Why You Should Always Hire a Licensed Electrician in BC
200 AMP 240V Service for a brand new home with a back up generator
In British Columbia, most electrical work is not something you can legally do yourself — and it is definitely not something you should hand off to whoever happens to be available. The rules exist for good reasons: electricity kills, and improperly done electrical work is one of the leading causes of residential fires.
Here is what BC law actually requires and why it matters for homeowners in the Lower Mainland.
What BC Law Requires
Under the BC Safety Standards Act and the regulations set by Technical Safety BC (TSBC), most electrical work in BC must be performed by a licensed electrician and must be permitted and inspected. This applies to panel upgrades, new circuits and wiring, EV charger installation, hot tub and pool wiring, and renovations involving electrical changes.
Minor work like replacing a switch or outlet may be done by a homeowner in their own home, but anything involving new circuits or panel work requires a licensed electrician and a TSBC permit.
The Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) — What It Is and Why It Matters
All electrical work in BC must comply with the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC, CSA C22.1). The CEC is the national standard that governs how electrical systems must be designed, installed, and protected. It covers everything from wire sizing and breaker ratings to grounding, bonding, and protection requirements.
Licensed electricians are trained and tested on the CEC. When they pull a permit and have work inspected, a TSBC safety officer verifies that the installation meets code. This is your protection as a homeowner.
When someone does electrical work without a permit, there is no inspection, no verification, and no accountability. If a fire or injury results, your insurance may not cover it.
What FSR and Red Seal Mean
When hiring an electrician in BC, look for two credentials:
FSR (Field Safety Representative): A provincial designation issued by TSBC. Only FSR-certified electricians can pull electrical permits in BC. This is the person responsible for ensuring all work on a job meets CEC and TSBC requirements.
Red Seal (Interprovincial Standards Program): A nationally recognized certification demonstrating that a tradesperson has passed a standardized exam and meets a national benchmark for skill and knowledge.
Hundel Electric holds both. Our FSR certification means we can legally permit every job we do. Our Red Seal certification means our standard of work meets the national benchmark.
The Real Cost of Unlicensed Electrical Work
Unlicensed electrical work is unfortunately common in the Lower Mainland. Homeowners are sometimes offered a lower price by someone who skips the permit process. Here is what that really costs you: your home insurance may be voided if a claim is linked to unpermitted electrical work, you may be required to redo the work before selling your home, you are personally liable for any safety issues that result, and TSBC can issue orders and fines for unpermitted work.
A lower quote today can mean a very expensive problem later.
Licensed. Permitted. Inspected.
Hundel Electric has been serving the Lower Mainland since 2007. Every job we do is properly permitted through TSBC and completed to CEC standards. We handle the permit process from start to finish so you do not have to worry about it.
Call Hundel Electric: 604-358-5549 | hundelelectric.com