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Electrical Panel Upgrade · Florida
A panel upgrade replaces your breaker panel, and often the service entrance, so the home can safely carry more load: an EV charger, heat pump, induction range or addition. It always needs a permit, and usually needs the utility to disconnect and reconnect power.
Florida has some of the highest lightning activity in the country, and hurricane season makes surge protection and generators routine.
Across the Southeast, homes deal with heat, humidity, frequent thunderstorms and hurricane season near the coast. Permit offices, utilities and housing stock differ by city, which affects how electrical panel upgrade is planned and scheduled. These local guides cover the Florida cities where we have written specific notes.
Many Miami homes built from the 1950s to the 1970s in neighborhoods such as Coral Way, Little River and Shenandoah have 100 amp or smaller panels, and some have panel brands electricians commonly recommend replacing. Adding a larger AC system, a standby generator, a pool or an EV charger often requires an upgrade.
Utility: Florida Power & Light (FPL)
Florida insurers often ask about panel age and brand, and many Tampa homes from the 1950s to the 1970s in neighborhoods such as Seminole Heights, Sunset Park and Carrollwood have 100 amp services or panels insurers question. Adding a larger AC system, a pool, a standby generator or an EV charger usually requires an upgrade.
Utility: Tampa Electric (TECO)
Orlando's older neighborhoods, such as College Park, Delaney Park and Colonialtown, have homes from the 1920s to the 1960s with 100 amp services or panel brands Florida insurers question, and mid-century homes across the metro often have panels near their limit. Adding a larger AC system, a pool, an EV charger or a generator usually means an upgrade.
Utility: OUC in the city (city-owned); Duke Energy in much of the metro
Jacksonville covers more land than any other city in the lower 48 states, and its housing ranges from early-1900s homes in Riverside and Springfield to mid-century ranches and new subdivisions. Many homes from the 1960s and 1970s have 100 amp panels that are near their limit with modern AC loads, and some still have panel brands electricians commonly recommend replacing.
Utility: JEA (city-owned)
Florida insurers often ask about panel age and type, and many Pensacola homes from the 1960s and 1970s have panels electricians recommend replacing or 100 amp services too small for a larger AC system, a standby generator or an EV charger. Homes rebuilt after Ivan or Sally may already have new equipment, but older homes in East Hill and North Hill often do not.
Utility: Florida Power & Light (FPL, formerly Gulf Power)
Many Fort Lauderdale homes built from the 1950s to the 1970s in neighborhoods such as Victoria Park, Coral Ridge and Rio Vista have 100 amp or smaller panels, and some have brands Florida insurers question. Adding a larger AC system, a pool, a standby generator or an EV charger usually requires an upgrade.
Utility: Florida Power & Light (FPL)
St. Petersburg's mid-century homes in neighborhoods such as Snell Isle, Crescent Lake and Shore Acres often have 100 amp panels or brands Florida insurers question. Adding a larger AC system, a pool, a standby generator or an EV charger usually means an upgrade.
Utility: Duke Energy Florida
Lakeland's mid-century homes in neighborhoods off South Florida Avenue and around Lake Hollingsworth often have 100 amp panels or brands Florida insurers question after a four-point inspection. Adding a larger AC system, a pool, a standby generator or an EV charger usually requires an upgrade.
Utility: Lakeland Electric (city-owned)
Gainesville's mid-century homes near the University of Florida and off NW 16th Avenue often have 100 amp panels or brands insurers question, and a four-point inspection is a frequent reason to upgrade. Adding a larger AC system, a generator or an EV charger usually requires more capacity.
Utility: Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU, city-owned)
Many Tallahassee homes from the 1960s and 1970s in Myers Park, Betton Hills and around the universities have 100 amp panels or brands Florida insurers question, and adding a larger AC system, a standby generator or an EV charger usually requires an upgrade. Because falling limbs are a common cause of service damage under Tallahassee's canopy, an upgrade is a good time to replace an old mast and meter base.
Utility: City of Tallahassee Utilities (some outlying areas: Talquin Electric Cooperative)
In West Palm Beach, panel upgrades are often driven by an insurance letter rather than a project. After a four-point inspection, carriers routinely refuse older panels by brand or age, and 1920s Mission-style houses in Flamingo Park and El Cid sometimes still have panels installed decades ago in a closet or on an exterior wall facing the weather.
Utility: Florida Power & Light (FPL)
Homes in Dean Park and along McGregor Boulevard, and mid-century houses across Fort Myers, often have 100 amp panels or brands Florida insurers question. Homes that flooded during Ian may have needed new panels anyway, and raising them above flood level is now common.
Utility: Florida Power & Light (FPL)
Sarasota's 1920s bungalows in Laurel Park and its mid-century homes often have 100 amp panels or brands Florida insurers question, and a four-point inspection is frequently what prompts the upgrade. Adding a standby generator, a pool heater, a larger AC system or an EV charger usually requires more capacity.
Utility: Florida Power & Light (FPL)
Bradenton's postwar block homes in West Bradenton and Bayshore Gardens often have 100 amp panels, and some have brands that Florida insurers refuse after a four-point inspection, which is one of the most common reasons owners call. A larger AC system, a pool heater, a standby generator or an EV charger usually requires more capacity anyway.
Utility: Florida Power & Light (FPL)
Fort Pierce's older homes near downtown and in Edgartown and White City, and its mid-century block homes, often have 100 amp panels or brands Florida insurers question after a four-point inspection. Adding a standby generator, a larger AC system or an EV charger usually requires an upgrade.
Utility: Fort Pierce Utilities Authority (city-owned)
Many Naples homes rebuilt or repaired after Hurricane Ian now have new panels mounted above the flood elevation, but older homes in Golden Gate and the neighborhoods east of Tamiami Trail may still have original 100 or 150 amp panels or brands insurers question. Large waterfront homes adding a whole-house generator, pool heaters, boat lifts and EV chargers often need 400 amp services.
Utility: Florida Power & Light (FPL)
1. Load calculation
The electrician sizes the service from your existing and planned loads.
2. Permit and utility coordination
The permit is pulled and the utility schedules disconnect and reconnect.
3. Install the panel and service parts
New panel, breakers, grounding and bonding, and service conductors or meter base if needed.
4. Inspection
The local inspector checks the work before or after power is restored, depending on the jurisdiction.
Electricians set their own prices; local permit fees and utility requirements add to these factors.
Permits come from the city or county where the home is. For example: Miami: Permits come from the City of Miami or, in unincorporated areas, Miami-Dade County; other cities in the county have their own building departments. Tampa: Inside city limits, electrical permits come from the City of Tampa's Construction Services Division; unincorporated areas are permitted by Hillsborough County, and Temple Terrace and Plant City run their own. Orlando: Inside city limits, electrical permits come from the City of Orlando's Permitting Services; unincorporated areas are permitted by Orange County, and Winter Park and other cities run their own. Jacksonville: Jacksonville and Duval County share a consolidated government, and electrical permits come from the City of Jacksonville's Building Inspection Division. Pensacola: Inside city limits, electrical permits come from the City of Pensacola's inspection services; unincorporated Escambia County has its own. Fort Lauderdale: Electrical permits in Fort Lauderdale come from the city's Development Services Department; other Broward cities have their own. Saint Petersburg: Electrical permits in St. Petersburg come from the city's building and permitting office; other Pinellas County cities and unincorporated areas have their own. Lakeland: Electrical permits inside city limits come from the City of Lakeland's building inspection division; Polk County handles unincorporated areas. Gainesville: Electrical permits inside city limits come from the City of Gainesville's building division; Alachua County handles unincorporated areas. Tallahassee: Electrical permits inside the city come from the City of Tallahassee's growth management department; unincorporated Leon County has its own. West Palm Beach: Electrical permits inside city limits come from the City of West Palm Beach's development services; Palm Beach County handles unincorporated areas. Fort Myers: Electrical permits inside city limits come from the City of Fort Myers' community development department; Lee County handles unincorporated areas. Sarasota: Electrical permits inside city limits come from the City of Sarasota's building department; Sarasota County handles unincorporated areas. Bradenton: Electrical permits inside city limits come from the City of Bradenton's building department; unincorporated Manatee County has its own. Fort Pierce: Electrical permits inside city limits come from the City of Fort Pierce's building department; St. Lucie County handles unincorporated areas. Naples: Electrical permits inside city limits come from the City of Naples' building department; Collier County handles unincorporated areas.
Miami: Florida Power & Light (FPL). Tampa: Tampa Electric (TECO). Orlando: OUC in the city (city-owned); Duke Energy in much of the metro. Jacksonville: JEA (city-owned). Pensacola: Florida Power & Light (FPL, formerly Gulf Power). Fort Lauderdale: Florida Power & Light (FPL). Saint Petersburg: Duke Energy Florida. Lakeland: Lakeland Electric (city-owned). Gainesville: Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU, city-owned). Tallahassee: City of Tallahassee Utilities (some outlying areas: Talquin Electric Cooperative). West Palm Beach: Florida Power & Light (FPL). Fort Myers: Florida Power & Light (FPL). Sarasota: Florida Power & Light (FPL). Bradenton: Florida Power & Light (FPL). Fort Pierce: Fort Pierce Utilities Authority (city-owned). Naples: Florida Power & Light (FPL).
If you have 100 amps or less and are adding an EV charger, heat pump or electric range, or your panel is a Federal Pacific, Zinsco or fuse box, ask an electrician for a load calculation.
Usually most of one working day, depending on the scope and how quickly the utility reconnects.
Yes, in essentially every US jurisdiction. The electrician pulls it and schedules the inspection.
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