Electrical Plans for Permit, Designed and PE Stamped
Power, lighting and service design with NEC load calculations, panel schedules and one-line diagrams, sealed by a licensed Professional Engineer.
- Stamped by a PE licensed in your state
- Built to IBC, IRC and local amendments
- Plan-check comments answered
Electrical drawings that answer the plan reviewer's questions
Building departments want electrical plans for permit whenever the work goes beyond replacing like with like. A new commercial space, a restaurant, a service upgrade, a bank of EV chargers, a large custom home or new machinery in a shop all raise the same questions: is the service big enough, are the conductors and breakers sized correctly, and can the equipment withstand the fault current available at the site?
PE Engineer prepares electrical drawings to the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) as adopted by your jurisdiction. A typical set includes power and lighting plans, panel schedules, a one-line or riser diagram, load calculations and general notes, sealed by a Professional Engineer licensed in the state where the project is located.
We coordinate the electrical design with the mechanical units, kitchen hoods, water heaters and fire alarm panel shown elsewhere in the set, so every load on the panel schedule has a matching piece of equipment on the plans and nothing is left for the electrician to guess. If you are adding solar, our solar PV plans cover the interconnection side.
What you receive
- Power and lighting floor plans
- Panel schedules with load summaries
- One-line or riser diagram
- Service and feeder load calculations
- Fault current and voltage drop checks
- PE stamped PDF set ready to submit
Electrical design services
We scale the drawing set to the project, from a single service upgrade to a complete commercial building.
Service and feeder sizing
Service and feeder load calculations using NEC Article 220 methods, so the utility, the inspector and your electrician agree on the required ampacity before equipment is ordered.
Panel schedules
Circuit-by-circuit panel schedules with breaker and wire sizes, connected and demand loads, phase balancing, and spare capacity noted for future tenants or equipment.
One-line and riser diagrams
Single-line diagrams showing the utility service, meters, main disconnect, transformers, distribution and subpanels, with conductor sizes, conduit and grounding electrode details.
Power and equipment plans
Receptacle, equipment and motor connections for kitchens, shops, salons, medical offices and warehouses, coordinated with HVAC units, water heaters and specialty equipment.
Lighting and controls
Interior and exterior lighting layouts with fixture schedules, emergency egress lighting, exit signs, and the occupancy sensors and automatic controls the energy code requires.
EV charging and standby power
EV charger circuits and load management, standby generators, transfer switches and backup power layouts, each checked against the capacity of the existing electrical service.
Your Stamped, Permit-Ready Plans Start With One Upload
Send your drawings or describe the project. A licensed engineer reviews it and sends a clear, fixed-fee proposal, often within hours.
- Free and no obligation
- Reviewed by a licensed PE
- Secure file upload
What goes into electrical plans for permit
An electrical permit set has to show the inspector what is being installed and prove that it is sized safely. Depending on the project, our drawings include:
- Electrical site plan showing the utility service point, meter location, exterior equipment, site lighting and EV chargers.
- Power plan with receptacles, dedicated circuits, equipment connections, disconnects and junction boxes.
- Lighting plan with fixtures, switching, occupancy sensors, emergency lighting and exit signs.
- Panel schedules for every new or modified panel, with a load summary that rolls up to the service.
- One-line diagram showing how power flows from the utility through every panel and transformer.
- Calculations for service load, voltage drop and available fault current where the jurisdiction requires them.
- General notes covering wiring methods, grounding and bonding, GFCI and AFCI protection and labeling.
A residential service upgrade may need only a load calculation and a one-line. A restaurant or medical office needs the full set.
Every panel schedule we draw shows connected load, demand load and the resulting ampacity, so the plan reviewer can trace the numbers from each circuit back to the service without asking for a separate calculation.
Load calculations and service sizing
The service load calculation is the heart of most electrical permits. We use the methods in NEC Article 220, applying the demand factors the code allows for lighting, receptacles, kitchen equipment, motors and HVAC. For dwellings, the code offers both a standard method and an optional method, and the right choice can be the difference between keeping a 200 amp service and upgrading it.
When new load is added to an existing building, the NEC also allows the existing demand to be established from a year of utility demand data instead of adding up nameplates. That approach often shows a service has more room than a connected-load estimate would suggest, which can save a costly upgrade. We help you request the data from your utility and apply it correctly, and we show the method on the drawings so the plan reviewer can follow it.
If the service does need to grow, we size the new service entrance conductors, main disconnect and grounding electrode system, and we prepare the information the utility needs to plan the transformer and meter. For heat pump conversions, EV chargers and all-electric remodels, we can also evaluate energy management systems that limit the total load so the existing service can stay in place. We also flag when an upgrade will trigger utility work, such as a new transformer or a relocated meter, because those items often set the schedule more than the permit does.
Have a Question? Get a Real Engineer's Answer in Minutes
Skip the guesswork. Chat live with a licensed engineer about your drawings, code requirements or permit comments, free and with no obligation.
- Free and no obligation
- Reviewed by a licensed PE
- Secure file upload
Fault current, voltage drop and protective devices
Electrical equipment has a short-circuit rating, and that rating must be at least as high as the fault current available where the equipment is installed. On commercial services the available fault current must be documented and marked at the service equipment. We obtain the utility transformer data, calculate the fault current at the service and at downstream panels, and specify breakers and panelboards with adequate interrupting and withstand ratings. Where the utility cannot supply transformer impedance data, we use a conservative assumption and state it on the drawings.
Voltage drop matters on long runs to detached buildings, parking lot lighting, pumps and EV chargers. The NEC recommends limits in its informational notes, and some energy codes now set limits of their own. We size conductors so motors start reliably and equipment receives the voltage it was designed for.
Every set also covers the protection details inspectors check most often:
- Overcurrent protection sized to conductor ampacity and equipment nameplates.
- GFCI and AFCI protection where the code requires it.
- Grounding and bonding to NEC Article 250, including separately derived systems from transformers.
- Working clearances in front of panels and switchgear.
- Selective coordination of overcurrent devices for elevators and emergency systems where the code requires it.
Commercial and residential electrical projects
Our commercial electrical work centers on tenant improvements, restaurants, retail, medical and dental offices, gyms, warehouses and light industrial spaces. These projects usually need new panels or subpanels, equipment circuits coordinated with the mechanical and kitchen layouts, lighting that meets energy code power limits, and connections for the building fire alarm. When a fire alarm system is part of the scope, our fire alarm plans are drawn alongside the power plans so circuits, panels and devices agree.
Residential electrical engineering is usually triggered by a service upgrade, a large addition, an ADU with its own subpanel or meter, a whole-house generator, or a heat pump and EV charger added to an older home. We prepare the load calculation, one-line and plans the city needs, written so your electrician can build from them directly.
To start, send the address, the architectural plans or a sketch, photos of the main panel label and any subpanels, the utility meter, and a list of new equipment. If an electrician or designer has already drawn the plans, our MEP PE stamp service can review and seal them instead.
Older buildings sometimes reveal obsolete panels, undersized feeders or missing grounding. We document what we find and give you options, from targeted repairs to full replacement, before the drawings are finalized.
You likely need this if
- You are upgrading the service or adding a meter
- A new commercial tenant space is being built out
- A restaurant or shop is adding heavy equipment
- You are installing EV chargers or a generator
- A panel replacement comes with added load
- The city asked for a one-line diagram
How it works, start to finish
From your first message to stamped drawings, you work directly with the engineering team.
- 1Share your projectSend the address, scope and any drawings, photos or plan-check comments. Two minutes is enough.
- 2Receive a fixed-fee proposalAn engineer reviews the scope and replies with a firm price and delivery date for your electrical plans drawings.
- 3Engineering and draftingWe run the calculations and prepare drawings to the codes your jurisdiction enforces, checked before sealing.
- 4Stamped set deliveredYou receive a sealed PDF set ready to submit, and we answer any plan-check comments within scope.
Codes and standards we design to
Electrical designs follow the edition of each code your jurisdiction has adopted, together with local amendments and utility service requirements:
- National Electrical Code (NEC), NFPA 70
- International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC)
- IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 for lighting power and lighting controls
- IBC means of egress illumination and exit sign requirements
- Local utility service and metering requirements
- State codes such as the California Electrical Code
How licensing works. Engineering drawings must be sealed by a Professional Engineer licensed in the state where your project is located. PE Engineer works with a network of state-licensed PEs, so every set is reviewed and stamped by an engineer with an active license in the state where your project is located. Their name and license number appear on the seal, exactly as your building department requires.
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MEP PE StampMechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection and energy drawings checked against code and sealed by engineers licensed in your state for each discipline.Explore MoreFrequently asked questions
Do I need an engineer for electrical plans or can my electrician draw them?
It depends on the jurisdiction and the size of the job. Many cities accept contractor drawings for simple residential work, while commercial projects and larger services often require plans from a design professional. Tell us your city and scope and we will confirm what the plan reviewer expects.
Can you tell me if my existing service can handle new equipment?
Yes. We run an NEC load calculation with your existing and proposed loads, or use a year of utility demand data where the code allows it. The result tells you whether the service can stay, needs an upgrade, or could work with a load management system.
What is a one-line diagram?
A one-line, or single-line, diagram is a simplified drawing of the electrical system that shows how power flows from the utility through the meter, main disconnect, transformers and panels. It lists conductor sizes, breaker ratings and grounding, and plan reviewers use it to check the whole system at a glance.
Do you calculate available fault current?
Yes. We get the transformer and service data from your utility, calculate the fault current at the service and downstream panels, and confirm that every breaker and panel has an adequate short-circuit rating. Commercial service equipment must be marked with the available fault current.
Can you prepare plans for EV chargers?
Yes. We size the circuits and any new panels, check the service capacity, evaluate load management where the service is tight, and show charger locations, conduit routes and disconnects. We handle single home chargers as well as multi-port installations at businesses and apartment buildings.
What does an electrical plan set cost and how fast is it?
We give a fixed-fee quote after reviewing your project, usually the same day. Most residential electrical packages are delivered within a few business days of receiving complete information, rush service is available, and plan-check revisions within the original scope are included.
Get your free electrical plans proposal
Tell us where the project is and what you need. Attach any drawings, photos or plan-check comments. A licensed engineer reviews every request.
- Upload your filesPlans, sketches, photos or comments
- Get a fixed-fee proposalUsually the same day
- Receive stamped drawingsSealed by a PE licensed in your state