Shoddy, careless electrical wiring in your home poses a significant fire hazard. When undertaking any renovations that require electrical work, be sure you know which wiring jobs you are capable of handling yourself, and which you should — or must — hire a licensed electrician to perform. Bear in mind that you also may have to obtain an electrical permit from San Francisco's Department of Building Inspection (DBI), Electrical Inspection Division.

• Which types of electrical work require a licensed professional and/or a permit?

Most minor electrical repair or replacement does not require a permit — and any work not requiring a permit does not need to be performed by a licensed professional. For instance, you may replace lighting fixtures weighing a maximum of 50 pounds, as long as you do not change any of the existing wiring, and you may also replace certain fuses and circuit breakers. For more intricate work, such as installing wiring in a new addition, you will need a permit, and this type of project requires a California State Licensed Electrical Contractor or Building Contractor. However, if you have the mandatory skills for your project and are familiar with the applicable code, you may be permitted to perform the work yourself. If you wanted to pursue this option, you would have to go to the DBI office to complete a "Home Owner's Application Package" and meet with an electrical inspector for a review of your proposed project. 

• Where can you get an application and how long does it take to get a permit?

An "Application/Permit for Wiring and/or Fixtures" can be obtained from the DBI, 1660 Mission Street, First Floor. (Licensed contractors may submit certain permit applications through the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) Web site after they have registered for the service.) The person actually performing the work does not have to submit plans in order to obtain an electrical permit. This means that the DBI can issue permits over-the-counter, which saves time. Fees vary according to the number of expected site visits, and are payable at the time of application filing.