How to Hire a Good Electrician in the City of Greensboro

What Do I Need to Know Before Hiring an Electrician in Greensboro? 

Before choosing any electrician to work with, always confirm if the individual is familiar with the city’s electrical codes. This is especially important in Greensboro, where electrical works must meet the minimum standards and provisions of the North Carolina Electrical Code. Noncompliance typically attracts a stop work order. So, to avoid getting a stop work order during your electrical project, always hire licensed electricians familiar with the Code in situations like the following: 

• Your breaker needs maintenance. 
• You have overloaded outlets. 
• You’re dealing with wet wiring. 
• You need to install safety switches. 
• Your lights are flickering, or your outlets are sparking. 
• You live in a house that’s more than 25 years old. 
• There’s a burning odor coming out of your outlets. 

Are You Licensed as an Electrician in Greensboro? 

Anyone who plans to work as an electrician in Greensboro must first obtain the appropriate electrical license from the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors. The Board issues ten classifications of electrical contracting licenses, and all licenses have a validity period of one year. 

Those interested in getting an electrical contracting license can obtain any type of license by passing the appropriate trade examinations and downloading, completing, and mailing an electrical license application form to 

Doing electrical work without an electrical license is a misdemeanor that can attract a fine of $300 or imprisonment for up to 30 days. As such, you should always confirm your electrician's license status by utilizing the NCBEEC's license verification portal. 

What Rates Do You Charge for Your Electrical Services in Greensboro? 

Professional electricians in Greensboro typically charge $23 to $120 per hour depending on the size of the project and other variables like:  

• The amount of labor and time required to finish the job 
• The cost of necessary materials, like lighting fixtures, wires, and surge protectors  
• Your location within the city  
• The electrician's reputation 

No matter how small an electrical service you need, you should always get and compare quotes from at least three electricians. By doing this, you can determine the best price for the service. 

Are You a Master Electrician in Greensboro? 

Electricians in Greensboro are generally classified into four categories based on their level of experience: 

• Apprentice Electricians: These include all entry-level electricians and assistants to journeymen electricians. 
• Journeyman Electricians: These electricians have four years of training and experience in the electrical trade and have also successfully passed the journeyman electrician examination. 
• Master Electricians: These electricians have the credentials, technical know-how, and experience to design and oversee the installation of electrical wiring, apparatus, and equipment.  
• Maintenance Electricians: These are either journeymen or master electricians hired regularly to maintain and perform minor repairs on the electrical wiring, apparatus, and equipment in a residential or commercial building. 

Except for electrical maintenance, residents of Greensboro should only hire master electricians to handle their electrical projects. Hiring a master electrician ensures the service you need is optimally handled and avoids electrical hazards that may result from incompetence or negligence. 

Will My Electrical Project Require a Permit in Greensboro? 

Except for minor repair work, such as replacing lamps or connecting portable devices to suitable receptacles permanently installed, every other electrical project in Greensboro typically requires a permit. 

Those interested in obtaining an electrical permit must submit a written application describing the intended work to the city's Electrical Inspector. The application must include plans, specifications, and schedules to determine whether the proposed work will conform with the requirements of the North Carolina Electrical Code. 

For more information concerning the electrical permit application process and requirements in Greensboro, contact the city's Electrical Inspector via email or by calling (336) 451-3960. 

What Type of Electrical Services Do You Offer in Greensboro? 

Electricians in Greensboro offer various electrical services, including the following: 

Will You Be Doing the Work, or Do You Outsource the Electrical Work in Greensboro? 

Professional electricians in Greensboro may outsource part of an electrical project for several reasons, namely: 

• To meet up with the agreed deadline  
• To optimize the work process  
• The project includes an area that is not the electrician's specialty   

We recommend you find out whether your electrician will outsource any part of your project to a third party before signing any contract. If yes, we advise you to take the following preventive measures: 

• Find out who the subcontractor is and verify their professional qualifications. 
• Confirm the agreement between your electrician and the third party. 
• Request a lien waiver that protects you from bearing the consequences if the electrician fails to pay the subcontractor.. 
• Verify if outsourcing would attract extra costs. 

Are You a Fully Insured and Bonded Greensboro Electrician? 

Electricians in Greensboro must maintain surety bonds of $2,000 with the city's Development Services Division and carry workers' compensation insurance if they have at least three employees. Therefore, you should always confirm if your potential electrician is bonded and carries appropriate insurance before signing any agreement with them. 

Hiring an electrician that is fully insured and bonded in Greensboro protects you from liabilities resulting from the electrician's inability to do the work or bodily injuries that may occur during the course of the electrical project.

You can confirm if your prospective electrician has a contractor bond on file with the city's Development Services Division by calling (336) 373-2155 and their electrician's workers' compensation insurance by calling (919) 807-2501. 

Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your Electrical Work in Greensboro? 

Reputable electricians in Greensboro typically offer work warranties for their services. Nevertheless, before signing any agreement, you should always confirm if your prospective electrician will offer any warranty for their services. Furthermore, verifying the terms and conditions of any warranty you are offered is critical. For this purpose, you can request a copy of the warranty to read carefully. Although each electrician may offer different terms and conditions for their warranty, you should ensure that the one you accept is valid for at least a year. 

How Do I Resolve Any Issue I Have with Your Electrical Services in Greensboro? 

The Consumer Protection Division maintained by the North Carolina Department of Justice handles general consumer complaints, including matters involving subpar electrical services, fraud, or allegations of deceptive business practices. City residents can file complaints with the Division online using the appropriate complaint form.  

Similarly, you can also report a fraudulent licensed electrician in the city to the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors online or by downloading, completing, and mailing a consumer complaint form to