Do I Need a Permit for Electrical Work in McKinney, TX?
Electrical permitting in McKinney follows the same streamlined single-agency structure as the city's mechanical and plumbing permits — one department, one portal, one flat fee. McKinney Building Inspections issues the electrical permit; the CSS portal processes the application; the fee is $40 flat regardless of scope. No separate utility permit from Oncor (the electric distribution company). No multi-agency coordination. No utility pre-approval waiting period. No separate state agency involved. Compared to Tacoma (TPU handles residential electrical separately from the building department), Huntsville (Huntsville Utilities issues all residential electrical permits with its own separate portal), or Spokane (Washington State Department of Labor & Industries issues all electrical permits through a statewide program), McKinney's approach is the simplest of any city in this guide for electrical work. A homeowner or contractor adding an EV charger, upgrading a panel, or wiring a new kitchen has exactly one place to go: Building Inspections at 401 E. Virginia Street, one CSS portal, and a flat $40 fee.
McKinney electrical permit rules — the basics
McKinney's electrical permit is a flat $40 fee covering the permit issuance and electrical inspections for residential work. This covers the full scope of electrical alterations and additions: new circuits, panel upgrades, subpanel installations, EV charger wiring, service upgrades, and new electrical work associated with remodels or additions. The permit is applied for through the CSS portal by the licensed electrical contractor (or homeowner, for owner-occupied primary residences).
McKinney adopted the 2024 International Residential Code on October 1, 2025, which incorporates the 2024 National Electrical Code (NEC). The 2024 NEC carries forward and expands AFCI (arc fault circuit interrupter) requirements for new circuits throughout the home, expands GFCI protection to additional locations (garages, crawl spaces, unfinished basements, and outdoor areas), and introduces updated requirements for EV charging equipment installation. The McKinney electrical inspector verifies compliance with these requirements during rough-in and final inspections.
Texas's deregulated electricity market applies to McKinney. Oncor Electric Delivery is the transmission and distribution utility — they own and maintain the wires — but McKinney residents choose their retail electricity provider (TXU Energy, Reliant, Direct Energy, Gexa, etc.) separately. This structure has no direct effect on the permit process: the McKinney Building Inspections permit is issued by the city, and Oncor's involvement is limited to the physical meter and service connection. For a panel upgrade, Oncor must pull and reinstall the meter; this coordination is initiated by the electrical contractor, not the homeowner, and doesn't require a separate Oncor permit application.
Texas TDLR licensure is required for electrical work in McKinney. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) licenses electricians at three levels: apprentice, journeyman, and master electrician. A licensed master electrician or a licensed journeyman working under a master's supervision must perform and supervise residential electrical work for which a permit is required. Homeowners can self-perform electrical work on their own primary residences — but the work must still be inspected and meet code, and many homeowners find that licensed electricians do the work faster and more reliably. Verify any contractor's TDLR license at tdlr.texas.gov.
Three McKinney electrical scenarios
| Electrical Work Type | Permit in McKinney? |
|---|---|
| Panel upgrade / service upgrade | $40 electrical permit. Oncor meter coordination required (contractor-initiated). 2024 NEC whole-house SPD required for new panels. |
| New circuits (EV charger, kitchen, additions) | $40 electrical permit. Single flat fee regardless of number of new circuits. AFCI required for new bedroom circuits; GFCI for garage, bath, kitchen, outdoor locations per 2024 NEC. |
| Minor repairs (replacing outlets, switches in existing circuits) | Generally no permit — maintenance. Like-for-like replacement at existing locations without circuit modification typically exempt. Confirm with Building Inspections at 469-617-4800. |
| Solar panels electrical | Covered under the separate $150 Residential Solar Panel System permit — NOT the $40 electrical permit. See solar-panels-mckinney-tx for full solar permit details. |
| Generator installation | $80 flat fee (Residential Generator permit, separate from standard electrical permit). Applies to standby generators connected to the electrical system. |
What electrical work costs in McKinney
North Texas electrician rates are moderate compared to Bay Area California but above the national average due to McKinney's active construction market. Panel upgrade (100A to 200A): $4,500–$9,000. Subpanel installation: $1,200–$3,500. Level 2 EV charger circuit: $700–$2,200. New branch circuit (outlet, lighting): $350–$1,000. Kitchen electrical remodel (full code compliance): $2,000–$5,500. Whole-house rewire: $8,000–$20,000. The $40 flat permit fee represents under 1% of any significant electrical project and is the same for a $700 EV charger circuit as for a $9,000 panel upgrade. This flat-fee structure is one of the most contractor-friendly in the country — no valuation calculations, no percentage-based fees, just a flat $40.
Hours: M–F 8 a.m.–5 p.m. | Online (CSS): mckinneytexas.org/css
Electrical permit fee: $40 flat
Generator permit fee: $80 flat
TX electrician license verification: tdlr.texas.gov
Oncor (electric distribution): oncor.com | Rebates: oncor.com/residential
Common questions about McKinney electrical permits
Who issues electrical permits in McKinney?
McKinney Building Inspections — the same single agency that issues building, plumbing, and mechanical permits. Apply via CSS at mckinneytexas.org/css. Phone: 469-617-4800. There is no separate utility-issued electrical permit (unlike Tacoma, where TPU handles residential electrical, or Huntsville, where Huntsville Utilities issues all residential electrical permits). Oncor Electric Delivery is the distribution utility but does not issue permits.
What is the electrical permit fee in McKinney?
A flat $40. This applies to all residential electrical permit work — panel upgrades, subpanels, new circuits, EV chargers, and wiring for remodels. The same $40 fee covers a single new outlet circuit as a full panel upgrade. Exception: residential generator installation is a separate $80 permit type. Solar panel electrical work is covered under the $150 residential solar permit, not the $40 electrical permit.
Does Oncor need to be involved in McKinney electrical work?
For most residential electrical work, no Oncor involvement is needed. The city permit and inspection is all that's required. For panel upgrades that require replacing the service entrance equipment (meter base, service conductors), Oncor must pull and reinstall the utility meter — your licensed electrician initiates this Oncor coordination. There is no separate Oncor permit application. Budget 2–5 business days for Oncor meter coordination on panel upgrades.
What electrical code does McKinney use?
The 2024 National Electrical Code (NEC), incorporated into the 2024 International Residential Code adopted by McKinney on October 1, 2025. Key 2024 NEC requirements: whole-house SPD (surge protective device) required at new/upgraded main panels; expanded AFCI for new circuits including kitchen, laundry, and all bedroom circuits; GFCI protection for garage EV circuits, outdoor locations, and all bathroom/kitchen receptacles; updated requirements for EV charging equipment installation and sizing.
Can a homeowner pull their own electrical permit in McKinney?
Yes, for their own primary residence. Texas allows owner-occupant homeowners to pull permits for work on homes they occupy. However, most residential electrical work must be performed by or under the supervision of a TDLR-licensed master electrician (verify at tdlr.texas.gov). The inspector doesn't care whether the homeowner or contractor pulled the permit — the work must meet the 2024 NEC regardless. For most significant electrical work, hiring a licensed Texas electrician is faster, safer, and avoids permit complications.
How does McKinney electrical permitting compare to Tacoma or Fremont?
McKinney's is far simpler. In Tacoma, all residential electrical permits go through Tacoma Public Utilities (a separate utility organization), requiring coordination between TPU, PSE (gas), and Tacoma's building department. In Fremont, the process is single-agency like McKinney, but permit fees are higher and tied to valuation for some scopes. In McKinney: one CSS portal, $40 flat fee, single inspector, no utility pre-approval for most work. The entire McKinney electrical permit cycle from application to final inspection typically takes 3–7 business days for routine residential work.
This page provides general guidance based on publicly available sources as of April 2026, including McKinney Building Inspections Fee Schedule and the 2024 IRC/NEC (adopted McKinney October 1, 2025). Permit rules and fees change. For a personalized report based on your exact address, use our permit research tool.