Commercial inspection: find issues before they bite.
Comprehensive commercial electrical inspection identifies safety issues, code violations, and developing problems before they cause failures, fires, or liability. Required for some transactions, valuable for all operations.
By Steven Lockhart · Reviewed by Alex Towery, C-10 #989290
Updated 2026-06-16
Commercial inspection scope: visual inspection of service entrance and main distribution, panel inspection (each panel), branch circuit sampling, equipment inspection (motors, controls, large appliances), grounding and bonding verification, code compliance review, written report with findings categorized by severity. Marin commercial inspection $1,200-$4,500 typical depending on building size and depth of inspection.
01When commercial inspections matter.
Real estate transactions: most commercial property sales include electrical inspection as part of due diligence. Buyer protects against acquiring property with hidden electrical liabilities; seller can address findings before listing to support pricing. Lenders sometimes require electrical inspection for commercial mortgages. Insurance companies sometimes request inspection for binding or renewal of property coverage.
Operational risk management: even without transaction trigger, periodic commercial electrical inspections catch developing issues before they cause failures. A bolted connection slowly heating up over months will eventually fail — inspection (and thermographic scan) catches it during early stage when remediation is cheap. Major commercial electrical failures cause operational shutdown, equipment damage, sometimes fires. Annual or biannual inspection is cheap insurance against major events.
02Inspection components.
Service entrance and main switchgear
Meter, main breaker, service conductors, grounding electrode system, bonding. Verifies code compliance and identifies aging or damaged equipment.
Distribution panels
Each panel inspected: panel directory accuracy, breaker condition, available capacity, signs of overheating or arcing, grounding and bonding, working clearance compliance, panel cover condition. Larger commercial: dozens of panels.
Equipment and motors
Major equipment inspection: motors, controllers, large appliances, HVAC equipment. Verifies disconnects, overcurrent protection, grounding. Sample inspection on extensive equipment.
Code compliance review
Identification of code violations and outdated installations. Categorized by severity (immediate safety hazard vs cosmetic deficiency).
03Reporting and remediation.
Inspection report includes: executive summary of findings, detailed findings list with photos, severity categorization (critical/major/minor/cosmetic), recommended remediation with rough cost estimates where practical, code references for compliance issues, prioritized punch list for owner. Used by property owners, prospective buyers, insurance companies, sometimes AHJs for permit verification on planned work.
Remediation work: typically owner pursues remediation separately from inspection (avoids conflict of interest in inspection findings). We can provide quotes for remediation work after inspection delivery; owners can also bid the work elsewhere. Critical findings sometimes addressed immediately during inspection visit if simple and safety-sensitive (loose breaker connection, missing cover, etc.).
Common questions.
How long does commercial inspection take?
Variable based on building size and complexity. Small commercial (single tenant, <5,000 sq ft): 2-4 hours on-site, half-day total including report. Mid-size commercial (10,000-30,000 sq ft): full day on-site, 1-2 weeks for detailed report. Large commercial (multi-tenant, manufacturing, large warehouse): 1-3 days on-site, 2-4 weeks for report. Pre-inspection scope conversation establishes realistic timeline.
What's the difference between inspection and AHJ inspection?
AHJ inspections (during permitted work) verify specific work meets code as installed. Owner inspections (this scope) are comprehensive condition assessments of existing infrastructure. Different purposes: AHJ verifies work; owner inspection identifies issues. Many issues identified by owner inspection are pre-existing and never reached AHJ inspection. Both are valuable; this scope is the comprehensive assessment.
Do you do code compliance inspections specifically for permitting?
Yes — pre-permit electrical condition assessments are common for major renovation or tenant build-out projects. AHJ wants to know existing condition before approving new permit. We perform condition assessment, document findings, and produce report suitable for permit submittal. Sometimes integrated with permit-required upgrades; sometimes standalone scoping document.
What about insurance requirements?
Some Marin commercial property insurance policies require periodic electrical inspection — typically every 3-5 years. Insurance company specifies scope and qualified inspector requirements. We meet typical insurance inspection requirements (C-10 licensed inspector, comprehensive scope, written report). Owner provides report to insurance carrier; some carriers reduce premiums based on documented good electrical condition.
How do you handle pricing — flat fee or hourly?
Both, depending on scope. Routine service calls and predictable scope (panel replacement, EV charger install, transfer switch install, fixture replacement) are flat-fee quoted up front. Diagnostic visits and emergency scope are hourly because we don't know what we'll find. Either way, you get a written quote before work starts on anything significant, and we don't proceed beyond the quote without your sign-off.
How quickly can you schedule?
Depends on scope and season. Emergency dispatch: same-day across Marin County (1-3 hours business hours, 1-4 hours after-hours). Same-day standard service: 3-6 hours from call when capacity allows; otherwise next business day. Scheduled service work: 1-3 weeks typical. Larger projects requiring permits and PG&E coordination: 4-12 weeks depending on scope. We're upfront about timeline at the quote stage.
What warranty do you offer on work?
Our standard residential warranty: 2 years on labor, manufacturer warranty on parts (varies by product — typically 1-10 years). Major installs (panels, generators, EV chargers) often have longer manufacturer warranties (5-10 years). If there's an issue with our work in the warranty period, we come back and fix it at no cost. We also stand behind work past warranty — repeat customers and referrals matter more than a transactional fix.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. California State License Board C-10 Electrical Contractor #989290, in good standing. Carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance as required by California law. Bondable on projects requiring it. Happy to provide proof of insurance to clients or property managers on request. License lookup: cslb.ca.gov.
Talk to a licensed electrician in Marin.
Family-run, C-10 #989290, 20+ years in the trade. Honest scoping, fair pricing, work that lasts.