New Construction Electrical

New construction electrical starts with planning, not pulling cable

New construction electrical is the complete wiring package for a building before walls are closed: service planning, panel location, circuit layout, rough-in, inspection, device installation, fixture connection and final testing. It is different from a repair call because decisions made at framing affect how the home works for decades.

For new construction electrical work, City Power Electrical Services operates as a Licensed Electrical Contractor, ECRA/ESA #7015314, led by Sam, a licensed electrician with more than fifteen years of trade experience. For new builds, we work from drawings where available, then walk the framed space with the builder or owner to confirm the real-world details: where beds, desks, islands, TVs, appliances, mechanical equipment and exterior doors will actually land.

The scope can include:

• Main service and panel location planning
• Circuit layout and panel schedule
• Rough-in boxes, drilling and cable runs
• Kitchen, laundry, mechanical and exterior circuits
• Smoke/CO detector wiring and interconnection where required
• Switch legs, three-way switching and lighting zones
• Final receptacles, switches, plates and fixtures
• Testing, labelling, cleanup and inspection follow-up

For projects that are closer to a full renovation than a new build, our main wiring and rewiring service is often the better fit. For a framed custom home, addition or infill build, this page is about wiring the structure correctly before drywall.

You need it when the structure is open and the electrical decisions are still changeable

The best time to bring us in is after the permit drawings and framing plan are clear, but before insulation and drywall. At that stage we can confirm panel capacity, routing, box locations and inspection timing without opening finished surfaces later.

Custom homes usually need a full service and distribution plan: utility service entry, meter location, grounding, panel or subpanel locations, and space for future loads. Additions need careful integration with the existing service so the new space does not overload old circuits or leave buried junctions. Infill builds often need closer coordination because property lines, service routes, utility requirements and tight mechanical rooms leave little room for last-minute changes.

We also wire new construction for practical living, not just minimum compliance. That means thinking through where vacuum chargers, network equipment, exterior receptacles, sump equipment, range hoods, bathroom fans, garage doors, heat pumps, condensate pumps, landscape lighting feeds and future EV charging provisions may belong. Some of those loads may be handled by other dedicated service pages, such as electrical for HVAC and heat pump circuits, but they should still be planned during the new construction layout.

If the site needs power before the permanent service is ready, construction power may also need to be arranged separately. For that scope, see temporary power for construction.

ESA notification and inspection are part of the job

In Ontario, electrical work must be performed by a properly licensed electrical contractor unless a narrow owner exemption applies, and ESA notification is required where applicable. City Power files the ESA notification where required, completes the work to the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, and coordinates the inspection stages with the builder or homeowner.

New construction typically has at least two key electrical inspection points. The rough-in inspection happens before insulation, vapour barrier and drywall cover the wiring. The inspector can see cable support, box fill, routing, protection plates, grounding and bonding, device box placement, panel work and required circuit separation. The final inspection happens after devices, fixtures, breakers and covers are installed and the system can be tested safely.

That inspection timing matters. If drywall goes up before rough-in is inspected, the project can face delays and rework. If fixtures arrive late, final inspection can be held up. We help the builder sequence the electrical work around framing, plumbing, HVAC, insulation, drywall and cabinetry so electrical does not become the trade that blocks closing.

Common code and coordination items on new builds include AFCI and GFCI protection where required, tamper-resistant receptacles, outdoor weather-rated devices, smoke/CO detector placement and interconnection where required, dedicated circuits for fixed equipment, proper working clearance at panels, and clean panel labelling. If an ESA inspector identifies a defect, it should be corrected by the contractor responsible for the work. Where a separate correction-only visit is needed, our electrical code corrections and ESA defect repairs page explains that process.

If a closing, occupancy step or insurer asks for documentation, we can also help with the electrical inspection pathway described on our ESA Electrical Safety Certificate service page.

The process is staged, documented and quoted after a site visit

We start with a site visit or plan review. For a custom home or addition, we look at the drawings, panel/service requirements, mechanical equipment list, kitchen and laundry plans, lighting layout, ceiling heights, exterior devices and any future provisions the owner wants roughed in now. For infill projects, we also look at access, service entry, utility coordination and whether the permanent service route is already approved.

Next, we provide a free written estimate. New construction electrical is quoted in writing after a site visit because the cost depends on square footage, number of circuits, service size, ceiling height, fixture count, finish level, utility requirements, access, scheduling and how complete the drawings are. We do not price a new build as a generic service call because two homes with the same floor area can have very different electrical scopes.

Once approved, we coordinate the rough-in window with the builder. We install boxes, drill and protect framing, run cable, prepare panel work, label circuits and keep pathways clean for other trades. After rough-in, we arrange the ESA inspection where required. When walls, cabinetry and finishes are ready, we return for devices, breakers, fixtures, fans, smoke/CO units, exterior covers, testing and final inspection.

At completion, we leave the work area cleaned up, the panel labelled, and the owner or builder with the inspection status they need. City Power serves Toronto and the GTA from our North York office at 1800 Sheppard Ave E, including Toronto, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Oakville, Milton, Burlington, Hamilton, Barrie and nearby communities.