Kitchen and Bath Remodel Electrical Cost in LA (2026)

The electrical for a kitchen remodel in Los Angeles typically adds up to about $4,250 to $9,300 for four dedicated appliance circuits, a range circuit, six recessed lights and under-cabinet lighting. That total is a sum of published market ranges (HomeGuide's and Inch Calculator's 2026 national figures and a Pasadena contractor's 2026 guide), not a quote or a local average, and no reliable Los Angeles-wide total is published. A bathroom needs less: a 20-amp receptacle circuit, GFCI protection, lighting and a fan. VoltGen Energy's advice is to compare the circuits, lighting and repair work each quote includes before comparing totals.

How much does kitchen remodel electrical cost?

Price the electrical plan by task, rather than assuming every kitchen needs the same package. A remodel that keeps usable circuits and appliance locations has a different scope from one adding induction cooking, countertop outlets and new lighting.

These published ranges provide a starting point:

These are typical market ranges, not our prices.

For the opening example, assume four dedicated circuits, separate from the cooking and lighting circuits, plus a range circuit, a six-light room package and under-cabinet lighting:

• Four dedicated circuits: $1,000 to $3,600, calculated from HomeGuide's range above.
• Range circuit: $250 to $800, from HomeGuide.
• Six-light room package: $1,500 to $2,400, from a Pasadena contractor's 2026 guide.
• Under-cabinet lighting project: $1,500 to $2,500, from Inch Calculator.

The $4,250 to $9,300 total is a sum of those ranges, not a quote. It excludes a panel upgrade and any work outside those packages. Four dedicated circuits are an example allowance, not a universal kitchen requirement. Ask whether wiring and outlets are already included before adding separate allowances for them.

What pushes a remodel quote higher?

Access, existing wiring and appliance choices often explain the gap between quotes. Los Angeles labor rates often put local quotes above national figures. Older plaster houses, hillside access and hard parking push toward the top of a range.

Open walls can simplify routing, while finished walls may require fishing wires and repairing openings. A distant panel, crowded framing or an awkward attic can also change the scope. Give each contractor the same cabinet plan and appliance list so the bids describe the same job.

A full panel does not automatically mean the house needs a service upgrade. Ask the contractor to distinguish missing breaker space from insufficient electrical capacity. A subpanel can address space, but it does not create more available service capacity.

Separate electrical labor from plaster repair, painting and cabinet modifications. Otherwise, a lower bid may simply leave more finish work for someone else.

How much does recessed lighting cost?

Replacing a trim in an existing can costs less than creating a new light location. Ceiling material and access matter as much as the fixture choice.

These are typical market ranges, not our prices.

Treat the room package as an alternative reference, not an extra charge to add to every fixture price. Ask whether the proposal includes fixtures, compatible dimming, ceiling openings and patching. For a kitchen, settle cabinet and work-surface locations before approving the lighting layout.

What circuits and outlets does kitchen code require?

The California Electrical Code requires countertop circuits, receptacle placement and electrical protection, not just enough outlets for today's appliances. The 2025 California Electrical Code, based on the NEC 2023, took effect January 1, 2026.

The kitchen requirements include:

• Countertop circuits: At least two 20-amp small-appliance branch circuits serve kitchen countertop receptacles, under 210.11(C)(1) and 210.52(B).
• Countertop spacing: Each counter space 12 inches or wider gets a receptacle. No point along the wall line may be more than 24 inches from a receptacle, under 210.52(C).
• GFCI protection: Kitchen receptacles require it under 210.8(A), and dishwashers require it under 422.5.
• AFCI protection: Kitchen circuits also need AFCI protection under 210.12(A). Many receive dual-function AFCI/GFCI breakers.
• Cooking equipment: Ranges, ovens and induction cooktops get their own 240-volt circuit, sized from the appliance nameplate and manual.

California's Title 24 energy code also requires new and replaced permanent lighting to be high-efficacy. Have the electrical layout checked against the final appliance and cabinet plans before construction. Your inspector has the final say.

What does a bathroom remodel need electrically?

Start with the receptacle circuit, sink outlet placement, lighting and ventilation, then account for added heating equipment. Under the California Electrical Code, at least one 20-amp circuit is required for bathroom receptacles, per 210.11(C)(3).

A receptacle must be within 3 feet of the outside edge of each sink basin under 210.52(D). Bathroom receptacles require GFCI protection under 210.8(A). Heated floors, towel warmers and fans must follow their manufacturers' circuit and GFCI instructions.

Title 24 requires new and replaced permanent lighting to be high-efficacy. At least one bathroom light must be on a vacancy sensor. CALGreen requires a humidity-controlled exhaust fan in bathrooms with a tub or shower in new work; ask your city how that applies to your remodel.

For budgeting, distinguish a new GFCI outlet from replacement of an existing outlet using the market ranges above. Fan wiring, heating equipment and lighting are separate scope items, so an outlet price alone is not a bathroom electrical budget. Your inspector has the final say.

Do kitchen and bathroom electrical changes need permits?

Kitchen and bathroom electrical remodel work is permitted work. LADBS handles inspections inside the City of Los Angeles. Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena have their own Building and Safety departments.

The rough inspection happens before insulation and drywall. Establish who will obtain the permit, arrange inspections and coordinate wall closure with the remodel contractor.

California also has an alarm rule: when a permit is issued for work valued over $1,000, the house must have smoke alarms in the locations current code requires, and carbon monoxide alarms if it has an attached garage or gas appliances (California Residential Code R314 and R315). Ask whether alarm work is included in the proposal. Your inspector has the final say.

What should an electrical quote include?

A useful quote lists the work clearly enough to compare it with another proposal. Request:

• Circuits identified by the appliances or areas they serve.
• Outlet, switch and lighting locations tied to the remodel plan.
• Fixture supply, dimmers and under-cabinet lighting details.
• Panel work listed separately from room wiring.
• Permit handling, inspections, patching and painting responsibilities.
• Written allowances or exclusions for concealed wiring problems.

Also ask how changes will be priced if opening a wall reveals wiring that cannot be reused. Avoid comparing an all-inclusive proposal with a wiring-only bid as though they cover the same scope.

Getting an estimate

VoltGen Energy serves Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Studio City and Los Angeles. Share your appliance list, layout and panel photos when you request a quote. Explore remodel electrical, the panel upgrade cost guide and old-home rewiring to prepare your questions.

VoltGen Energy operates under Akopi Builders, CSLB #1112420. Electrical work is performed by licensed C-10 electrical contractors.