What a panel upgrade costs in Arlington in 2026
A code-compliant 200-amp panel upgrade in Arlington runs $6,000 to $7,500 as of 2026, including the Arlington County permit, the required 2020 NEC fireman's disconnect, whole-home surge protection, new service entrance conductors, a new meter base on most overhead-service homes, and the inspection.
Two Arlington-specific variations push the price within that band:
- Tight lots in North Arlington. Cape Cods and 1940s colonials in Lyon Park, Cherrydale, Westover often have the panel in a finished interior space (kitchen, hallway, finished basement). Access work adds labor.
- Townhouse and condo coordination. Townhouses in 22201/22203/22206 and condo buildings throughout the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor require HOA and building-electrician-of-record sign-off before work starts. Add 1–2 weeks to the timeline.
- Overhead-service drop relocation. Some older Arlington homes have the service drop entering at a location that's no longer code-compliant for the new fireman's disconnect. Relocating the drop coordinates with Dominion Energy and adds cost.
Why Arlington homes need upgrades
Arlington's established residential housing stock is mostly 1920s–1960s — Cape Cods in Lyon Park and Westover, colonials in Cherrydale and Country Club Hills, mid-century homes in Ashton Heights and Bluemont. Almost all were built with 100-amp or 60-amp service (a few of the oldest still have 60A). That worked for the all-electric loads of 1955; it doesn't work for 2026.
The typical Arlington trigger for a panel upgrade is one of three things:
- •Adding an EV charger — most-common trigger across all of Arlington in 2025/2026
- •A home inspection finding from a sale or refinance (Federal Pacific panels common in 1960s–70s homes)
- •A finished-basement renovation that needs dedicated circuits and tripped the existing panel's capacity limit
The older sections of Arlington (Lyon Park, Ashton Heights, parts of Cherrydale) have aluminum branch wiring in homes built ~1965–1973. Connections at the new panel need aluminum-rated lugs and proper antioxidant compound — we handle that as part of the upgrade.
The Arlington County permit process
Arlington County has its own electrical permitting authority — separate from Fairfax County. We file the permit through Arlington County's online permitting system under our master electrician license. Residential electrical permits typically issue within 2–5 business days; the inspection happens after the work and we schedule and meet the Arlington County inspector on-site.
For overhead-service homes, we coordinate the Dominion Energy disconnect/reconnect. Most North Arlington streets still have overhead service from the original 1950s build-out, so this applies to a majority of Arlington panel upgrades.
Frequently asked questions
What does a panel upgrade cost in Arlington in 2026?
A code-compliant 200-amp upgrade in Arlington — Cape Cods near Lyon Park, 1940s colonials in Cherrydale, the older homes off Wilson Boulevard, and the smaller-footprint detached homes throughout North Arlington — runs $6,000 to $7,500. That includes the Arlington County permit (filed through the County's online permitting), the fireman's disconnect, surge protection, new service entrance conductors, and inspection. Condo and townhome upgrades have additional coordination requirements (HOA, building electrician of record) that can add 1–2 weeks of timeline; pricing stays in the same range.
Does Arlington County have its own permit process?
Yes — Arlington has its own permitting authority (Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing, and Development) and is separate from Fairfax County's process. We're licensed master electricians who pull permits in Arlington regularly. The process is generally faster than Fairfax County for residential electrical permits — typically 2–5 business days from application to issuance.
What about condos and high-rise apartments?
Most high-rise condos in Crystal City, Pentagon City, Rosslyn, Courthouse, and Ballston don't have individual panels that homeowners can upgrade — the building has a centralized electrical system. Townhouses and 4–6 unit condos sometimes have unit-specific panels that can be upgraded, but this requires HOA + building-electrician-of-record approval which adds 1–2 weeks. We handle the coordination but it's worth knowing upfront.
Will my Arlington home need a meter base replacement?
Most Arlington overhead-service homes (common in North Arlington's 1940s–1960s neighborhoods) do need a meter base replacement as part of the 2020 NEC upgrade — the old meter bases aren't rated for the integrated fireman's disconnect required by current code. Underground-service homes (most newer construction off Columbia Pike and in South Arlington) usually keep the existing meter base.
How long does the work take in Arlington?
Most Arlington panel upgrades are completed in a single day — 4 to 8 hours of on-site work. The schedule complexity adds in Arlington when the home is on a tight lot (common in Lyon Park, Cherrydale, Westover) where panel access requires going through a finished interior space. We assess that during the in-home estimate.
Can you do EV charger installation at the same time?
Yes, and it's the most cost-effective approach for Arlington homes. EV charger installations in Arlington average $1,800–$2,800 when paired with a panel upgrade. The run length matters a lot here — many Arlington homes have detached or back-of-lot garages requiring 30–60 ft of conduit, which adds to the EV portion. The townhouse situation is more variable; we quote on-site.
Why AJ Long for Arlington panel upgrades
We've been pulling permits in Arlington since 1996. Our master electricians know the County's inspection patterns, which neighborhoods have overhead vs. underground service, and which Arlington streets have Federal Pacific panels still in service from the 1960s–70s build-out. We've completed over 1,200 panel upgrades across NoVA, with 1,400+ five-star reviews.
For Arlington panel upgrades, call (703) 997-0026 or schedule online and we'll come out for an in-person assessment.
Inspection-driven upgrade with closing date pressure?
Send the inspection report. We can usually turn around an Arlington panel upgrade within 5–7 business days for buyers under contract.