, battery or heat pump, but check current prices on sce.com. The unincorporated North Tustin area is outside the city limits and permits through the County, so confirm which office covers your address.
After the city’s clearance, SCE sets the meter. Lockring removals go by phone to 1-800-655-4555. See the panel upgrade timeline for how the steps fit together.
Chargers, solar and batteries
The charger checklist posted online is the non-residential one, revised April 2022. It asks for manufacturer specs and a load calculation worksheet. State law (AB 1236 and AB 970) requires a published checklist, and the AB 1236 guide explains it.
Solar jobs use a separate page and email for submittals, so a solar and battery project does not follow the standard route. A second air conditioner or a heat pump can also trigger a service upgrade in the older tracts. Nearby cities with the same utility include Orange and Santa Ana. See the EV charger cost range.
What the homes in Tustin look like
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; QuickFacts for Tustin. Climate zone 8.
Working with SCE on a service change
SCE sets and reconnects the meter. Its published targets cover only SCE steps, and city review time is extra. How the steps fit together.
Backup power for shutoff days
Shutoffs and fire weather in Tustin
Shutoff record: Named on a possible-shutoff list only
Local news has tied nearby shutoffs to North Tustin, Orange and Santiago Canyon foothills (a 2019 NBC Los Angeles report listed about 7,250 Orange County customers including unincorporated North Tustin).
Tustin specifics
- The city served as lead agency for the reuse plan, so much of the housing there is newer construction. Source
Common electrical jobs in Tustin
Other cities close by
Questions about electrical work in Tustin
How long does Tustin take to approve an electrical panel upgrade?
The city says plan checks not finished at the counter come back in about 10 working days on a first submittal and 5 on a resubmittal. Plan checkers and inspectors are usually at the counter daily. Expedited plan check is available for a higher fee. Permits are valid for 180 days.
Is the Tustin service fee flat above 200 amps?
Possibly. The fee schedule effective April 1, 2026 shows a $38.00 issuance fee plus $123.01 for a service or panel board up to 200 amps, and the larger tiers appear to carry the same figure. Confirm the exact fee for a 400 amp service with the Building Division before you compare bids.
Can I add an EV charger to my Tustin Ranch home without upgrading the panel?
Possibly. Tustin Ranch was built from the late 1980s through the 1990s, and the city's charger checklist asks for a load calculation to show whether the panel has room. The checklist posted online is for non-residential buildings, so ask about the residential version. If the numbers fit, the panel can stay.
Do I pull a permit for the SCE meter change when I upgrade my panel in Tustin?
The city permits the electrical work and SCE handles the meter. Expect weeks for SCE to set and lock the meter after it receives building clearance from the city. Most meter spot requests can be submitted online through SCE's project planning portal.
Are the electrical rules different in Old Town Tustin?
The permit rules are the same city-wide, but the houses are not. Old Town has the oldest homes, with Craftsman houses and older cottages, so panels there are often the oldest. Tustin Legacy and Tustin Ranch are much newer. Expect more rewiring questions in Old Town and more load questions in newer areas.
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