- 2901 West Coast Hwy #200, Newport Beach, CA 92663
- 24 Hours Service - License #1133193
Licensed Electricians • Permitted Work • Free Inspection
Safe, code-compliant whole house rewiring for Orange County homes. We replace knob-and-tube wiring, aluminum branch circuits, and outdated electrical systems with modern copper wiring that meets current California Electrical Code. Licensed, fully permitted, and backed by a workmanship warranty.
Emergency Calls Answered
Service Available
& Insured
Your home’s wiring was designed for a different era. Homes built before 1980 in Orange County were often wired with knob-and-tube systems or aluminum branch circuits. Neither was built to handle today’s electrical loads, and both carry a documented fire and safety risk. A whole house rewire replaces every branch circuit in the home with modern copper wiring, new outlets and switches, updated junction boxes, and a panel that can safely handle your actual power needs.
Pelican Coast Electric completes whole house rewiring projects across Orange County, from older craftsman homes in Santa Ana and Anaheim to mid-century properties in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. We manage the full project, including the City permit application, coordination with Southern California Edison for any service work, the electrical inspection, and a final walkthrough so you know exactly what was done and why.
We handle permits, inspections, and SCE coordination from start to finish. You do not need to manage city hall or utility paperwork.
Fully licensed California electricians (License #1133193) with extensive knowledge of NEC standards and Orange County local codes for every rewiring project.
All rewiring work is backed by a workmanship warranty. We stand behind the quality of every circuit we install.
We install copper branch circuit wiring and use materials from trusted manufacturers on every rewiring project. We work with panels, breakers, and components from all major electrical brands.
Whole house rewiring is one of the most significant electrical projects a homeowner can undertake. These are the situations where it becomes necessary.
Knob-and-tube wiring was standard from the 1880s through the 1940s. It runs as two separate conductors, has no ground wire, and uses ceramic knobs and tubes to keep wire away from framing. Insulation on 80-year-old wiring dries out and cracks. This type of wiring was not designed for modern loads, and most homeowner’s insurance carriers now either refuse to insure homes with active knob-and-tube wiring or charge significantly higher premiums. Replacement is the only code-compliant fix.
Aluminum wiring was widely installed in homes built during the late 1960s and 1970s when copper prices spiked. Unlike copper, aluminum expands and contracts more with heat, loosens at connections over time, and oxidizes in ways that increase resistance at outlets and switches. Loose aluminum connections arc. Arcing inside walls starts fires. Orange County homes from this era — in cities like Anaheim, Huntington Beach, and Santa Ana — frequently still have original aluminum branch circuits. A full rewire with copper is the permanent solution.
After a fire or significant water intrusion, the affected wiring must be replaced before the home is reoccupied. Smoke and heat damage insulation in ways that are not always visible. Water in walls causes oxidation at connections and inside junction boxes. Depending on how much of the home was affected, a full rewire is often more cost-effective and code-compliant than a partial replacement. We assess the damage and provide a written scope of work before any repair begins.
A whole house remodel opens walls and ceilings throughout the home. When that much of the structure is open, completing a full rewire at the same time eliminates future disruption and brings the entire electrical system up to current code in a single project. Doing partial rewiring during a renovation and leaving older wiring untouched in closed areas is a common source of problems that come up during the sale inspection. We coordinate with your contractor and GC to keep the electrical work on schedule.
If breakers trip regularly when you run normal appliances, or if you are running extension cords because there are not enough outlets, the underlying issue is almost always an undersized or outdated electrical system. In older homes, the number of circuits and their capacity was sized for a fraction of today’s electrical demand. Rewiring allows us to add circuits, right-size the panel, and distribute the load properly throughout the home.
Orange County real estate inspectors flag knob-and-tube wiring, aluminum branch circuits, ungrounded outlets, and outdated panels on every inspection report. These items often become deal-breakers or require price reductions if not corrected before closing. A full rewire resolves all of these findings in a single project and provides documentation that satisfies buyers, their lenders, and title companies. We work efficiently with closing timelines when needed.
Not every home requires a complete rewire. Knowing the difference helps you get the right scope of work.
If you are not sure which scope your home needs, a licensed electrical inspection gives you a clear answer. We assess the entire home, identify what wiring is present, note any code violations, and provide a written report before any work is proposed.
From first inspection to final sign-off, you know what is happening at every step.
Free Inspection and Estimate
We assess your existing wiring, identify what type of wire is present, note any code violations, and document the full scope of work.
Permit and Scheduling
We apply for the required permit through your city’s Building and Safety Division. Once approved, we schedule the project around your timeline.
Rewiring and Installation
Our electricians run new copper wiring throughout the home, install updated outlets, switches, and junction boxes, and connect the new circuits to a properly sized panel.
Inspection, Testing, and Walkthrough
We schedule the city inspection and ensure all work passes on the first visit. After approval, we test every circuit under load, label the panel, and walk you through what was done.
⚡ Typical timeline: most Orange County single-family home rewires take three to five working days depending on home size, access, and whether a panel upgrade is included in the same project.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Get answers to the most common questions about emergency electrical
Most single-family homes in Orange County take three to five working days to rewire. Larger homes, homes with limited attic or crawlspace access, or projects that include a panel upgrade in the same scope may take longer. We give you a realistic project timeline before work begins so you can plan accordingly. You can stay in the home during most of the rewiring, though there will be periods without power to specific areas as circuits are replaced.
Yes. Whole house rewiring requires a permit in every Orange County city. Permits are submitted to each city’s Building and Safety Division. An inspector must approve the work before walls are closed and before the project is considered complete. Pelican Coast Electric handles the permit application, coordination with the inspector, and the final inspection sign-off. You never need to visit city hall or manage the inspection process yourself.
It presents significant risks in modern use. Knob-and-tube wiring has no ground wire, cannot support three-prong appliances safely, and has insulation that degrades over decades. In older homes, the original wiring was often spliced or extended by previous owners using methods that do not meet code. Most homeowner’s insurance carriers in California now charge higher premiums for homes with active knob-and-tube wiring or will not write new policies on these homes. The California Electrical Code does not allow knob-and-tube wiring to remain in contact with insulation, which is common in homes where attic insulation was added after original construction.
Yes, in most cases. Our electricians work through the home section by section. Power to areas being worked on will be off during that portion of the project, but the rest of the home remains live. We do our best to keep kitchens and bathrooms functional throughout the project. For the final panel connection work, there will be a period of a few hours where power to the whole home is off. We coordinate that timing with you in advance.
Costs for Orange County homes typically range from $8,000 to $30,000 or more depending on home size, existing wiring type, number of circuits needed, and whether a panel upgrade is included. We cannot provide an accurate price without an on-site inspection. After the inspection, you receive a detailed written estimate with a line-by-line breakdown before any commitment. There are no hidden fees and no surprises at the end of the project.
If the existing panel is undersized, outdated, or needs replacement, we include that in the same rewiring project. A full rewire with a new panel is more efficient than scheduling two separate projects and avoids situations where new circuits connect to an old panel that cannot safely handle the added load. We assess the panel during the initial inspection and include it in the estimate if replacement is needed.
SAFETY FIRST
All Pelican Coast Electric rewiring projects follow National Electrical Code standards and local Orange County requirements.
Every rewiring project includes GFCI protection in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor areas, AFCI breaker installation on all bedroom and living area circuits, and verification of proper grounding throughout.
All rewiring meets the current National Electrical Code (NEC) and California electrical codes. We document the completed work and provide the permit records so you have a clean paper trail for insurance and future sale.
California licensed electricians (License #1133193) complete every rewiring project. You receive full documentation of all work performed, including permit approval, suitable for insurance carriers and real estate disclosures.
SERVICE COVERAGE
Inspections services throughout Orange County from our Newport Beach headquarters
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
Get a thorough electrical safety evaluation from Orange County’s trusted licensed electricians. Whether you’re buying a home, selling a property, or just want peace of mind, we provide clear reports with actionable recommendations.
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