
2026 Electrical Changes Every San Jose Homeowner Can’t Afford to Ignore
January 10, 2026
New electrical requirements, inspection enforcement, and rebates impacting homes across San Jose and Santa Clara County in 2026 — explained clearly by local electricians.

If you own a home or rental property in San Jose or anywhere in Santa Clara County, 2026 brings electrical changes that directly affect permits, inspections, insurance, and long-term safety.
Some updates are written into code.
Others are being enforced quietly in the field.
And several come with rebates that disappear if one detail is missed.
Here’s what matters — without scare tactics, sales fluff, or guesswork.
What Changed for Residential Electrical Work in 2026?
California jurisdictions are now enforcing updated standards tied to the 2025 National Electrical Code (NEC) and state energy policies. In practical terms, that means:
Stricter inspection enforcement
Less tolerance for aging or recalled equipment
Higher expectations for homes adding EVs, solar, or batteries
Many homes still “function,” but no longer pass.
San Jose Electrical Code Updates for Homeowners in 2026
Dollens Electric provides licensed residential electrical service throughout San Jose, Willow Glen, Cambrian Park, Almaden Valley, Evergreen, and surrounding Santa Clara County neighborhoods. All information below reflects how local inspectors are enforcing electrical code in 2026 — not just what’s written on paper.
Projects Completed:
-Electric water heater installation
-Circuit breaker panel upgrade
-Electric dryer wiring and connection
From the initial consultation, it was clear I was working with a true professional. They took the time to explain each project in detail, answered all my questions patiently, and provided transparent pricing with no hidden fees.
What stood out most:
The water heater installation was flawless. They ensured everything was up to code, properly grounded, and functioning perfectly. The attention to safety details gave me complete peace of mind.
The circuit breaker upgrade was handled expertly. They assessed my home's electrical needs, recommended the right capacity, and completed the work efficiently while keeping the disruption to my daily routine minimal.
For the dryer connection, they ran wiring cleanly and professionally, ensuring proper voltage and a safe, reliable connection. Everything was tested thoroughly before they considered the job complete.
Throughout all three projects, they maintained a clean work area, showed up on time, and demonstrated exceptional craftsmanship. I'll definitely be using them for all future electrical needs!
Came back from out of town on a Friday evening to find the garage without power.
Jason from Dollens walked me step by step through all the trouble shooting over the phone to spot the issue and resolve it within minutes.
I am going back to them for all my Electrical nees!
Still my go to electrical contractor. On time, plenty of communication, professional.
Converting from propane to an electric BBQ (firewise change).
Needed a new outlet on a 20 amp circuit that had an old 15 amp style socket. These are the guys I trust to keep us safe.
Update 9/2020 - Upgraded some thermostat wiring for me with a difficult routing. Professional and quick.
Update - Jason and Josh again came through for me. In the midst of a heat wave, they were able to come to the other end of the county and fix an electrical problem at my mother's house. Got the outlets for the portable AC and lift chair back working and made the wiring safer to boot.
Original - Could not ask for better. Jason installed a new 40 amp circuit and an EVo charger for our car. (No more slow 110 charging. Yeah!) While working in our breaker panel he noted a dangerous situation left by a previous contractor who upgraded our air conditioning.
(Side note kind of disappointing the inspector didn't notice that the other contractor put in a bigger breaker on a wire that was too small. Luckily the wire insulation had just started to bubble and it didn't catch fire.)
Within a week they were able to fit us in to replace the faulty circuit as well as rewire our garage lighting to eliminate some creative but scary runs of extension cords and re-purposed outlets. Now I have bright lights and when I look up, I don't see wires draped everywhere.
We connected with Jason of Dollens Electric through our equally excellent general contractor Dan Mackey. (Who by the way had nothing to do with the faulty circuit or the creative garage lighting.)
Lastly a thank you to Jason's son Josh who got to do the crawling under the house.
Thanks Maggie and Jim!!!
I had a hard time finding a contractor who wanted to install a power meter for dynamic energy monitoring over an expensive DCC. On my first call with them they recommended an Emporia Pro which is the cheapest option for dynamic load management, so I knew that they had the best for the customer in mind. I decided to go with Wallbox's offering instead; although I picked a less common method for dynamic load management Joshua had no issues wiring everything and it was great to see that he took in my input instead of just telling me I had to install a costly DCC. I also liked that he already had a lot of prior experience installing Wallbox's car charger.
Thank you for an amazing install. Support Local!
I was pleased when they briefly reviewed an installation manual to make sure they remembered exactly how the brand worked. It was obvious Joshua already knew how to make the installation but he doubled checked anyway. (I'm glad I'm not the only person who still refers to a manual.)
Call/use them; you won't be sorry.
Thank you for your kind words! We're glad to hear that you had a great experience with us. Our team at Dollens Electric is always ready to help with any electrical problems. If you ever need assistance in the future, don't hesitate to give us a call. Thanks again!
Excellent communication and professional!
Highly recommend!
Jason seemed to know the possible cause for the problem when I told him that the parts of the house were losing power gradually, and he was right!! He came out on the same day and fixed the problem (burnt crimp in junction box in the garage) within an hour!! Excellent!
They went above board to make sure every thing was done to perfection !
They give an accurate read on what needs
to be done. They are a safety-first company
that shows up energetic & work...
Electrical Panels Are Under More Scrutiny Than Ever
Panel issues are now one of the most common reasons projects fail inspection in San Jose.Inspectors are flagging:
Recalled or obsolete panels (Zinsco, Federal Pacific, Challenger)
Overloaded 100-amp services
Double-tapped breakers and damaged bus bars
Panels that can’t support EVs, heat pumps, or battery systems
Even if nothing has tripped yet, inspectors are asking one question:
Can this system safely support today’s electrical demand?
If the answer is no, upgrades are being required.
👉 Learn more about panel safety and upgrades: main-electrical-panel-upgrades
EV Charger Installations: No More Shortcuts in 2026
EV chargers are no longer treated as “simple add-ons.”
In 2026, San Jose inspectors are enforcing:
Full load calculations
Verified panel capacity for future EV expansion
Proper grounding, labeling, and disconnects
Coordination with utility requirements
Homes with older services are often required to upgrade before an EV charger is approved — especially for rentals and multi-vehicle households.
EV charger installation details: ev-charger-installation-san-jose
Solar, Batteries, and Backup Power Face Tighter Rules
With grid reliability concerns increasing, more homeowners are adding battery storage or backup power. At the same time, enforcement has tightened.
What inspectors are checking more closely:
Separation of critical loads
Correct interconnection methods
Labeling and shut-off access
Battery placement and ventilation
Programs tied to Pacific Gas and Electric Company and state incentives now require fully compliant installations. Improper wiring can delay approvals or eliminate rebates altogether.
Solar and battery electrical services: solar-repair-servicep
Electrical Inspections Are Triggered More Often in 2026
Many homeowners don’t realize how easily an inspection requirement can be triggered.
Common triggers include:
Kitchen or bathroom remodels
Panel replacements
EV charger permits
Solar or battery installations
Insurance or real-estate requests
Once triggered, inspectors evaluate the system as a whole, not just the new work.
That’s why unaddressed electrical issues are surfacing during otherwise routine projects.
👉 Schedule an Electrical Inspection Today: /electrical-inspections/
2026 Rebates: Real Savings, Real Requirements
Several incentive programs remain active into 2026, including:
Electrification-linked panel upgrade rebates
Battery storage incentives (higher in outage-prone areas)
EV-related infrastructure incentives
What trips homeowners up:
Missing permits
Incomplete documentation
Non-compliant installations
Rebates are not automatic — they’re conditional.
A properly planned electrical upgrade often determines whether a homeowner receives thousands back or nothing at all.
Insurance and Liability Are Driving Quiet Electrical Upgrades
Insurance carriers are increasingly:
Denying coverage for recalled panels
Requiring electrical inspections for renewals
Excluding losses tied to known hazards
For landlords, this matters even more.
Electrical issues that were once overlooked are now becoming liability exposure.
Why Local Electrical Knowledge Matters in San Jose
Electrical code is written broadly — enforcement is local.
Dollens Electric works directly with:
San Jose city inspectors
Santa Clara County permitting departments
Utility coordination requirements
Real-world inspection outcomes, not theory
That local experience is often the difference between:
Passing the first time
Or paying twice to fix what was missed
The Bottom Line for 2026
If your home:
Is over 25 years old
Has an original or recalled panel
Is adding EV charging, solar, or batteries
Is being remodeled or re-insured
Then 2026 is the year to get ahead of electrical compliance, not react to it.
Planning early costs less than fixing problems mid-inspection.
Need clarity on how these 2026 changes affect your home?
A proper electrical evaluation now can prevent delays, failed inspections, and lost rebates later.
Dollens Electric
Serving San Jose & Santa Clara County
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Call (408) 929-6100
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Panel issues are now one of the most common reasons projects fail inspection in San Jose.