Restaurant Electrical Services
Commercial Kitchen Equipment Hookups
Commercial kitchen equipment is particular about power. Every appliance has a nameplate listing its voltage, phase and amperage, and the circuit has to match it. A dishwasher built for 208 volt three phase will not run properly on a single phase supply, and an undersized wire can overheat under a full day of use. Send us your equipment list or spec sheets before you order, and we will confirm what each piece needs, which ones require dedicated circuits and whether your space can supply them.
Panel and Service Capacity
Many restaurant projects start with one question: does the space have enough power? We compare the load of your planned equipment against the existing panel and service. Some commercial units have 120/208 volt three phase service, while others, especially older or smaller units, run on single phase. If you need more capacity, we install a new subpanel or coordinate a service upgrade with BC Hydro. Finding this out before you sign a lease or order equipment saves expensive surprises.
Hood, Exhaust and Fire Suppression Connections
Exhaust hoods, make-up air units and fire suppression systems all need correct electrical connections. A hood’s fire suppression system is typically interlocked so that cooking equipment shuts off if the system discharges, and exhaust and make-up air fans are often wired to run together. We handle the electrical side of these connections and coordinate with your hood, mechanical and fire protection contractors so the system is ready for inspection.
Restaurant Lighting
Dining rooms, kitchens and patios have different lighting needs. Dining areas look best with warm, dimmable LED lighting on controls your staff can adjust through the day. Kitchens need bright, even, vapour tight fixtures that handle heat, grease and wash down. We install both, along with LED retrofits that lower your electricity costs and cut the number of bulbs you replace over prep counters and cook lines.
Patio, Signage and Exterior Electrical
Patios need weatherproof outlets, GFCI protection where the Code requires it, and safe connections for heaters, string lights and speakers. We also wire illuminated signs and exterior lighting. Illuminated signs generally need an electrical permit and certified equipment, and we take care of both so your sign is ready by opening day.
Emergency Lighting and Exit Signs
Restaurants are public assembly spaces, and emergency lighting and exit signs need to work when the power fails. We install, replace and repair battery backed emergency units and exit signs, and we can help you keep them in working order so they are ready for inspections.
POS, Data and Low Voltage Wiring
Point of sale terminals, kitchen display screens, digital menu boards, security cameras and Wi-Fi access points all depend on clean data and low voltage wiring. We run and label the cabling as part of the same project, so your electrical and network work are finished together.
24/7 Emergency Repairs
Dead outlets, tripping breakers, burnt receptacles, equipment that stops mid service or a total loss of power in your unit cannot wait for the next business day. Because we offer 24/7 service, you can reach us when it matters.
How Much Does Restaurant Electrical Work Cost?
Restaurant electrical costs depend mostly on the size of the space, the amount of cooking equipment and whether the existing service can handle it. As a general benchmark, electrical rough-in and panels for a restaurant fit-out are often budgeted at roughly $20 to $40 per square foot. The tables below show typical ranges for projects in Burnaby and the Tri-Cities. They cover labour and standard electrical materials, not kitchen equipment, hood fabrication or sign manufacturing.
| Restaurant Type and Size | Typical Setup | What Drives the Price | Estimated Electrical Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Café, bakery or takeout counter, up to 1,000 sq ft | Espresso equipment, small oven, reach-in refrigeration, light cooking | Number of dedicated circuits and panel capacity | $15,000 to $40,000 |
| Casual restaurant, 1,500 to 3,000 sq ft | Full cook line, dishwasher, walk-in cooler, hood, POS | Equipment load, subpanel, hood interlock, lighting | $40,000 to $110,000 |
| Full service restaurant with bar and patio, 3,000+ sq ft | Larger kitchen, multiple walk-ins, bar equipment, patio heating, signage | Service upgrade, circuit count, patio and sign power | $90,000 to $200,000+ |
| Renovation or equipment upgrade only | Replacing a fryer, adding an oven, relocating part of the line | Existing circuits, wire size, distance from the panel | $2,000 to $15,000 |
Individual jobs are priced like this:
| Restaurant Electrical Job | What Is Usually Included | What Affects the Price | Estimated Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated circuit for a kitchen appliance | Wire, breaker and connection to the appliance | Distance from the panel, voltage and phase | $500 to $1,800 per circuit |
| Walk-in cooler or freezer hookup | Power for compressor, evaporator, lights and defrost | Unit size and distance to the panel | $800 to $2,500 |
| Hood and make-up air power with suppression interlock | Wiring, controls and shut-off connections | Hood size and coordination with other trades | $1,500 to $5,000 |
| Commercial subpanel | Panel, breakers, feeder cable and labelling | Panel size, feeder length and location | $3,000 to $8,000 |
| Service upgrade (larger or three phase service) | New main panel, service conductors, BC Hydro coordination | Existing service, utility work and building constraints | $8,000 to $35,000+ |
| LED lighting for dining room or kitchen | Fixtures, wiring, dimmers or switches | Ceiling type and height, controls | $150 to $400 per fixture |
| Illuminated sign connection | Dedicated circuit, disconnect, timer or switch | Distance to the panel and exterior wall access | $400 to $1,500 per sign |
| Emergency light or exit sign | Battery backed unit, wiring and testing | Unit type and mounting height | $250 to $600 per unit |
| Troubleshooting and repair visit | Diagnosis and repair of breakers, receptacles or connections | Cause of the fault and equipment involved | $250 to $900 for most visits |
These ranges are estimates based on typical jobs, not fixed prices. We confirm the price after a site visit and a look at your equipment list. Equipment, hood fabrication, permit fees, drywall repair and any building or health authority requirements are quoted separately.
Permits and Inspections for Restaurant Electrical Work
New or changed restaurant circuits need an electrical permit and an inspection. In Burnaby, the City issues its own electrical permits. Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, New Westminster and Pitt Meadows fall under Technical Safety BC, while Maple Ridge, Surrey, North Vancouver and West Vancouver also issue their own permits.
A restaurant renovation usually involves other approvals as well, such as a building permit and plan review by your health authority. Those are separate from the electrical permit, and we coordinate our work and timing with your designer or general contractor so the inspections happen in the right order.
You can confirm which authority covers your address on the Technical Safety BC electrical permit jurisdiction page.
Restaurant Electricians in Burnaby and the Tri-Cities
The electrical code is the same across the region. What changes from city to city is the permit office, the type of building and the landlord’s requirements. Here is what we plan for in each community.
Restaurant Electrician in Burnaby
Burnaby work goes through the City of Burnaby’s own permit and inspection process, and we schedule around it from the start. Many restaurants around Metrotown and Brentwood are in mixed use buildings where the electrical room, exhaust routes and loading access are shared, so we coordinate with the building manager before work begins. Along Kingsway and Hastings Street, older commercial buildings often have limited spare capacity, which makes the load calculation especially important.
Restaurant Electrician in Coquitlam
Coquitlam restaurants range from newer units near Coquitlam Centre and City Centre to older plazas in Austin Heights and the Laval Square area of Maillardville. Newer buildings usually have more spare capacity, while older plazas often need a subpanel or a service upgrade to support a full kitchen. Permits are issued by Technical Safety BC.
Restaurant Electrician in Port Moody
Port Moody has a busy dining scene along Clarke Street, in Suter Brook and Newport Village and in the breweries and taprooms of Brewers Row. Patios are popular here, so weatherproof power, heater connections and exterior lighting come up often. Brewery and taproom projects also add cooler, equipment and sign loads on top of the kitchen. Permits go through Technical Safety BC.
Restaurant Electrician in Port Coquitlam
Port Coquitlam is our home base, so we can reach restaurants along Shaughnessy Street, Westwood Street and the Lougheed Highway quickly for site visits and urgent repairs. Many units here are in strip plazas with shared services, so we check what your unit is supplied with before you finalize your equipment. Permits are handled through Technical Safety BC.
New Westminster, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and Nearby Communities
We also serve restaurants and cafés in New Westminster, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Surrey, North Vancouver, West Vancouver and Langley, and we handle the local permit process in each.
How a Restaurant Electrical Project Works With Us
- Walkthrough and equipment list. We visit the space, or review your floor plan, and collect spec sheets for your equipment.
- Load calculation. We confirm whether the existing panel and service can support your kitchen, and what needs to change if not.
- Written quote. Circuits, panels, lighting, signage, permits and any service work are itemized.
- Permit. We apply to Technical Safety BC or your municipality and coordinate with your other approvals.
- Installation. We schedule around your landlord, general contractor and opening date, with after hours work available when needed.
- Inspection and testing. The work is inspected and every circuit is tested under load where possible.
- Handover. You receive a clearly labelled panel so your staff and future electricians know what each breaker controls.
Why Restaurant Owners Choose Intel Power
Intel Power Electric was formed in 2005 and has been led from the start by Navid Sadeghi, a BCIT graduate. We are a full service electrical contractor for homes, businesses and industrial sites. We carry a $10,000 electrical bond and $2,000,000 in liability insurance, we are covered by WCB, and our electricians are licensed. Because we work 24/7, restaurants can call us for urgent problems outside business hours.
We also tell you plainly what your space needs. If your unit can support your equipment with a subpanel, we will not recommend a service upgrade. If it cannot, we will explain why before you commit to a lease or an equipment order.
Book a Restaurant Electrician
Call us at (604) 618-0977 or send us your floor plan and equipment list. We will tell you what your space can support, what the work will cost and which permits are needed, before any work begins.
