What a panel upgrade costs in Fairfax today
A code-compliant 200-amp panel upgrade in Fairfax typically runs $6,000 to $7,500 as of 2026. The cost depends on whether your service is overhead or underground (most of Mantua, Mosby Woods, and older Robinson District is overhead; most newer construction off Pickett and around the courthouse area is underground), whether the existing meter base needs replacement, and the run distance from meter to panel.
The 2020 National Electrical Code adoption in Fairfax County added several requirements that materially change what a panel upgrade costs to do correctly:
- An outdoor fireman's disconnect at the meter, separate from the main panel inside
- Whole-home surge protection built into the new panel
- New service entrance conductors running from meter to panel — old wires retired, not reused
- A new meter base in most overhead-service installations
These aren't add-ons — they're the law in 2026. We pull the Fairfax County permit, coordinate with Dominion for the meter swap on overhead-service homes, install everything to code, and schedule the inspection. The price covers all of it.
Why Fairfax homes need upgrades
Most of Fairfax's established residential housing was built between 1950 and 1985 — Mantua, Mosby Woods, Country Club Hills, the City of Fairfax neighborhoods around the courthouse, Robinson District, Braddock District. Those homes were almost universally built with 100-amp electrical service, which was plenty in 1965 but isn't enough for a 2026 household with central HVAC, an electric range, dedicated dryer + dishwasher + microwave + refrigerator circuits, and increasingly an EV charger in the garage.
Fairfax's late-1960s through mid-1970s homes also frequently used aluminum branch wiring. That's a separate issue from the panel itself, but it's relevant to the upgrade because the new panel's connections need aluminum-rated lugs and proper antioxidant treatment. We handle that as part of the job and flag it in the quote.
Federal Pacific (FPE) Stab-Lok panels show up regularly in Mantua and parts of the City of Fairfax. If you have one, it's a higher-urgency replacement — Stab-Lok breakers have a documented failure-to-trip rate over 50%, and most insurance carriers in Fairfax now require replacement. See our dedicated FPE replacement page for the full picture.
The Fairfax County permit process
Every panel upgrade in Fairfax (city and county) requires an electrical permit filed through Fairfax County DPWES. We pull the permit under our master electrician license — no paperwork on your end. After the work, a Fairfax County inspector comes out to verify the installation; we schedule the inspection and meet the inspector at your home. First-visit pass rate is essentially 100% — Fairfax County is our home jurisdiction and we know exactly what every inspector looks for.
For overhead-service homes, we also coordinate the Dominion Energy service disconnect and reconnection. Dominion's scheduling availability adds 1–2 days to the overall timeline; we communicate the exact date with you once Dominion confirms.
Frequently asked questions
What's a typical panel upgrade cost in Fairfax in 2026?
A code-compliant 200-amp upgrade in Fairfax — Mantua, Mosby Woods, Country Club Hills, the City of Fairfax neighborhoods around the courthouse, and the 1950s–1970s housing stock generally — runs $6,000 to $7,500. That includes the Fairfax County permit, the fireman's disconnect (required since 2021), whole-home surge protection, new service entrance conductors, a new meter base where needed, and the inspection. Overhead-service homes are at the upper end of that range; underground-service homes a bit lower.
Do I need a Fairfax County permit?
Yes. Every panel upgrade in the City of Fairfax and Fairfax County requires an electrical permit. We pull it through the Fairfax County DPWES portal under our master electrician license — you don't handle anything on the permit side. The inspection happens after the work; we schedule it and meet the inspector on-site.
Will Dominion need to disconnect my service?
For overhead-service homes (most of older Fairfax — Mantua, Mosby Woods, parts of Robinson District), yes. We coordinate the disconnect/reconnect with Dominion Energy as part of the job. For underground-service homes (most newer construction off Pickett, Braddock, around the courthouse area), the disconnect happens at your meter base without involving Dominion crews and the timeline is faster.
How long is the power off?
Most of a working day — typically 4 to 8 hours. We schedule the disconnect for late morning so power is restored before evening. If you have medical equipment that needs continuous power, let us know in advance and we'll plan around it.
What about Federal Pacific or Zinsco panels in Fairfax?
We see Federal Pacific (FPE) Stab-Lok panels in Fairfax homes from the 1960s–1980s era — Mantua and parts of the City of Fairfax are particularly common. Zinsco panels show up less often but still appear. Both are documented fire hazards and most NoVA insurance carriers require replacement. See our dedicated pages on FPE replacement and Zinsco replacement for the brand-specific failure modes.
Can you add an EV charger at the same time?
Yes, and it's the most cost-effective approach for Fairfax homes. The EV charger circuit gets installed during the panel work, using the new panel's capacity. Adding a Tesla Wall Connector or ChargePoint to an in-progress upgrade is typically $1,800 to $2,800 depending on run length from the new panel to the garage.
Why AJ Long for Fairfax panel upgrades
We've been headquartered in Fairfax since 1996 — our office at 2724 Dorr Ave is where the company has been based for three decades. Our master electricians live in Fairfax County; some of them grew up in these neighborhoods. We've completed over 1,200 panel upgrades across the Northern Virginia and DMV market, with 1,400+ five-star reviews across our four Google Business Profiles.
If you're in Fairfax and your panel is showing its age — or you're adding load that the existing panel can't handle — call us at (703) 997-0026 or schedule online for an in-person assessment.
Home inspection finding or closing date pressure?
Send the inspection report. We can usually turn around a panel upgrade in Fairfax within 5–7 business days for buyers under contract.