STATE LICENSE
RequiredDC Board of Industrial Trades — Departmen…
Electrician is a regulated occupation under D.C. Code § 47-2853.04, overseen by the Board of Industrial Trades (§ 47-2853.06(d)) and administered by DLCP. An electrician is anyone who designs, installs, maintains, alters, repairs, or inspects electrical wiring or systems in buildings or on public and private space (§ 47-2853.91). A journeyman needs 8,000 apprentice hours over at least four years (or an electrical engineering degree plus two years) and a class on the DC electrical code (12C DCMR) within two years before applying (§ 47-2853.92(b)); a master needs four more years as a journeyman (§ 47-2853.92(c)). Apprentices register without exam and work only under a master (§ 47-2853.92(a)). Journeymen and masters licensed by exam in Maryland or Virginia can qualify by reciprocity.
To run an electrical business you need a contractor license conditioned on a master electrician as owner, officer, or employee, with all work under that master's personal supervision (17 DCMR § 208), plus a surety bond (17 DCMR § 210) and a basic business license. DLCP's fee schedule lists a $65 application fee, $120 for a master or contractor license, and $110 for a journeyman (each up to two years); electrician licenses expire November 30 of odd-numbered years. Violating the licensing subchapter is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $10,000 fine ($25,000 for a repeat conviction).
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
Electrical licensing is District-wide; there is no other licensing layer. DOB issues electrical permits only to licensed masters and inspects the work, and a license is never a substitute for a permit (17 DCMR § 203.2). Work under contract with the federal government and public-utility franchise work are exempt from the District licensing chapter (17 DCMR § 204.1).
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every District of Columbia county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of October 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
DLCP lists the electrician license expiration as November 30 of odd-numbered years.
Journeymen and masters licensed by exam in Maryland or Virginia can be licensed by reciprocity without the DC exam.
A contractor with more than one business location needs a separate license and bond for each (17 DCMR § 208.4).
A practical sequence for a new electrical contractor in District of Columbia. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
Violating any provision of the non-health occupations licensing subchapter, including practicing without a license.
Civil fines may be imposed as an alternative sanction for infractions of the subchapter or its rules.
Using 'electrician' or a specialty title without a license.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
| County · City | Permit office | Portal |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia Washington (consolidated gov.) | District of Columbia Department of Buildings (DOB) — Permitting ↗ | Citizen Access Portal ↗ |
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: Electrical bond amount — 17 DCMR § 210.7 and DLCP's bond form leave the penal sum blank; the required amount was not found · Homeowner electrical work: 17 DCMR § 204.2 exempts owner-occupants who obtain a permit, but DOB's Homeowner's Center says homeowners cannot apply for trade permits · Continuing education requirement, if any, for electrician license renewal · Electrical exam fees charged by PSI (17 DCMR § 3500.3 referenced but not retrieved) · Whether 17 DCMR ch. 2 license classes (electrical fixture contractor, maintenance and repair electrician) are still issued under the Board's current practice
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.