I live in Los Angeles, do I need a permit and disconnect order to replace my service panel on the outside of my house.

I'm not in LA, but here is the information you need:


FOR INFORMATION
3-1-1
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(866) 4LA-CITY / (866) 452-2489 (Inside L.A. County)


(213) 473-3231 (Outside L.A. County)Electrical Permits
(Section 93.0201)

The following information has been summarized from the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

An electrical permit is required to install, alter, reconstruct or repair any electrical wiring.No person shall be subject to fine, imprisonment or payment of an investigation fee for starting or doing, any electrical wiring without a permit being first obtained if a permit is obtained therefor on or before 12:00 noon on the third day the office of the Department is open for public business after such electrical wing was started.

Electrical Permit Not Required (Section 93.0202):
An electrical permit is not required for the following:

Electric wiring expressly declared to be exempt from the provisions of this Code by any other sections hereof or by any other provision of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.
Wiring for temporary theater sets on the theater stages or temporary motion picture or television sets on any property belonging to or under the control of the City of Los Angeles, privately owned studios, theaters, or similar locations designed for such usage.
Installation of any portable motor or other portable appliance energized by means of a cord or cable having an attachment plug end, when that cord or cable is permitted by this code.
Repair or replacement of fixed motors or fixed appliances, supplied by branch circuits not exceeding 20 amperes, of the same type and rating in the same location where not located in an area classed as "hazardous" under Article 500 of the California Electrical Code.
Festive temporary decorative lighting installed for a period not to exceed 45 days
Repair or replacement of current-carrying parts of any switch, contactor or control device.
Reinstallation of receptacles, but not the outlets therefor.
Replacement of overcorrect device (fuses and circuit breakers) of the same rating and in the same location.
Replacement of electrodes, or transformers of the same size and capacity for signs or gas tube systems.
Exception: This does not include the retrofitting of exiting fixtures that are part of a required emergency lighting system.
Taping of joints.
Removal of electric wiring.
Temporary wiring for experimental purposes in suitable experimental laboratories.
Any electric wiring, except wiring located in an area classified as "hazardous" under Article 500 of the California Electrical Code, or appurtenant to a required fire warning system as classified under Article 760 of the California Electrical Code, or penetrating any fire-resistive construction, or cable systems that are located in a plenum, duct or other space used for environmental air including access floors, which are used for the following circuits:
Non-required signaling circuits supplied by an approved Class 2 limited power source, capable of' supplying not more than 30 volts and 3. 2 amperes; and,
Non-required communication circuits which have the power limited in accordance with Section 725-41 of the California Electrical Code; and,
Non-required amplifier output circuits which are permitted by Section 640-5 of the California Electrical Code to employ Class 2 or Class 3 wiring; and,
Any Non required circuit which operates at 15 volts or less and does not generate, transmit, transform, utilize or control more than 25 watts or volt-amperes of electric power.
Any similar repair or replacement determined by the Department not to involve any hazard to life or property.
Repair or replacement of incandescent lighting fixtures in single family dwellings.
Any electric wiring, except wiring located in an area classified as "hazardous" under Article 500 of the California Electrical Code after the branch circuit distribution panelboards used exclusively to supply or interconnect equipment installed, owned, operated or maintained by a communication public utility and used exclusively for communication purposes, in the exercise of its communication public utility functions within the communication public utility controlled areas.
The replacement of defective smoke detectors in a single family dwelling when the work is performed by a contractor with a valid Certificate of Registration pursuant to Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Section 91.1705. A Certificate of Compliance pursuant to LAMC Section 91.108.12 must be filed with the City in lieu of a permit.
A separate electrical permit is not required for any electrical work for which a combined building-mechanical permit has been obtained pursuant to Section 107.2 of the Los Angeles Building Code.<<<<-----They should get rid of this kind of permit!