Last Friday, we started an apartment panel swap at a multi-unit building. Loi and Quyen finished two units by end of day. We are still wrapping up the remaining panels this week. That is completely normal. But it surprises most property owners the first time they go through it.
An Apartment Panel Swap Takes a Full Work Day
Plan for 8 AM to 4 PM with the power off the entire time. Here is what fills those hours:
- Utility coordination and disconnect — PSE, Seattle City Light, or Tacoma Power has to pull the meter or kill the service. This is a scheduled process. It does not happen on demand.
- Removing the old panel — every circuit gets labeled, every wire disconnected, the old box unmounted. On older panels with worn insulation or burnt connections, this step takes extra care.
- Mounting and wiring the new panel — the new Square D, Eaton, or Siemens box gets mounted. The main breaker goes in. Every circuit gets landed and torqued to spec.
- Grounding and bonding — current Washington electrical code requires specific ground rod, water bond, and equipment grounding. Older installations did not have these.
- Power restored and testing — every circuit gets verified, every device tested, GFCI/AFCI breakers confirmed.
Why “A Few Hours” Is Such a Common Expectation
It makes sense. YouTube electrician videos can make a panel swap look like 3 or 4 hours of work. But those videos skip a lot. They cut out utility scheduling, per-circuit testing, cleanup, and documentation.
On a multi-unit building, the inspection is batched at the end. We wait until all panels are done, then schedule one inspection for everything. That keeps the project moving. But it also means the job is not fully closed until the last panel is done and the inspector signs off.
On a single-family home, we can sometimes finish in around 6 hours. On a multi-unit building, the answer is one full work day per unit. It can take longer if the service entrance needs to move for code clearance, or if the building has aluminum branch wiring that needs pigtailing.
Two units in a day is doable when everything lines up. Three or more is where the math stops working.
The expectation we set before every job: power off from 8 AM to 4 PM. That means lights, refrigerator, internet, HVAC, and hot water — all off. Tenants who work from home need a plan for the day. Tenants with medical equipment that needs power get special arrangements.
The Part Nobody Warns You About: Tenant Coordination
This is what catches most self-managing property owners off guard. You are coordinating a power outage across multiple occupied units. Every tenant has a different schedule, a different work situation, and a different habit of checking their messages.
Before we enter any unit, we make direct contact with the tenant. We knock, introduce ourselves, and explain what we are doing and how long the power will be off. We do this before we touch anything. That is part of how we work on every job.
On last Friday’s project, some tenants were ready and had made plans. Others were not reachable. Rather than proceed without their awareness, we skipped those units and rescheduled. It is the right call every time.
If you use a property management company, they usually handle tenant communication. If you self-manage, it falls to you. The template below makes it straightforward. Send it 48 to 72 hours in advance. Follow up with a text or call if you can. The logistics tend to take care of themselves from there.
Tenant Notice Template for Multi-Unit Panel Swaps
NOTICE OF PLANNED ELECTRICAL SERVICE UPGRADE [PROPERTY ADDRESS / UNIT NUMBER]
Dear [Tenant Name / All Residents],
We want to give you advance notice about upcoming electrical work at your building. This work will temporarily affect your unit.
What is happening: We have scheduled a full electrical panel upgrade for your unit. This is a planned improvement — not an emergency repair.
When: [DATE]
Power-off window: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
During this time, all electricity to your unit will be off. That includes lights, outlets, refrigerator, internet/router, HVAC, and hot water (if electrically heated).
What you can do to prepare:
- Charge your phone, laptop, and other devices the night before
- Plan to work from a coffee shop or library if you work from home
- Keep your fridge and freezer closed all day — contents should be fine
- Unplug sensitive electronics (TVs, computers, gaming consoles) before 8 AM
If you have special needs: If you rely on medical equipment that requires continuous power, please contact us by [DATE — at least 48 hours before the scheduled work] so we can make arrangements.
Contact: [PROPERTY OWNER / MANAGER NAME]
Phone: [PHONE NUMBER]
Email: [EMAIL ADDRESS]
We appreciate your patience. This upgrade improves the safety and reliability of your unit’s electrical system. It is also required to meet current Washington State electrical code.
Thank you,
[YOUR NAME / PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY]
[DATE OF NOTICE]
Apartment Panel Swap Cost in the Puget Sound Area
An apartment panel swap in the Puget Sound area runs roughly $3,500 to $6,500 per panel in 2026. That includes permit, inspection, and meter base work. For a full cost breakdown, see our guide to electrical panel upgrade costs in Seattle.
For multi-unit buildings, we batch the final inspection once all panels are done. This is standard practice for permitted multi-unit work in Washington. It keeps the project on schedule instead of waiting on an inspector between every unit.
Per-unit cost often comes down with volume. But the timeline does not compress. Three units in one building still takes three work days minimum. Plan accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions: Apartment Panel Swap
Plan on one full work day per unit — typically 8 AM to 4 PM. Power will be off the entire time. Two units in one day is achievable when everything lines up, but three or more requires additional days.
No, but they do need to know it is happening. We make direct contact before entering any unit. Tenants who are not reachable get rescheduled — we do not proceed without their awareness.
In 2026, expect roughly $3,500 to $6,500 per panel, including permit, inspection, and meter base work. Per-unit cost often comes down slightly on multi-unit jobs.
Yes — and we recommend sending written notice 48 to 72 hours in advance. This post includes a free tenant notice template you can customize and send immediately.
Yes. All panel replacements in Washington require a permit and inspection. Le Bros pulls the permit and coordinates the inspection as part of every job.
Why Le Bros for Apartment and Multi-Unit Panel Work
Loi Le is a Washington State master electrician with 20+ years of experience in residential, commercial, and multi-unit work. Le Bros carries WA L&I electrical contractor license #LEBROBC755MT, full liability insurance, and workers’ comp. We coordinate directly with PSE, Seattle City Light, and Tacoma Power on multi-meter disconnects.
We serve Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, Auburn, Olympia, Kirkland, Federal Way, Gig Harbor, Renton, and surrounding areas. See before and after photos from recent jobs on our Our Work page.
Call 206-850-8293 or request a free walkthrough quote. You will get a fixed-price estimate, a realistic timeline, and a copy of the tenant notice template to send out.