Electrician in Washington, DC
We work in the DC neighborhoods closest to Silver Spring, where century-old rowhouses are being updated for the way people live today.
Electrical work in DC rowhouses and apartments
Zavala Electric is based in Silver Spring, just over the line from Washington, DC, so the closest DC neighborhoods are a short drive away: Takoma, Brightwood, Shepherd Park and Petworth along the Georgia Avenue corridor, and across to Brookland and Columbia Heights. Huber works across the whole Maryland, DC and Virginia area, which is why the company’s domain says DMV, but the jobs closest to Silver Spring are the ones we can reach most easily.
DC’s housing is its own story. Rowhouses from the early 1900s through the 1930s, built wall to wall in long blocks, are the signature of the city, and they have often been renovated in pieces by successive owners. Original wiring can still be in the walls, and fuse panels or undersized breaker panels still turn up, alongside kitchens and bathrooms that have been modernized with a lot more equipment than the old circuits expected. Narrow footprints also limit where wire can run, which shapes how outlets and lights are added.
DC also has its own rules. Electrical work in the District is permitted through the Department of Buildings, and the District has its own licensing requirements for electricians, so it is worth asking about the details for your address and project when you call. We would rather tell you up front what is practical for a given job than make promises we cannot keep.
What DC homeowners call us for
House Rewiring
Pre-war rowhouses with original or patched wiring often come up when a house is renovated or sold.
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Outlet Installation & Repair
Narrow rooms with few outlets, and old two-prong receptacles, are common in older DC rowhouses.
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Electrical Inspection
Buyers of older DC rowhouses want to know the panel, grounding and wiring before closing.
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Recessed Lighting Installation
Rowhouse basements and kitchens are often dark and low-ceilinged, which suits slim recessed lights.
Learn more →DC rowhouse electrical details worth knowing
Shared walls and narrow footprints
Rowhouses share walls with neighbors and have limited space to run cable, which affects how new outlets and lights are added.
Wiring from several eras
Houses built from the early 1900s on have often had circuits added and changed many times, so old and newer wiring sit side by side.
Permits through DC’s Department of Buildings
The District handles electrical permits and inspections for work inside its borders, and the process differs from Maryland’s.
Pepco serves the District too
The same utility that serves Silver Spring serves DC, so outage and service questions follow a familiar process.
Electrical work in Washington: your questions
Do you work in Washington, DC or only in Maryland?
We work in DC too, especially in neighborhoods closest to Silver Spring. Tell us the address and the job when you call, and we will confirm.
Which DC neighborhoods are closest to you?
The northern neighborhoods along Georgia Avenue and the Takoma area are nearest to Silver Spring. We work farther in, depending on the job.
Do DC rowhouses need special electrical work?
Not special, but often more: original wiring, undersized panels and limited space to run cable are common, so jobs can take more planning than in a newer house.
Do I need a permit in DC?
New circuits and larger projects generally need a permit through DC’s Department of Buildings. Like-for-like replacements usually do not. We tell you what applies to your project.
Need an electrician in DC?
Tell us the neighborhood and the job and we will tell you if we can help.