Do I need a permit for electrical panel or service upgrade in Kennesaw?

Yes. In Georgia, electrical panel or service upgrade generally requires a permit, and Kennesaw is no exception.

Panel changes and service upgrades require an electrical permit and inspection in Georgia; the power company usually will not reconnect an upgraded service without a passed inspection. Work must meet the adopted National Electrical Code as amended for Georgia; most jurisdictions require a licensed electrician. Cobb County's own permitting office is the Cobb County Development and Inspections, reachable on 770-528-1000 at https://www.cobbcounty.gov/community-development/building-development/permitting. Its online permit portal is https://cobbca.cobbcounty.gov/CitizenAccess/default.aspx. It issues permits for the unincorporated county. If your city does not run its own building department, and many smaller Georgia municipalities do not, this is the office that will handle the job. A service change needs the inspection to clear before the utility resets the meter, so schedule it before the changeover day. Code Sec. 18-66 requires a permit to replace or alter any electrical system, and electrical permits are issued only to a state-licensed electrical contractor or an owner-occupant of a single-family home. Kennesaw's no-work Public Utility permit sends an inspector's approval to the utility; if the inspector finds hazardous or unpermitted wiring, that permit is voided and a licensed electrician must pull an electrical permit. Inspections are requested only through the city's online portal, which needs the permit number and contractor ID, and requests made before 7:00 p.m. are scheduled for the next business day.