Electrical Permit Glossary
Plain-language definitions of the terms you'll encounter when applying for an electrical panel permit — without the jargon.
- AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter)
- A type of circuit breaker that detects electrical arcing — a common cause of electrical fires — and shuts off the circuit. Under NEC 2020, AFCI breakers are required on nearly all 120V circuits in habitable rooms. When you replace your panel, you may need to install AFCI breakers on kitchen, living room, bedroom, and other circuits.
- APN / Parcel Number
- Assessor's Parcel Number — a unique identifier for your property assigned by the county assessor. Required on most permit applications. Find yours on your property tax bill or your county assessor's website.
- Certificate of Completion / Certificate of Occupancy
- A document issued by the building department after a final inspection passes, confirming the work was done with a valid permit and meets code. This document becomes part of your home's permanent permit record and is often required by lenders and title companies during a home sale.
- Dead Front Cover
- The inner cover of your electrical panel that protects the live bus bars and breaker connections. Must be removed for panel inspection. Called "dead front" because it has no live parts on the user-facing side.
- GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)
- A device that detects current imbalances (which can indicate current flowing through a person or water) and shuts off power within milliseconds. Required by the NEC in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, outdoors, and other wet or damp locations.
- Grounding Electrode System
- The physical connection between your electrical system and the earth. Typically includes one or more ground rods driven into the earth, a metal water pipe bond, and structural steel bond where applicable. Required at every main panel and at detached structures with sub-panels.
- NEC (National Electrical Code)
- The National Electrical Code — a comprehensive set of standards for safe electrical installation, published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and updated every 3 years. Most U.S. states adopt a version of the NEC (2017, 2020, or 2023 are current). Your permit will specify which edition applies to your project.
- Owner-Builder Exemption
- A provision in state law that allows property owners to act as their own contractor for construction on their primary residence, without holding a contractor's license. Available in most U.S. states for single-family owner-occupied homes. See our owner-builder rules by state guide.
- Service Entrance
- The conductors and equipment that bring electrical power from the utility company's lines into your home and to your main panel. Service entrance conductors are always live (energized by the utility) and can only be safely de-energized by the utility company.
- Service Size / Amperage
- The rated capacity of your electrical service, measured in amperes. Common residential sizes are 100A, 150A, 200A, and 400A. The service size is stamped on your main breaker. A "service upgrade" means increasing this capacity, which always requires utility coordination in addition to a permit.
- Stop-Work Order
- An official order from a building department or code enforcement officer requiring all work on a property to stop immediately. Issued for unpermitted work, work that doesn't match the approved permit, or safety violations. Cannot be lifted until the underlying violation is resolved.
- Working Clearance (NEC 110.26)
- The required clear space in front of electrical panels to allow safe operation and maintenance. NEC 110.26 requires a minimum of 30 inches of width, 36 inches of depth (measured from the panel face), and 78 inches of headroom. Inspectors commonly cite working clearance violations — clear the area before your inspection.