How it works, step by step
- Your electrician files an inspection application with an agency on your town's (or village's) approved list. Some towns, like Islip, make it unlawful to start before this is filed.
- Rough inspection for work that will be covered (new circuits in open walls, rewiring), before insulation and drywall.
- Final inspection once the work is complete. The agency issues a certificate of compliance.
- Service work only: the electrician submits the certificate and PSEG Long Island's Connects paperwork, and PSEG reconnects or energizes the service.
- Keep the certificate. Your building department, insurer, buyer or lender may ask for it.
Town by town
| Town | How inspections work | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Town of Hempstead | Wiring can't be placed in use until an application for final inspection has been filed and a final certificate of compliance has been issued by an inspection agency approved by the Town's Examining Board. | Hempstead page · source |
| Town of North Hempstead | Permits in the unincorporated town go through the Department of Building, Safety, Inspection & Enforcement, and electrical work is inspected by an approved electrical inspection agency rather than Town staff. | North Hempstead page · source |
| Town of Oyster Bay | As across Long Island, finished electrical work is inspected by an approved third-party electrical inspection agency, which issues the certificate the Town and PSEG Long Island rely on. | Oyster Bay page · source |
| Town of Huntington | Huntington requires a certificate of approval from an authorized electrical inspection agency for all electrical work done under a Town building permit, and that certificate is part of what's required to issue a Certificate of Occupancy. | Huntington page · source |
| Town of Smithtown | The Electrical Code of the Town of Smithtown covers wiring for light, heat, power and signal systems at 50 volts or more, generally following the National Electrical Code. Inspectors from qualifying organizations are designated by Town Board resolution and act as the Town's agents to approve or disapprove work. | Smithtown page · source |
| Town of Islip | Islip's electrical code requires an application for inspection to be filed with an approved electrical inspection service before work begins, and wiring can't be connected to power before a temporary certificate or certificate of compliance is issued. | Islip page · source |
| Town of Babylon | Babylon's electrical chapter regulates wiring at 50 volts or more and authorizes approved agents of the Town (the Chief Inspector, New York Board of Fire Underwriters and other agency inspectors the Town Board appoints) to inspect, reinspect and approve or reject work. | Babylon page · source |
| Town of Brookhaven | Brookhaven's code says inspections shall be made only by qualified inspectors designated by the Town Board. Qualifying inspectors need at least 10 years of field experience and IAEI certification for one- and two-family dwellings, and their organizations must carry insurance naming the Town. | Brookhaven page · source |
Villages and the cities of Glen Cove and Long Beach run their own building departments and may keep their own lists of accepted agencies. If a village is on your tax bill, its rules apply.
Can a homeowner do their own electrical work?
In some towns, narrowly. The Town of Hempstead, for example, allows a homeowner to work on their own residence only after filing a sworn affidavit with the Commissioner of Buildings, submitting an approved agency's application, and passing an oral examination, and the work still has to pass inspection before it's used. For panels and services, a licensed electrician is the practical route, because PSEG Long Island needs the certificate to reconnect.
What to ask your electrician
- Which inspection agency will you use, and is it on my town's (or village's) list?
- Is the agency fee in the quote?
- Will you schedule PSEG Long Island and submit the certificate?
- Will I get a copy of the final certificate?
Before you hire, check the license: how electrician licensing works on Long Island.
Frequently asked questions
What is a PSEG electrical inspection certificate?
It's the certificate from your town's building authority or an approved electrical inspection agency showing the wiring passed inspection. PSEG Long Island requires it before connecting a new service or reconnecting an upgraded one.
Who pays for the electrical inspection?
You do, through your electrician's quote. Agencies charge a fee (commonly about $85–$185 for residential work). Towns like Smithtown say outright that the Town doesn't bear the cost.
Can I hire the inspection agency myself?
Usually the electrician or permit holder files with the agency. Huntington, for example, makes the permit holder responsible for hiring an authorized agency.
What happens to unpermitted electrical work when I sell?
It can hold up a Certificate of Occupancy or a buyer's lender. Huntington requires the agency's certificate for electrical work done under a building permit before issuing a CO. Get past work inspected before you list.
How long does the inspection take?
Agencies often inspect within a few days of the request. The longer waits are usually town permit review and PSEG Long Island's meter scheduling.
Sources
- PSEG Long Island — New Electric Service (inspection certificate required)
- PSEG Long Island — Codes & Specs for Electric Installation
- Town of Huntington 311 — Electrical inspections
- Town of Islip — Electrical Inspection Agencies Qualified in the Town of Islip
- Town of Brookhaven — Approved Electrical Inspection Agencies
- Town of Smithtown Code: Electrical Code (ecode360)
- Town of Babylon Code: Electrical Standards (ecode360)
- Town of Hempstead Code: final certificate of compliance (ecode360)