Whether you're signing a lease on a new retail space, moving into an office, or building out a restaurant, the electrical portion of a tenant improvement is often the most complex part of the project. Here's a straightforward breakdown of what to expect.

What Is a Tenant Improvement?

A tenant improvement (TI) is any construction or renovation work done to customize a leased commercial space for a specific tenant's use. The electrical portion of a TI can range from adding a few circuits and outlets to completely rewiring the space for a specific use — a restaurant kitchen, a medical office, a manufacturing floor.

Step 1: Assessment and Design

Before any work starts, we assess the existing electrical infrastructure in the space. This includes the capacity of the main service panel, the condition and layout of existing circuits, and what the landlord has already permitted or modified.

What we're looking for: Available panel capacity for your load requirements, existing circuit routing that can be reused, and any code violations in the existing infrastructure that need to be addressed before adding new work.

From there we develop a scope of work and provide a written quote. For larger buildouts we may also provide a rough electrical plan to share with your general contractor.

Step 2: Permits

Commercial electrical work requires permits. This is non-negotiable — and any contractor who tells you otherwise is either uninformed or cutting corners that will cost you later.

⚠ The cost of skipping permits: Unpermitted commercial work can result in mandatory demolition of finished construction, failed city inspections at certificate of occupancy, insurance claim denials, and personal liability if an electrical incident occurs. We pull every commercial permit ourselves.

Permit timelines vary by city. In Kent and Federal Way, commercial permits typically take 5–15 business days. In Tacoma they can take slightly longer. We factor this into project scheduling so it doesn't delay your opening.

Step 3: Coordination with Other Trades

Electrical work on a TI almost always requires coordination with your general contractor, HVAC contractor, and sometimes your plumber. We attend pre-construction meetings when needed and are available for scheduling calls to keep the project moving.

Most delays on commercial TI projects happen at the coordination layer — not the actual work. We keep communication clear and proactive.

Step 4: Installation

Commercial installation involves rough-in work (running conduit and wire before walls are closed) followed by trim-out (installing devices, fixtures, and panels after finish work is complete). We sequence our work with the other trades to avoid rework.

Step 5: Inspection and Sign-Off

We schedule and attend all required inspections. Our work is designed to pass on the first visit — because a failed inspection delays your certificate of occupancy and your opening date.