Upgrading an older panel in Cumming: why a service change needs a permit under local rules
Owners in older Cumming subdivisions often find that a 100-amp panel cannot keep up with an EV charger, a heat pump, a finished basement or a hot tub. Moving to a 200-amp service is a common fix, and it is one of the jobs local rules single out. Forsyth County's permit guide lists an electrical service repair or upgrade as work that needs a permit. The City of Cumming's electrical permit application prices service amperage in bands, including a separate line for a 200 to 299 amp service, and says the work must comply with the current National Electrical Code.
A service upgrade touches the utility's equipment as well as yours, so it usually involves coordination with Georgia Power or Sawnee EMC, whichever serves the house. The City's building permit application asks which of the two serves the property.
What the City of Cumming fee schedule says
The City's 2026 electrical permit application lists service amperage fees of $5.00 for 0 to 99 amps, $7.00 for 100 to 199 amps, $10.00 for 200 to 299 amps, $12.00 for 300 to 399 amps and $14.00 for 400 to 499 amps. Other lines cover items such as receptacles and switches at $0.50 each, a water heater at $4.00 and an air conditioner, heat pump or furnace at $5.00. The application sets a minimum permit fee of $40.00, so a small upgrade is billed at the minimum. The full table is on the City of Cumming permit page.
The application also says a project that does not meet code at inspection, or cannot be entered, is billed $25 for re-inspection, and that no power will be turned on and no certificate of occupancy issued until all fees and permits are paid in full. The permit becomes void if work does not start within six months, or stops for six months after it starts. These are permit fees only, not contractor prices.
Unincorporated Forsyth County
Outside city limits, the County's Electrical Only Permit covers work limited to electrical, without plan review. The County inspects to the 2023 National Electrical Code and says building permits expire 12 months after issuance. The County's electrical affidavit asks a restricted licensee to confirm the job is within the restricted scope, which the form describes as residential, single phase, maximum 400 amps. A typical 200-amp residential service falls inside that description. The Forsyth County permit guide covers the process.
Inspections are part of the job. The County's inspection scheduling line is 770-781-2114, option 1, and inside the city inspections must be requested by phone at least a day ahead. See the inspection guide.
Want a licensed electrician to look at the job?
Request quotesPlanning the upgrade
Write down why you need the capacity: a charger, a generator, a heat pump or an addition. That list drives the load calculation and tells you whether a new panel alone, or a full service upgrade, is needed. If a standby generator is part of the plan, the transfer switch can often be designed in at the same time. If an EV charger on Sawnee's PEV-11 rate is planned, the separate meter location belongs in the same plan.
If the new service is underground or the meter moves, call 811 before anyone digs; Georgia 811 asks everyone to contact it first. Keep the permit number and the final inspection record with your house documents. When you are ready, the form on this page lets independent local electricians contact you about the upgrade.