Commercial Tenant Improvement Electrical Plans in Los Angeles
Email us the architectural plans in PDF format and project details and we will review the scope and confirm:
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the electrical scope required for permit submission
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whether PE sealing is required
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the estimated engineering fee
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expected turnaround time
Send Architectural Plans for a Proposal
Red Dog Engineering prepares permit-ready electrical plans for commercial tenant improvements in Los Angeles and surrounding jurisdictions. Typical scopes include power and lighting plans, panel schedules, load calculations, single-line diagrams, lighting-control/Title 24 coordination, PE sealing when required, and plan-check support.
Do Tenant Improvement Projects Need Electrical Drawings for Permits in Los Angeles
Most commercial TIs in Los Angeles require electrical drawings before a permit will be issued. The drawings show the electrical scope of work within the tenant space, including lighting, receptacles, equipment circuits, and any modifications to electrical panels.
For larger or more complex projects, the drawings may also need to be reviewed and stamped by a licensed electrical engineer. This is especially common when new electrical panels are installed, significant equipment loads are added, or the existing electrical service is modified.
These electrical plans are submitted to the building department—such as LADBS or LA County Building and Safety—as part of the permit review process.
Red Dog Engineering provides permit-ready TI electrical plans for commercial projects throughout Los Angeles and Southern California. We work with electrical contractors, general contractors, architects, tenant representatives, and commercial owners who need the electrical portion of the permit set prepared, completed, or coordinated for plan-check submittal.
How Red Dog Supports TI Projects
Red Dog can prepare the electrical design from the architectural set or complete an existing electrical set that needs additional engineering. Depending on the scope, the work may include power and lighting plans, equipment circuiting, panel schedules, load calculations, single-line diagrams, lighting-control/Title 24 coordination, PE sealing when required, and plan-check responses. If the electrical drawings are already substantially complete and the primary need is independent engineering review and sealing, see our PE Review and Stamping service.
Who These Tenant Improvement Electrical Drawings Are For
Red Dog primarily supports project teams that already have architectural drawings or a defined tenant-improvement scope and need an electrical engineer to prepare or complete the electrical portion of the permit set. Typical clients include electrical contractors, general contractors, architects and interior architects, tenant representatives, property managers, and commercial owners.
Typical Tenant Improvement Projects
The majority of tenant improvement electrical plans fall into a few recurring categories:
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Office tenant improvements involving lighting reconfiguration and additional receptacles
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Retail and restaurant build-outs requiring new equipment loads and panel modifications
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Medical or dental offices where specialized equipment loads must be coordinated
In many of these projects, the electrical work involves modifying an existing electrical distribution system rather than designing a new service from scratch. That makes it especially important to verify the capacity of existing panels, feeders, and service equipment before drawings are submitted for permit.
For warehouse, machinery, equipment-load, panel, feeder, or facility-upgrade projects, see our Industrial & Warehouse Electrical Upgrades service.
Projects That Are Not a Good Fit
To keep projects moving efficiently, we focus on commercial tenant improvements and similar scopes.
We are generally not the right fit for:
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residential remodels or homeowner permit drawings
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projects seeking a “stamp-only” service without engineering review
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projects without a usable architectural background, a defined commercial scope, or enough existing-condition information to establish the electrical design
Related Electrical Engineering Services in Los Angeles
Already have a substantially complete electrical set? See PE Review & Stamping.
Adding machinery, feeders, panels, or equipment in a warehouse or facility? See Industrial & Warehouse Electrical Upgrades.
Already have plan-check comments? Jump to Plan-Check Corrections below.
What's Included in a Tenant Improvement Electrical Plan Set
A TI electrical plan set documents the tenant’s electrical scope—power, lighting, equipment circuits, and distribution—so the AHJ can review it for permit approval.
While the exact contents vary by project and jurisdiction, most commercial tenant improvement electrical plan sets include several core components.
1. Power Plan
The power plan shows the layout of receptacles, equipment connections, and other electrical loads within the space. It also identifies panelboard connections and circuit routing so the plan reviewer can understand how the loads are distributed throughout the tenant space.
Typical elements shown on the power plan include:
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general-use receptacles
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dedicated equipment circuits
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electrical connections for mechanical equipment
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panelboard locations and circuit references
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electrical notes and installation requirements
2. Lighting Plan
The lighting plan illustrates the placement and switching of lighting fixtures within the tenant space. In most commercial projects, this plan must coordinate with the architectural reflected ceiling plan and include switching arrangements that support required lighting controls.
Lighting plans typically show:
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fixture types and locations
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switching zones and switching methods
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emergency or egress lighting where applicable
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coordination with lighting control requirements
3. Single-Line Diagram
A single-line diagram (SLD) provides a simplified representation of the electrical distribution system. This diagram helps the plan reviewer understand how power flows from the building service through panels and feeders serving the tenant space.
The SLD generally identifies:
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the building service connection
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panelboards and feeder connections
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equipment ratings and circuit protection
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grounding and bonding relationships
4. Panel Schedules and Load Calculations
Panel schedules and load calculations confirm that the electrical system can safely support the proposed loads.
These documents typically include:
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panelboard circuit schedules
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calculated demand loads for the tenant space
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verification of available capacity in existing panels
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coordination between the power plan and the single-line diagram.
How the Tenant Improvement Electrical Plan Process Works
Most tenant improvement projects follow a predictable path from initial design to permit approval. The electrical engineering portion of that process typically involves reviewing the architectural drawings, preparing the electrical plan set, and ensuring the drawings meet the requirements of the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).
At Red Dog Engineering, the goal is to keep this process simple, predictable, and fast enough to keep construction schedules moving.
Step 1 — Send the Project Information
We start by reviewing the architectural set, jurisdiction, and known electrical scope to confirm what needs to be drawn, what can be reused, and what must be verified before the electrical set can be issued.
Helpful information to send includes:
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architectural plan set (PDF)
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project address and jurisdiction (for example LADBS, LA County, Pasadena, etc.)
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tenant type and approximate square footage
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photos of existing electrical panels or service equipment, if available
Once the project information is reviewed, we can confirm the scope of electrical work required for the permit.
Step 2 — Scope Review and Proposal
After reviewing the project information, the next step is confirming the engineering scope and estimated effort required to prepare the electrical drawings.
This typically includes identifying:
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the level of electrical design required
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whether existing panels have sufficient capacity
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any service or feeder modifications required
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the number of sheets needed for the electrical plan set
At this stage we provide a proposal outlining the scope, estimated fee, and expected turnaround time for the electrical drawings.
Step 3 — Electrical Plan Development
Once the scope is confirmed, the electrical drawings are developed based on the architectural plans and the expected electrical loads within the space.
During this phase, the electrical plans are assembled to include:
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power and lighting layouts
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single-line diagrams
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panel schedules
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electrical notes and details needed for permit review
Coordination with the architectural drawings is critical to ensure that the electrical scope accurately reflects the tenant layout and equipment requirements.
Step 4 — Final Engineering Review and Issue
Before issuance, Red Dog checks the drawings and calculations for coordination and internal consistency. Documents are signed and sealed by the responsible electrical engineer when required for the permit submittal.
If the building department returns plan check comments or correction notices, the drawings can then be revised and resubmitted as part of the standard permit review process.
Already Have LADBS or LA County Corrections?
Attach the correction sheet with your current plan set. We’ll tell you exactly what needs to change for recheck—then we’ll revise the TI electrical drawings, mark changes clearly, and provide a response letter/correction matrix for resubmittal.
Or email directly: jerry@reddog.engineering
Plan Check Corrections and Electrical Drawing Takeovers
If LADBS or another AHJ has already issued electrical comments, send the current plan set and correction notice. Red Dog can review the comments, revise the electrical documents within the agreed scope, and prepare a response letter or correction matrix for resubmittal. If the starting drawings were prepared by someone else, Red Dog first determines what information can be relied upon and what must be independently checked, revised, or re-created before taking responsibility for the electrical work.
Los Angeles TI Plan Check and Permitting Jurisdictions
Red Dog supports commercial TI electrical permit work throughout Los Angeles County, including City of Los Angeles (LADBS), unincorporated LA County, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, Culver City, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Long Beach, Inglewood, Hawthorne, El Segundo, and other nearby AHJs. The required electrical documentation varies by scope and jurisdiction, so include the project address and AHJ when requesting a proposal. For City of Los Angeles and LA County projects, the electrical package is prepared for the applicable plan-check process and project-specific permit requirements.
Typical Timeline for Tenant Improvement Electrical Plans
Turnaround depends on the completeness of the architectural set, tenant type, equipment loads, existing panel/service information, and the amount of coordination required. Office and light-retail scopes are generally simpler than restaurant, medical/dental, or equipment-heavy projects. Providing current architectural plans, equipment information, the jurisdiction, and existing panel/service documentation up front allows the scope and schedule to be defined more accurately.
How Engineering Scope Drives Tenant Improvement Electrical Plan Cost
The engineering effort for TI electrical drawings depends on the tenant use type, square footage, equipment loads, and whether panels/service equipment are being modified.
Fees are driven by sheet count, equipment loads, existing conditions, and how much coordination is required with the architectural set.
Send the current architectural set for review. The proposal will define the electrical scope, fee, required inputs, expected deliverables, and anticipated turnaround based on the actual project.
FAQ
Tenant improvement projects often raise similar questions during the permit process. Below are some of the most common questions contractors, architects, and property owners ask when preparing electrical drawings for permit submission.
1. Do tenant improvement projects require a PE stamp in Los Angeles?
Not every commercial TI requires an electrical PE stamp. Whether a seal is required depends on the project scope, the documents being submitted, and the AHJ. Send the architectural set and jurisdiction and Red Dog can determine what electrical engineering is needed for the project.
2. How long does it take to prepare tenant improvement electrical plans?
It depends on tenant type and scope. Smaller office or retail build-outs with light electrical changes typically move faster than restaurants, medical spaces, or equipment-heavy tenants. Remodels also go faster when the architectural base set is current and panel/service information is available early.
3. Do tenant improvement electrical plans need to address Title 24?
Often, yes. Many commercial TI projects require lighting controls coordination as part of energy compliance. We coordinate lighting control intent within the electrical drawings so the plan set aligns with the project’s energy compliance approach (scope varies by project and jurisdiction).
4. What do you need to provide a quote?
At minimum: the architectural PDF, project address + jurisdiction (LADBS, LA County, Pasadena, etc.), tenant type, approximate square footage, and any known major equipment loads. For remodels, photos of existing panels/service equipment are very helpful and can prevent rework later.
5. Do you only work in Los Angeles?
Our primary focus is Los Angeles and the surrounding cities listed on this page. California projects outside LA can be considered depending on scope, timeline, and jurisdiction requirements.
Send Your Architectural Plans for a Proposal
If your project is a commercial tenant improvement—office, retail, restaurant, medical/dental, or another defined commercial build-out—and you need permit-ready electrical plans, send the architectural PDF, project address, and jurisdiction. Red Dog will review the information and provide a defined scope, fee, required inputs, and anticipated turnaround.
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LADBS, LA County, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, etc.
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Commercial TI electrical plan sets (permit-ready)
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Coordination with architectural set + known equipment loads
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Engineering review + PE stamp when required by AHJ
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Plan check response support if comments are issued
Or email directly: jerry@reddog.engineering
Electrical Engineering Experience
Red Dog Engineering provides commercial electrical engineering under the responsible charge of Jerry Poon, PE (California License #20878). Jerry has 15+ years of MEP engineering and permit-driven design experience across commercial TI, restaurant, medical/dental, equipment-load, panel/distribution, lighting, and power-system work. The focus is practical, buildable electrical documentation with clear scope, technical coordination, and plan-check support as defined in the proposal.