Retail Store Electrical Services
Store Lighting and Display Lighting
Good store lighting does two jobs. General lighting makes the space bright, even and comfortable, and accent lighting draws attention to products, displays and feature walls. We install LED troffers, recessed fixtures, track lighting and display lighting, with dimming and zones so you can change the look for different times of day. Colour quality matters for clothing, jewellery, cosmetics and food, so we help you choose fixtures that show products in their true colours.
Storefront Signage and Exterior Lighting
Your sign is often the first thing customers see. We connect illuminated signs, awnings, window displays and exterior lighting on timers or photocells so they turn on and off automatically. Illuminated signs generally need an electrical permit and certified equipment, and we coordinate the electrical side with your sign company so everything is ready for opening day.
Point of Sale, Data and Security Wiring
Card terminals, cash registers, inventory scanners, security cameras and Wi-Fi all depend on dependable data and low voltage wiring. We run and label the cabling alongside the electrical work, so your network and your power are installed together.
Dedicated Circuits for Displays, Cash Wraps and Equipment
Refrigerated displays, cash wrap counters, fitting rooms, kiosks and fixtures that move around the floor all need power in the right place. We plan outlets, dedicated circuits and floor boxes around your layout, so you do not end up with extension cords across the sales floor.
Panel Capacity and Equipment Loads
Retail units often share a building service, and the panel in your space may be small. HVAC units, refrigeration, display lighting and signage all add up. We calculate your load and, when needed, install a subpanel or coordinate a service upgrade with BC Hydro.
Emergency Lighting and Exit Signs
Stores are public spaces, and emergency lighting and exit signs need to work if the power fails. We install, replace and repair battery backed units and help you keep them in working order for inspections.
Store Moves, Refreshes and Equipment Relocation
Moving to a new unit or refreshing your layout often means disconnecting and reconnecting fixtures, signs and equipment. We test existing equipment, relocate it and make sure it is safe in the new space.
Customer EV Charging
More retailers are adding charging stations to attract customers who stay longer. We assess your parking lot, your available capacity and the best location for networked Level 2 chargers.
24/7 Emergency Repairs
Lights that go out, breakers that trip, dead outlets or a sign that stops working can cost you a day of sales. Because we offer 24/7 service, you can reach us outside business hours.
How Much Does Retail Store Electrical Work Cost?
Retail electrical costs depend on the size of the store, the amount of lighting, how many displays need dedicated power and whether the existing service has spare capacity. As a rough guide, a retail fit-out often runs about $10 to $25 per square foot for electrical work, which is lower than a restaurant because there is no cooking equipment. The tables below show typical ranges in Burnaby and the Tri-Cities. They cover labour and standard electrical materials, not your fixtures, signs or display equipment.
| Store Type and Size | Typical Setup | What Drives the Price | Estimated Electrical Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kiosk or small shop, up to 1,000 sq ft | General lighting, a few accent lights, POS, one sign | Number of circuits and ceiling type | $5,000 to $25,000 |
| Standard store, 1,000 to 4,000 sq ft | General and accent lighting, displays, POS, signage, storage areas | Lighting design, circuit count, subpanel | $15,000 to $90,000 |
| Large format store or showroom, 4,000+ sq ft | Extensive lighting, many displays, refrigeration, multiple POS stations | Service upgrade, ceiling height, after hours work | $50,000 to $250,000+ |
| Refresh of an existing store | New lighting, a few new circuits, updated signage connection | Existing wiring, ceiling access, scope of changes | $3,000 to $20,000 |
Individual jobs are priced like this:
| Retail Electrical Job | What Is Usually Included | What Affects the Price | Estimated Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| LED general lighting retrofit | Remove old fixtures, install LED troffers or panels, test | Ceiling height, fixture type and access | $100 to $300 per fixture |
| Accent or track lighting | Fixtures or track, wiring, dimming | Ceiling type and number of heads | $150 to $450 per fixture |
| Illuminated storefront sign connection | Dedicated circuit, disconnect, timer or photocell | Distance to the panel and exterior wall access | $400 to $1,500 per sign |
| POS, data or camera cable drop | Cable run, jack, testing and labelling | Cable length, ceiling access and finished walls | $150 to $300 per drop |
| Dedicated circuit for a display, cash wrap or equipment | Wire, breaker and receptacle | Distance from the panel and wall type | $250 to $800 per circuit |
| Floor box or recessed floor outlet | Box, conduit, wiring and floor cutting | Concrete slab, finished flooring | $600 to $1,800 each |
| Commercial subpanel | Panel, breakers, feeder cable and labelling | Panel size and feeder length | $3,000 to $8,000 |
| 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 floor plan. Fixtures you supply, sign manufacturing, permit fees, drywall repair and after hours premiums are quoted separately.
Permits and Inspections for Retail Electrical Work
New or changed circuits, new lighting and illuminated signs generally 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.
Building permits, sign permits and landlord approvals are separate from the electrical permit. Shopping centre landlords often have their own tenant design criteria and contractor requirements, so we ask for your landlord’s criteria package at the start and plan around it.
You can confirm which authority covers your address on the Technical Safety BC electrical permit jurisdiction page.
Retail Electricians in Burnaby and the Tri-Cities
The electrical code is the same across the region. What changes is the permit office, the type of building and the landlord’s requirements.
Retail Store Electrician in Burnaby
Burnaby projects go through the City of Burnaby’s own permit and inspection process, and we schedule around it. Metrotown and Brentwood are major shopping destinations where mall landlords set strict rules about contractors, working hours and hoarding, so we build those requirements into the schedule. Street front units along Kingsway and Hastings Street are often in older buildings, where the load calculation and panel capacity deserve a careful look.
Retail Store Electrician in Coquitlam
Coquitlam retail ranges from mall units at Coquitlam Centre to street front and plaza units in Austin Heights and Maillardville. Mall units follow landlord rules, while older plaza units often need a subpanel or updated circuits before new lighting and equipment can be added. Permits are issued by Technical Safety BC.
Retail Store Electrician in Port Moody
Port Moody has a walkable, boutique style retail scene along Clarke Street and in Suter Brook and Newport Village. Many units here are in mixed use buildings, where signage, exterior lighting and working hours are controlled by the landlord or the strata. Permits go through Technical Safety BC.
Retail Store Electrician in Port Coquitlam
Port Coquitlam is our home base, so stores along Shaughnessy Street, Westwood Street and the Lougheed Highway get quick site visits and follow up. Many units are in strip plazas with a shared parking lot and shared services, so we check what your unit is supplied with before you finalize lighting and equipment. Permits are handled through Technical Safety BC.
New Westminster, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and Nearby Communities
We also serve retailers 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 Retail Electrical Project Works With Us
- Walkthrough and floor plan. We visit the unit, or review your plans, and collect your landlord’s criteria.
- Lighting and power layout. We plan lighting zones, outlets, dedicated circuits and signage power around your display layout.
- Written quote. Lighting, circuits, signage, data, permits and any panel work are itemized.
- Permit. We apply to Technical Safety BC or your municipality and coordinate with other approvals.
- Installation. We work around your general contractor, landlord and opening date, with after hours work available when needed.
- Inspection and testing. The work is inspected, and we test lighting, controls and circuits.
- Handover. You receive a labelled panel and instructions for your lighting controls.
Why Retailers 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. We offer 24/7 service for urgent problems.
We would rather tell you that a lighting retrofit is enough than sell you a rewire you do not need. If the existing wiring is unsafe or too small for your plans, we will show you why and explain your options first.
Book a Retail Store Electrician
Call us at (604) 618-0977 or send us your floor plan and landlord criteria. We will tell you what the work will cost and which permits are needed, before any work begins.
