What is the difference in responsibility?
When a contractor pulls the permit, the contractor is accountable to the building department for code compliant work. When a homeowner pulls it, the homeowner owns that responsibility, including corrections after a failed inspection. That means fixing anything the inspector flags before approval.
That difference shows up if the inspector finds a problem. A licensed contractor fixes it as part of the job, because the work and the permit are both theirs. A homeowner has to find the fix, pay for it and schedule the re-inspection alone.
A homeowner who pulls a permit also has to understand code requirements for a 240 volt circuit, which most people never need to learn. The inspection checks the work, but it is not a tutorial on how to do it.
Can a homeowner pull a permit for an EV charger in Arizona?
Rules vary by city and county, and some allow owner builder permits for work on your own residence. Limits often apply, so ask your local building department. Even where allowed, the work is hazardous without electrical training. Check with your city first, since limits and conditions vary a lot.
An owner builder permit may come with conditions about selling or renting the home afterward. Those conditions change from one jurisdiction to the next, and they are worth reading before you decide.
We are electricians, not the permitting authority, so the building department is the right place to ask. What we can say is that a 240 volt EV circuit is not a good first electrical project for anyone.
What does a licensed contractor handle for me?
A licensed electrical contractor handles the load calculation, permit application, installation, inspection scheduling and any corrections. The result is a finished, inspected circuit with the paperwork filed and the responsibility clearly assigned. You get a finished, inspected circuit with the paperwork handled by a licensed professional.
You give us access to the home and answer a few questions about the charger and the car. We handle the rest, including the calls to the building department and the time spent waiting on the inspector.
Vortech holds Arizona ROC 341933 for electrical work, and Romeo Tamou, the owner, is a Master Electrician. We are licensed, bonded and insured, and we put the permit information on the paperwork you keep.
How does this affect my insurance and home sale?
A permitted and inspected EV circuit leaves a paper trail that can help with insurance questions and home sales. Unpermitted work can raise questions during a buyer's inspection or an adjuster's review after a loss. It also gives buyers and insurers a clear record of the work.
Buyers and their agents increasingly ask about EV charging, and a permitted install is easier to explain than a mystery outlet in the garage. The closed permit is the proof they are looking for.
Check with your insurer if you have specific questions, because we cannot speak for your policy. We can give you a complete record of what was installed and when, which is what most insurers and buyers want to see.
Need an EV Charger Installed?
Vortech installs Level 2 home chargers across Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Sun City, Sun City West and Surprise. See EV charger installation or read the full guide on this topic.
More questions: Home EV Charger Installation: 12 Most Asked Questions Answered