Philadelphia Electrical Contractor License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

Philadelphia's Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) says you need an Electrical Contractor License to do electrical work in the city, low-voltage wiring included, and individuals who perform electrical work can apply for it. It must be renewed every year, online through eCLIPSE or in person at the Permit and License Center, and the renewal fee is $202. To renew you must be current on all City taxes and fines, have proof of an active insurance policy, and have proof of at least eight hours of NFPA 70 coursework earned during the previous license period. Renewing more than 60 days after the due date adds 1.5% of the license fee for each month since the license expired.

At a glance

Who needs it: L&I says you need this license to do electrical work in Philadelphia, including low-voltage wiring, and that individuals who perform electrical work can apply for it. Its electrical permit page says a licensed electrical contractor must perform all electrical work
Renews every: Every year: L&I says this license must be renewed annually
Renewal fee: $202. The fee for a new license is $262, of which a $60 application fee is non-refundable
Late renewal: If you renew more than 60 days after the due date, L&I charges 1.5% of the license fee for each month since the license expired
Continuing education: Proof of at least eight hours of coursework in NFPA 70 (the National Electrical Code), earned during the previous license period
What renewal asks for: You must be current on all City of Philadelphia taxes and fines, have proof of at least eight hours of coursework in NFPA 70 earned during the previous license period, and have proof of an active insurance policy
How to renew: Online through eCLIPSE, or in person at the Permit and License Center (1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd., MSB, Public Service Concourse, Philadelphia, PA 19102), where you need an appointment. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, closing at noon on the last Wednesday of each month
Linking your license in eCLIPSE: To add an existing trade license to your eCLIPSE account, L&I asks for the license number and the Online Identification Number listed on your renewal invoice
Insurance minimums: A certificate of insurance showing at least $500,000 per occurrence of general liability (including products and completed operations), $300,000 of automobile liability, and workers' compensation with $100,000 per accident, $100,000 per employee and a $500,000 policy limit
Certificate of insurance: L&I's instructions for the ACORD 25 certificate name the City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections, 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19102 as certificate holder, and ask for the Commercial General Liability and Occur boxes to be selected. For automobile liability a declarations page from the insurer with the minimum amounts is accepted instead
No employees: If all the contracting work is done by you as the sole proprietor, a business partner or a corporate officer, L&I's instructions ask for a notarized statement or a State Workers' Insurance Fund (SWIF) certificate attesting that you have no employees in place of workers' compensation. If you hire employees, you must update your license with workers' compensation
EV chargers: Beginning July 1, 2026, the contractor listed on any permit application that includes an electric vehicle charger must have a valid Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) certification on file with their electrical contractor license. You can add it at any time through an amendment, or submit proof when renewing
Safety training: The OSHA 30 supervisor requirement for Philadelphia's general Contractor License does not apply to electrical contractors. Workers on a construction or demolition site, trades contractors included, complete OSHA 10 Construction (or an approved alternative), with proof kept on the job site; L&I's exceptions include delivery people, design professionals and their staff, special inspectors, and workers who aren't doing permit-regulated construction or demolition
Other City requirements: L&I lists a Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT) ID and a Commercial Activity License among the license's requirements
Contact: Submit an online request to 311 or call 311; from outside Philadelphia, call (215) 686-8686

L&I's list of trade licenses names three electrical licenses: the Electrical Contractor License, the Electrical Inspector's License and the Electrical Inspection Agency License. The last two are for inspecting electrical work, not doing it.

Your insurance matters all year: L&I says every contractor named on a construction permit must have current insurance on file with it, and its electrical permit page says the contractor must have an active license, be current on all City taxes and have current insurance on file with L&I.

Also doing work that isn't electrical? Philadelphia's general Contractor License has its own renewal: see the Philadelphia contractor license guide.

How to renew

Check you're current on all City of Philadelphia taxes and fines.
Gather proof of at least eight hours of NFPA 70 coursework earned during the license period that's ending.
Make sure L&I has a current certificate of insurance with the City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections as certificate holder: $500,000 general liability, $300,000 automobile liability, and workers' compensation (or your no-employees statement).
Installing EV chargers? Since July 1, 2026, permits that include one need a valid EVITP certification on file with your license: add it any time through an amendment, or submit proof when you renew.
Renew online through eCLIPSE, or book an appointment at the Permit and License Center, and pay the $202 renewal fee.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

During the license yearTake at least eight hours of NFPA 70 coursework and keep the completion proof: it has to be earned during the license period you're renewing.
Before the due dateSettle any City taxes or fines, and make sure L&I has your current certificate of insurance.
By the due dateRenew through eCLIPSE and pay the $202 fee. More than 60 days late adds 1.5% of the license fee for each month since it expired.
When a policy renewsMake sure L&I has a current certificate on file, naming the City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections as certificate holder.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

The insurance policies behind the certificate L&I has on file
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do I renew a Philadelphia electrical contractor license?

Every year: L&I says this license must be renewed annually. The renewal fee is $202, online through eCLIPSE or in person at the Permit and License Center.

How many CE hours does a Philadelphia electrical contractor need?

Proof of at least eight hours of coursework in NFPA 70 (the National Electrical Code), earned during the previous license period.

What insurance does a Philadelphia electrical contractor license need?

A certificate of insurance showing at least $500,000 per occurrence of general liability (including products and completed operations), $300,000 of automobile liability, and workers' compensation with $100,000 per accident, $100,000 per employee and a $500,000 policy limit.

What if I renew my Philadelphia electrical contractor license late?

If you renew more than 60 days after the due date, L&I charges 1.5% of the license fee for each month since the license expired.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I), Electrical Contractor License

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Pennsylvania guides

All Pennsylvania guides on one page

Electrician guides for other states

Compare electrician license renewals across states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for electricians

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet

Philadelphia Electrical Contractor License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

At a glance

Who needs it: L&I says you need this license to do electrical work in Philadelphia, including low-voltage wiring, and that individuals who perform electrical work can apply for it. Its electrical permit page says a licensed electrical contractor must perform all electrical work
Renews every: Every year: L&I says this license must be renewed annually
Renewal fee: $202. The fee for a new license is $262, of which a $60 application fee is non-refundable
Late renewal: If you renew more than 60 days after the due date, L&I charges 1.5% of the license fee for each month since the license expired
Continuing education: Proof of at least eight hours of coursework in NFPA 70 (the National Electrical Code), earned during the previous license period
What renewal asks for: You must be current on all City of Philadelphia taxes and fines, have proof of at least eight hours of coursework in NFPA 70 earned during the previous license period, and have proof of an active insurance policy
How to renew: Online through eCLIPSE, or in person at the Permit and License Center (1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd., MSB, Public Service Concourse, Philadelphia, PA 19102), where you need an appointment. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, closing at noon on the last Wednesday of each month
Linking your license in eCLIPSE: To add an existing trade license to your eCLIPSE account, L&I asks for the license number and the Online Identification Number listed on your renewal invoice
Insurance minimums: A certificate of insurance showing at least $500,000 per occurrence of general liability (including products and completed operations), $300,000 of automobile liability, and workers' compensation with $100,000 per accident, $100,000 per employee and a $500,000 policy limit
Certificate of insurance: L&I's instructions for the ACORD 25 certificate name the City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections, 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19102 as certificate holder, and ask for the Commercial General Liability and Occur boxes to be selected. For automobile liability a declarations page from the insurer with the minimum amounts is accepted instead
No employees: If all the contracting work is done by you as the sole proprietor, a business partner or a corporate officer, L&I's instructions ask for a notarized statement or a State Workers' Insurance Fund (SWIF) certificate attesting that you have no employees in place of workers' compensation. If you hire employees, you must update your license with workers' compensation
EV chargers: Beginning July 1, 2026, the contractor listed on any permit application that includes an electric vehicle charger must have a valid Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) certification on file with their electrical contractor license. You can add it at any time through an amendment, or submit proof when renewing
Safety training: The OSHA 30 supervisor requirement for Philadelphia's general Contractor License does not apply to electrical contractors. Workers on a construction or demolition site, trades contractors included, complete OSHA 10 Construction (or an approved alternative), with proof kept on the job site; L&I's exceptions include delivery people, design professionals and their staff, special inspectors, and workers who aren't doing permit-regulated construction or demolition
Other City requirements: L&I lists a Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT) ID and a Commercial Activity License among the license's requirements
Contact: Submit an online request to 311 or call 311; from outside Philadelphia, call (215) 686-8686

Also doing work that isn't electrical? Philadelphia's general Contractor License has its own renewal: see the Philadelphia contractor license guide.

How to renew

Check you're current on all City of Philadelphia taxes and fines.
Gather proof of at least eight hours of NFPA 70 coursework earned during the license period that's ending.
Make sure L&I has a current certificate of insurance with the City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections as certificate holder: $500,000 general liability, $300,000 automobile liability, and workers' compensation (or your no-employees statement).
Installing EV chargers? Since July 1, 2026, permits that include one need a valid EVITP certification on file with your license: add it any time through an amendment, or submit proof when you renew.
Renew online through eCLIPSE, or book an appointment at the Permit and License Center, and pay the $202 renewal fee.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

During the license yearTake at least eight hours of NFPA 70 coursework and keep the completion proof: it has to be earned during the license period you're renewing.
Before the due dateSettle any City taxes or fines, and make sure L&I has your current certificate of insurance.
By the due dateRenew through eCLIPSE and pay the $202 fee. More than 60 days late adds 1.5% of the license fee for each month since it expired.
When a policy renewsMake sure L&I has a current certificate on file, naming the City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections as certificate holder.

Put this renewal in your calendar

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

The insurance policies behind the certificate L&I has on file
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do I renew a Philadelphia electrical contractor license?

Every year: L&I says this license must be renewed annually. The renewal fee is $202, online through eCLIPSE or in person at the Permit and License Center.

How many CE hours does a Philadelphia electrical contractor need?

Proof of at least eight hours of coursework in NFPA 70 (the National Electrical Code), earned during the previous license period.

What insurance does a Philadelphia electrical contractor license need?

What if I renew my Philadelphia electrical contractor license late?

If you renew more than 60 days after the due date, L&I charges 1.5% of the license fee for each month since the license expired.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I), Electrical Contractor License

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Pennsylvania guides

All Pennsylvania guides on one page

Electrician guides for other states

Compare electrician license renewals across states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for electricians

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet