Permits
Can I do my own electrical work in Portland?
Portland lets you wire your own home if you both own it and live in it. If you plan to sell or rent it soon, a licensed electrical contractor has to do the work.
The owner rule
You must be both the owner and the occupant to do electrical work yourself. If the home is meant for sale, lease, rent or exchange in the near future, a licensed electrical contractor must do it. (Portland PP&D) State law sets the same line: owners may work on residential or farm property they or their immediate family own, if it is not meant for sale, exchange, lease or rent. (ORS 479.540)
Jobs that need a permit
- Installing, changing or repairing any hard-wired system.
- Adding wiring, outlets or fixtures.
- Changing fuses to breakers.
- Installing or altering low-voltage systems: security alarms, central vacuum, low-voltage lighting.
- Adding or replacing wall or baseboard heaters.
If you hire it out
An Oregon electrical business needs a CCB license and a Building Codes Division electrical contractor license. (Oregon BCD) Use the Portland electrician hiring questions before you sign.
Sources
We read each source on October 18, 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the linked page before you rely on a number.
Written by the Portland Emergency Electricians team. We list businesses; we do not employ, bond or insure them. Spot a mistake? Use the claim page to tell us.