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

Yes. In Georgia, electrical panel or service upgrade generally requires a permit, and Decatur 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. DeKalb County's own permitting office is the DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability, reachable on 404-371-2155 at https://dekalbcountyga.gov/departments/planning-and-sustainability/permits-plan-review-and-inspections. Its online permit portal is https://epermits.dekalbcountyga.gov/. 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. Decatur requires a separate electrical trade permit for any electrical system work regardless of value, with a $90 minimum permit fee and meter loop fees by amperage on the city fee schedule. A homeowner acting as general contractor who is not doing the electrical work personally must hire a licensed electrical contractor, who secures the trade permit, under the city's Homeowner Permit Letter of Indemnification Affidavit.