Licensed Residential and Commercial Electricians in Arlington County, VA

M.R. Electricians provides licensed residential and commercial electrical service in Arlington County, VA, from panel and lighting upgrades in condominiums, townhomes and older single-family homes to tenant fit-outs, inspections and maintenance for businesses in Rosslyn, Clarendon, Ballston and Crystal City. Our family-owned team has served the Washington region since 1996, holds NICET certification, and files the electrical permit through Permit Arlington and coordinates with Dominion Energy on every project that needs them. Read verified reviews on Google and Yelp, view our Better Business Bureau profile, and learn about our licensed team before you call. Call (301) 871-0477 to schedule electrical service in Arlington County.

Excellent and timely service in every instance

Excellent and timely service in every instance. Estimated charges were quite competitive and their communication process with respect to questions or installation issues was superb.

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Arlington County, VA: Local Context for Electrical Work

Arlington County sits directly across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. The Census Bureau’s QuickFacts profile for Arlington County estimates 243,931 residents in July 2025 on 26.00 square miles of land (9,179.6 people per square mile in 2020) and counts 125,612 housing units, with 112,027 households and 2.08 people per household for 2020 to 2024.

Renters outnumber owners here. Owners occupy 41.3 percent of homes, so renters live in about 58.7 percent of the County’s occupied housing, and the electrical needs differ by building type: shared panels and common-area circuits in condominium and apartment buildings, association rules that often cover exteriors and garages in townhome communities, and individual panels and services in single-family homes.

Some of that housing is old. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources documents roughly 175 apartment buildings and complexes, including garden apartments, that developers built in Arlington County between 1934 and 1954, and it counts 109 still standing in 2009. Builders sized the wiring and panels of those decades for a lighter load than today’s appliances, EV chargers and home offices place on them, so panel capacity and circuit layout are the first things our electricians review.

About four in five residents (78.7 percent of those age 1 and older) lived in the same house a year earlier, so a typical Arlington electrical project is a planned upgrade, not a move-in deadline, and we schedule the heavy work first: panel capacity, then circuits, then fixtures and EV charging.

Arlington Neighborhoods We Serve

The County’s neighborhood descriptions group Arlington into the areas below, and its planning area guidance names the Rosslyn-Ballston and Richmond Highway Metrorail corridors and the Columbia Pike corridor. Multifamily and mixed-use buildings typically share service equipment and common-area circuits, which is why we plan access, shutdowns and permits with the property manager before work starts.

Residential Electrical Services in Arlington County

Residential electrical service from M.R. Electricians covers every part of an Arlington home’s electrical system, from a single light fixture to a full service upgrade, in condominiums, townhomes, apartments and single-family houses. Each project starts with a load review, because builders of older buildings planned their circuits for fewer devices than residents run today.

Panel and Service Upgrades

Condominiums, townhomes and older houses often run more devices than their original panels anticipated. A panel upgrade starts with a load calculation under NEC Article 220, then covers the new panel, the service entrance equipment and the County permit. Our power and panel upgrade service handles that sequence, and whole-house surge protection adds a layer of protection for the electronics the panel feeds.

In a condominium or apartment building, the unit panel is one piece of a shared system, so we confirm what the association or owner controls before we plan the work. Service upgrades also involve Dominion Energy, which the Local Knowledge section below explains. Our guide to 14 signs you need a circuit breaker panel replacement lists what to watch for, and our post on what causes breaker panels to buzz explains a sound that deserves attention.

Light Fixture Installation, Ceiling Fans and Lighting

Light fixture installation is one of the most common requests in Arlington homes and condominiums, and the permit question comes up first. Arlington requires an electrical permit to add, remove or relocate fixtures, appliances or wiring, and it generally exempts like-for-like replacements of the same type, size and location. We check each fixture job against that rule: a like-for-like swap in the same spot generally needs no permit, while a new fixture, a new location or new wiring does. The Local Knowledge section below explains the County’s rules in full.

We install lighting fixtures, including chandeliers, pendants, vanity lights and recessed lighting, and ceiling fans on fan-rated boxes with the right support and wall controls. The same visit can cover outdoor lighting and LED retrofit lighting, and we repair and replace attic fans whose thermostats, motors or wiring have worn out. Our post on why a ceiling fan may not make a room feel cooler is a useful read before you replace a fan.

Outlets, Wiring and Electrical Repair

Older Arlington homes and condominium units often have too few outlets, ungrounded receptacles and switches that no longer work as designed. We handle outlet installation and repair and new wiring and switches, including GFCI and AFCI protection where the current code calls for it, and our post on the role of GFCIs and AFCIs in home electrical safety explains where each applies.

A breaker that trips repeatedly, an outlet that has lost power and a light that flickers all have a cause, and replacing a device without finding it often brings the problem back. Our electricians test the circuit, find the fault, repair what has worn out and explain what they found. Our post on why a circuit breaker keeps tripping when the AC turns on and our guide to 12 warning signs your house wiring is failing cover common causes.

A burning smell, smoke or visible sparking calls for immediate attention from the fire department, and an electrician can inspect the circuit afterward. For everything else, call (301) 871-0477 and describe the problem, and we schedule a licensed electrician to diagnose it.

EV Charging, Smart Home and Energy Management

Charging at home takes planning in a county where renters live in about 58.7 percent of occupied homes. Owners need a dedicated 240-volt circuit under NEC Article 625, panel capacity confirmed by a load calculation and, in a condominium, townhome community or rental, approval from the association or landlord. Our EV station installation service supports leading brands, including Blink, ChargePoint, Wallbox and Tesla, and we raise any historic-district question before the design is final.

Smart home wiring and home energy management systems suit Arlington’s condominiums, townhomes and apartments, and our guide to wiring upgrades that prepare a home for smart devices shows what we check before any device goes in.

Additions, Remodels and Historic-Home Work

We wire new home construction and additions and remodeling projects across the County, and we coordinate with your general contractor and the County inspector. When a remodel opens a wall and reveals old wiring, our guide to what to do about old wiring found during a remodel explains the next steps. In a Local Historic District, exterior work can involve the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board, so we flag that question at the start of the design.

Backup Power, Sump Pumps and Outage Planning

Severe weather can interrupt power anywhere in the region. We install portable generator connections with a code-compliant transfer switch and Generac standby generators that start automatically, and our post on why generators matter for storm preparedness covers the planning steps. Basements add a second concern: a sump pump stops when the power does, so it needs its own plan. We supply a dedicated circuit for the pump and include it in your generator or transfer-switch plan, and the Local Knowledge section below covers the County’s flood guidance.

Commercial Electrical Services in Arlington County

Arlington’s commercial properties include offices, shops and restaurants in Rosslyn, Clarendon, Ballston and Crystal City, along Columbia Pike and in Shirlington, plus mixed-use and multifamily buildings across the County. M.R. Electricians serves them through our commercial electrical services, with licensed electricians who plan around tenant hours and inspection deadlines.

Tenant Fit-Outs, Build-Outs and New Construction

New tenants need power, lighting and data planned around their layout, and the County’s review clock shapes the schedule. Arlington checks each electrical application for completeness within 2 business days, reviews commercial projects in up to 3 business days and asks for plans on some projects, with the plans on site before inspections on sheets at least 11 by 17 inches. We build the drawings, the permit application and the construction schedule around those steps.

Our Arlington tenant fit-outs and Arlington commercial new construction describe those project types in detail, and across the region we deliver tenant build-outs and remodels and design/build and retrofit projects. Our post on key electrical considerations for a successful tenant fit-out project covers power, lighting, code compliance and technology wiring, and owners who want to see our work can review our case study.

Inspections, Code Corrections and Preventive Maintenance

Commercial buildings stay compliant through routine checks, not one-time fixes. We perform safety inspections and code corrections, routine inspections and code compliance and infrared building inspections, then correct what the report finds. Our preventive maintenance programs keep those findings small, and our guide to why regular electrical safety inspections matter explains what inspectors look for.

Lighting, Power and Panel Systems

Lighting is the most visible upgrade for an Arlington business. Our commercial lighting systems, LED retrofits and lighting upgrades and energy-efficient lighting upgrades replace aging fixtures, while exterior lighting and site illumination and parking lot and exterior lighting cover the entrances and garages customers use after dark. In multi-tenant buildings, our post on how shared electrical systems cause lighting failures explains a common source of repeat problems.

Behind the lighting sits the power system. We handle panel replacements and service upgrades, circuit breaker panels and sub-panels, power distribution upgrades and load balancing and power factor correction, which matter most in older buildings where tenants have added equipment over the years.

Outlets, Wiring, Repairs and Troubleshooting

Daily reliability comes from the basics. We provide outlet, switch and wiring installation, outlet, switch and fixture repair, troubleshooting and repairs, general electrical service and repairs, rewiring and system upgrades and convenience upgrades, so a tripping circuit or a dead receptacle gets a diagnosis rather than a patch.

Safety, Backup Power and Specialty Systems

• Emergency lighting and exit signs: testing and repair that keep egress lighting working at inspection time.
• Fire alarm systems: wiring, installation and repair that support code compliance, including the NFPA 72 edition Arlington lists.
• Grounding and bonding systems: verification and correction of grounding paths.
• Surge protection and UPS maintenance: protection and upkeep for sensitive equipment.
• Backup power solutions and portable generators for the DMV area: continuity planning for business operations, with the plans Arlington asks for on new or relocated generators.
• Commercial EV charging station installation: chargers for employees, tenants and visitors, with the plans Arlington asks for on new or relocated car chargers.
• Security systems, data cabling and structured wiring and smart building automation and controls: low-voltage and control systems that depend on reliable power.
• HVAC electrical connections and industrial machinery wiring: power for rooftop units, shop equipment and machinery.
• CMMC (CUI) certified contractor work for projects that involve controlled unclassified information.

Local Knowledge: Arlington County Permits, Codes, Historic Districts and Dominion Energy

Permit Arlington and the Electrical Permit

Arlington takes electrical permit applications online through Permit Arlington. The County’s electrical permit guidance requires a permit to add, remove or relocate fixtures, appliances or wiring, and it generally exempts like-for-like replacements of the same type, size and location. Work inside plenums or through fire-rated or smoke-protected construction needs a building permit, and the exemptions sit in section 108.2 of the Building Code. The County may ask for a Permit Authorization Affidavit, depending on who holds the permit and who applies.

The same guidance sets the review clock. The County checks applications for completeness within 2 business days, and review takes up to 2 business days for residential projects and up to 3 for commercial projects. Some projects need plans with the application, and a project that already has a building permit files its electrical plans under that permit. For commercial work, the guidance lists a new or relocated car charger and a new or relocated generator among the projects that need plans.

Inspections follow a strict routine. After the County approves a permit, the person on site on inspection day must contact the assigned inspector that morning, and the County cancels the inspection if nobody does. Plans must be on site before inspections, on sheets at least 11 by 17 inches. We build the morning call and the plan set into every inspection-day plan.

Licensing and Code

Virginia’s Board for Contractors states that state certification of the electrical trade is mandatory, and Arlington verifies contractor information when it processes a permit. The County’s Codes and Standards listing shows the 2020 NFPA National Electrical Code with no state amendments, effective January 18, 2024, alongside the 2019 edition of NFPA 72 for fire alarm systems, and the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development confirms that the 2021 Virginia codes took effect on that date. We build to those editions, with the NEC from NFPA as the base standard, and we check for updates at the start of each project because code cycles change.

Historic Districts and the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board

Arlington reviews changes to buildings in its Local Historic Districts. The County’s rules for changing a historic building require a Certificate of Appropriateness for all proposed exterior alterations, new construction and demolition, and they exempt interior alterations, paint colors and routine maintenance, repairs and replacements that use the same materials. The Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board decides each application, and a Design Review Committee advises applicants but does not vote. Where a district has no approved design guidelines, the County’s Local Historic Districts guidance says the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards guide rehabilitation.

Exterior light fixtures, a relocated meter, a new service mast, surface-mounted conduit and an EV charger on a facade are the kind of changes worth raising with County preservation staff before the electrical design is final. We identify which parts of a project touch the exterior, so the electrical drawings and the application move together.

Dominion Energy and Service Coordination

Arlington’s solar permitting guidance calls Dominion Energy “our local utility” and notes that the utility has its own process, so any project that touches the service, the meter or the point of connection runs on two tracks: the County permit and inspection, and Dominion’s requirements.

The Dominion Energy Information and Requirements for Electric Service (the Blue Book, 2023 edition) says Dominion must approve customer-owned equipment that contains utility equipment, including connections, before the customer buys it, and that Dominion seals every meter before service connection. The utility installs the meter after any required electrical inspection. We check equipment against those rules before we order it, and we sequence the County inspection and the utility work so power returns on schedule.

Flooding, Storm Damage and Wet Electrical Equipment

Flood risk in Arlington does not follow the FEMA map alone. The County’s flood guidance says that risk can vary within the same neighborhood and even from property to property, that more than 40 percent of flood claims come from areas outside FEMA floodplains, and that owners should know how to shut off the electricity and gas to the house or to appliances in the basement. It also recommends a battery backup for a sump pump, so the pump keeps running when the power fails.

The County’s storm and disaster guidance tells people to contact an electrician if any electrical equipment is wet, and it tells owners of damaged homes or businesses to contact the Inspection Services Division to request an inspection. Our electricians test the circuits, outlets and equipment that water reached, repair what has failed and document the work.

Our Process for Arlington County Customers

• Call (301) 871-0477 and tell us what you need. We schedule a licensed electrician to visit your home or business in Arlington County.
• We inspect and assess. Your electrician checks the panel, wiring and loads that the project touches, including a load calculation when capacity matters.
• We confirm the scope and approvals. You receive a written scope of work, and we identify the Permit Arlington application, any Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board step for exterior work and any Dominion Energy coordination before work begins.
• We file the permit and build to code. Our team prepares the drawings, files the application through Permit Arlington and installs the work to the codes Virginia has adopted.
• We schedule inspection and close out. We arrange the County inspection, make the required morning contact with the inspector, coordinate with the utility when needed and walk you through the finished work.

Why Arlington County Residents and Businesses Choose M.R. Electricians

Frequently Asked Questions: Electrical Services in Arlington County, VA

What electrical services does M.R. Electricians provide in Arlington County, VA?

M.R. Electricians provides residential and commercial electrical services in Arlington County, VA. Homeowners, condominium owners and property managers use us for panel and service upgrades, light fixture installation, outlets and wiring, ceiling fans, attic fans, EV charger installation, smart home systems, generators and remodel wiring. Businesses use us for tenant fit-outs, new construction, safety inspections and code corrections, lighting upgrades, panel and power work, backup power and preventive maintenance. We file the County permit through Permit Arlington for every project that needs one, and licensed electricians complete the work.

Does Arlington County require a permit for electrical work, and how do I apply?

Yes. Arlington requires an electrical permit to add, remove or relocate fixtures, appliances or wiring, and the County takes applications online through Permit Arlington. The County generally exempts like-for-like replacements of the same type, size and location, and it lists its exemptions in section 108.2 of the Building Code. Work inside plenums or through fire-rated or smoke-protected construction needs a building permit. The County may ask for a Permit Authorization Affidavit, depending on the permit holder and the applicant. M.R. Electricians files the application, uploads the plans, schedules the inspections and closes out the permit.

Do I need a permit to install or replace a light fixture in Arlington?

It depends on the work. Arlington generally exempts a like-for-like replacement, meaning a fixture of the same type, size and location, but it requires an electrical permit to add a fixture, remove one or move one. A new recessed light, a fixture on a new circuit and a relocated switch all fall on the permit side of that line. Our electricians check each job against the County’s rules before we start, and we call County staff when a situation is unclear.

How long does Arlington take to review an electrical permit application?

The County checks each application for completeness within 2 business days, and review takes up to 2 business days for residential projects and up to 3 business days for commercial projects. Some projects need plans with the application, and a project that already holds a building permit files its electrical plans under that permit. Our team prepares load calculations, single-line diagrams and layout plans before filing, so the review starts with a complete package.

How do electrical inspections work in Arlington?

After the County approves a permit, someone must schedule the inspection. The person on site on inspection day has to contact the assigned inspector that morning, and the County cancels the inspection if nobody does. Plans must be on site before the inspection, on sheets at least 11 by 17 inches. We schedule the inspection, keep the plans on site and make the morning contact. Beyond permit inspections, we also recommend an electrical safety inspection when you buy a building, before a major remodel, after a storm and on a regular schedule for commercial properties.

Which electrical code applies in Arlington?

Arlington’s Codes and Standards listing shows the 2020 NFPA National Electrical Code with no state amendments, effective January 18, 2024, and the 2019 edition of NFPA 72 for fire alarm systems. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development states that the 2021 Virginia codes took effect on the same date. Our electricians build to those editions and check for updates at the start of each project, since code cycles change over time.

Do I need historic district approval for electrical work on an Arlington home?

Interior electrical work does not need a Certificate of Appropriateness. In a Local Historic District, the County requires one for all proposed exterior alterations, new construction and demolition, and it exempts routine maintenance, repairs and replacements that use the same materials. The Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board decides each application. Exterior light fixtures, a relocated meter, a new service mast, surface-mounted conduit and a charger on a facade deserve a conversation with County preservation staff before the design is final, and we line up our drawings with the application.

What does a service upgrade involve with Dominion Energy?

A service upgrade changes the equipment between the utility’s lines and your panel, so both the County inspection and Dominion Energy’s requirements apply. Dominion’s 2023 Blue Book says Dominion must approve customer-owned equipment that contains utility equipment, including connections, before the customer buys it, that Dominion seals every meter before service connection, and that the utility installs the meter after any required electrical inspection. We check equipment against those rules before we order and coordinate the schedule with both agencies.

Can M.R. Electricians install light fixtures, chandeliers and ceiling fans in my Arlington home or condo?

Yes. We install light fixtures, including chandeliers, pendants, vanity lights and recessed lighting, and ceiling fans on fan-rated boxes with the correct support and wall controls. We add or relocate the circuit when a room has no existing box, and we file the permit when the work adds or moves a fixture. In condominiums and apartments, we check the association’s or landlord’s rules before we start, and we balance and test every fan before we leave.

How do you add outlets or repair dead outlets in older Arlington homes and condo units?

We start by testing the circuits that already exist, because adding outlets to an overloaded or ungrounded circuit does not solve the problem. Where capacity allows, we extend the wiring to new receptacles. Where it does not, we run a new circuit from the panel and add GFCI or AFCI protection where the current code calls for it. For a dead outlet, we trace the failure to a worn device, a loose connection, a tripped GFCI or a damaged cable, then repair it. In finished walls, we plan the cable route to limit damage to the surfaces.

How do I know if my Arlington home or condo needs a panel upgrade?

Common signs include breakers that trip when large appliances start, lights that dim when the air conditioner runs, a panel with no open slots, a panel that feels warm or buzzes, and plans to add an EV charger, heat pump or home office. A load calculation under NEC Article 220 shows whether your service has room, and an electrician can then recommend a panel replacement or a full service upgrade. M.R. Electricians explains each finding before any work starts.

What should I do if a breaker keeps tripping or an outlet stops working in my Arlington home or business?

Switch off or unplug whatever runs on the affected circuit, reset the breaker once and note whether it trips again. A circuit that trips repeatedly, or a device that feels warm or buzzes, has a fault that a reset will not fix. Leave the circuit off and call (301) 871-0477 to schedule a licensed electrician to diagnose it. A burning smell, smoke or visible sparking calls for immediate attention from the fire department, and an electrician can inspect the circuit afterward.

Can M.R. Electricians install an EV charger at my Arlington home, condo or apartment building?

Yes. We install Level 2 chargers on a dedicated 240-volt circuit under NEC Article 625, verify panel capacity with a load calculation and file the County permit when the project calls for one. We install leading brands, including Blink, ChargePoint, Wallbox and Tesla chargers. Renters live in about 58.7 percent of Arlington’s occupied homes, so many installations involve a condominium association, a landlord or a shared garage, and we sort out those approvals before we order equipment. A charger on the exterior of a building in a Local Historic District may need review, so we raise that early.

Does M.R. Electricians work with landlords and property managers in Arlington?

Yes. Renters live in about 58.7 percent of Arlington’s occupied homes, so landlords and property managers make up a large part of the County’s electrical work: outlet, switch and fixture repair between tenants, ceiling fan installation, panel and circuit upgrades, common-area and exterior lighting, emergency lighting and exit signs, and EV charging for residents. We schedule work around occupied units, coordinate access with the property manager and document the finished work.

What commercial electrical services does M.R. Electricians provide for Arlington businesses?

We provide tenant fit-outs and build-outs, new construction wiring, safety inspections and code corrections, preventive maintenance, infrared inspections, lighting and LED retrofits, panel and power distribution work, emergency lighting, fire alarm systems, backup power, EV charging, data cabling and troubleshooting. Our commercial team plans around business hours and inspection deadlines and manages the permit through Permit Arlington.

What do tenant fit-outs involve in Arlington?

A fit-out turns a shell or an older suite into the tenant’s layout: panels and sub-panels, dedicated circuits for equipment, lighting and controls, data and security wiring, and emergency and exit lighting. Arlington’s commercial electrical review takes up to 3 business days after a completeness check within 2 business days, and many projects need plans with the application, so we build the drawings, load calculations and permit application into the schedule at the start. We coordinate with the landlord’s engineer and the property manager to keep the opening date on track.

Does M.R. Electricians install EV charging stations for Arlington businesses and multifamily properties?

Yes. We install Level 2 and DC fast charging infrastructure for employers, retail centers, hotels and multifamily properties, including service capacity, conduit routing, networked charger wiring and permits. Arlington’s electrical permit guidance lists a new or relocated car charger among the commercial work that needs plans with the application, and Dominion Energy may need to review service capacity when a project changes the service. Our commercial EV charging work covers the full electrical side of the project.

Does M.R. Electricians install whole-home or portable generators in Arlington?

Yes. We install Generac standby generators that start automatically during an outage and connect portable generators through a code-compliant transfer switch or inlet. A transfer switch keeps generator power from feeding back into the utility lines. Arlington’s commercial permit guidance lists a new or relocated generator among the work that needs plans, and natural gas units also involve the gas utility, so we confirm permit requirements with the County before work begins. We size the generator to the circuits you want to power, including a sump pump when the basement needs one, and we review placement relative to windows and doors.

Is M.R. Electricians licensed to work in Arlington County, VA?

Yes. M.R. Electricians operates as a licensed, bonded and insured electrical contractor in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC. Virginia’s Board for Contractors states that state certification of the electrical trade is mandatory, and Arlington verifies contractor information when it processes a permit. Our team of 29 licensed electricians has served the region since 1996.

How do I schedule electrical service in Arlington County, VA?

Call (301) 871-0477 to schedule residential or commercial electrical service in Arlington County. Tell us what you need, and we send a licensed electrician to assess the work, confirm the scope and the approvals it involves, file the County permit and complete the project. M.R. Electricians has served the Washington region since 1996, including Arlington County, Alexandria and nearby Fairfax County communities, and we are family-owned and NICET certified.

Schedule Electrical Service in Arlington County, VA