RBM wrote:


What is a homeowners permit?


I assume he means "owner/builder" permit that allows the homeowner to
pull a permit and do the work. YMMV on whether you can actually do
this. In Florida you can.


That's not legal in my county, in fact I'm pretty sure there is a
jail term for doing that, although the jail term may only be for
doing electrical work in someone else's house. I could look at the
laws, but they're really scary. I can't believe that half the stuff
in them is constitutional. Hard to believe that you can't legally
work in your own house.


In less enlightened climes, you need no permit at all. I've done two: at my
place and my son's. We replaced crappola builder-grade, Wesmokeless panels
with 200-Amp Square-D ones.

'Course our town's so backward we don't even have zoning.

And, believe it or not, we don't have many fires started due to poor wiring.
No, not many at all considering we're the 4th largest city in the nation.
Hardly even make the news.

Now assuming the original poster doesn't need or can get the required permit
(or is willing to work under a tent attached to the side of the house during
the dark of the moon) and:

a) has some common sense,
b) can use simple tools, and
c) is relatively close to a big box store, then

he can do the job himself for about $350.

"Officer, I have no idea. I'm as bewildered as you. I came home from work
and there was a large red ribbon attached to the box with an unsigned
birthday card and a bottle of Champagne sitting on the ground. I drank the
wine... Did I do something wrong?"