Hiring guide · FL
Hiring an EV charger electrician in Miami, FL
A charger circuit is routine work for any competent electrician — which means your job isn't finding a genius, it's filtering for licensed, insured, permit-pulling, and honestly priced. Here's the filter.
Step zero
Verify the license (2 minutes, saves everything)
Licensed electrical contractors (verify EC/ER license at myfloridalicense.com); Florida's owner-builder path is available for owner-occupied single-family homes with a signed disclosure — Miami-Dade requires an additional Owner-Builder form. Before comparing prices, look up each bidder's license: Florida DBPR (verify EC/ER electrical contractor license) . The number should appear on the quote itself. No number on the quote is answer enough.
The interview
Six questions that sort the field
"Is the permit included, and will you pull it?"
In Miami, FL: Electrical permit under the Florida Building Code — City of Miami (its own schedule) or Miami-Dade County RER for unincorporated areas, typical fee City of Miami: per the city's building permit fee schedule. Unincorporated Miami-Dade: minimum electrical permit fee of $227.90 per the County fee sheet (double fees apply to work done without a permit). The right answer is an unhesitating yes, with the fee itemized. Simple residential circuits generally process without full plan review; outdoor equipment draws scrutiny for weather exposure (NEMA 3R+ enclosures, in-use covers) and wind-zone mounting under the Florida Building Code. Service changes involve FPL coordination.
"Can you price the outlet and hardwired options side by side?"
GFCI-breaker requirements changed this math — a pro quotes both without being defensive about it.
"Will you run a load calculation, and is it extra?"
Mandatory diligence on 100–125A panels. Many include it free; $75–$200 standalone is fair.
"Have you filed my utility's rebate paperwork before?"
Experienced installers know the local utility's photo and invoice requirements cold — that's weeks of back-and-forth saved.
"What wire gauge and breaker are you quoting for my amperage?"
You're not testing the answer — you're testing whether they explain it plainly (e.g. 6 AWG copper on a 50A breaker for a 40A charger).
"What's the warranty on your workmanship?"
One year written is the floor; many good shops offer more.
Walk away
Red flags, in order of severity
- "You don't really need a permit for this" — you do; unpermitted work surfaces at resale and in insurance claims
- No license number on the quote, or a "borrowed" license from an absent master electrician
- One lump-sum number with no line items — impossible to compare, easy to pad
- Quote sight-unseen without asking about panel size or wire distance
- Pressure to skip the GFCI breaker or undersize wire "to save you money"
- Cash-only, no written contract, or full payment up front
Compare quotes in Miami, FL
Three itemized bids routinely differ by 40% for the identical scope — the hour spent comparing is the best-paid hour of the project.
Finding an installer yourself: ask for the contractor's state license number, proof of insurance, and at least two recent Level 2 installs. Get the permit number in writing.
Use the free permit checklistTimeline expectations in Miami, FL: Simple residential circuits: roughly 1–2 weeks through the online systems, longer in storm-season backlogs. Owner-builder filings and condo board coordination add calendar time — start the HOA letter first. A final electrical inspection is mandatory and enforcement is real: unpermitted work surfaces in 4-point insurance inspections and sale disclosures, and Miami-Dade explicitly doubles fees for work done before permitting. Outdoor installs get checked for weatherproofing and secure mounting.
Rules, rebates, and incentives change. Verify with the official program before applying.