How Long Does EV Charger Installation Take?
The actual installation is half a day. The permit and inspection process around it adds several days to the total timeline. Here's what to expect in Spokane.
For most Spokane homeowners with an attached garage, the installation is a half-day appointment. The electrician checks the panel, runs the circuit, mounts the charger, and tests it in 2 to 4 hours of work. The permit is pulled a day or two before, and the inspection follows a few days after. The full process from first call to passing inspection usually runs about 1 to 2 weeks.
Full Timeline
| Step | Typical Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Get quotes and schedule | 2 to 5 days | Good Spokane electricians book a few days out |
| Permit pulled by electrician | 1 to 3 business days | City of Spokane Building Services |
| Actual installation | 2 to 4 hours | Full day for panel upgrades or detached garages |
| Electrical inspection | 2 to 5 days to schedule, 30 min to complete | Electrician handles scheduling |
| Avista program enrollment | Varies | Contact electrictransportation@avistacorp.com |
What Makes It Take Longer
Panel upgrade
If your home has a 100-amp panel that's heavily loaded, more common in older Spokane homes in Browne's Addition, Cliff-Cannon, and lower South Hill areas, adding a 50-amp EV circuit may require a panel upgrade. That's 3 to 5 more hours of work, sometimes requiring Avista to disconnect service at the meter, which adds coordination time. A panel upgrade is often done as a single combined project with the EV charger install, but plan for a full day. See the panel upgrade guide.
Detached garage or outbuilding
Spokane's Inland Northwest properties, particularly larger lots in the Valley, Liberty Lake area, and Spokane County, sometimes include detached garages, shops, or RV structures where the homeowner wants EV charging. Running conduit underground from the main panel is more involved than an attached garage install. Budget a full day and expect higher material costs for the conduit and trench work.
Long conduit run or complex access
If your panel is on the far end of the house from the garage, or in a finished space with limited access, the electrician has more routing to do. Spokane's winters mean electricians are sometimes working in tight attic spaces in cold conditions. Good Spokane electricians know how to handle this efficiently.
The Permit and Inspection Process in Spokane
Washington State requires a licensed electrical contractor to pull the permit before work starts. The City of Spokane Building Services processes most straightforward EV charger permits within 1 to 3 business days. Your electrician handles both the permit application and the inspection scheduling. You just need to be home for the installation and the inspection visit.
The inspection takes 15 to 30 minutes. The inspector checks that the circuit is sized correctly, the wiring meets Washington electrical code, and the charger is mounted and connected properly. With a licensed, competent electrician, it passes the first time.
Avista Programs: Contact Before Installing
Avista's EV programs change. Before you buy a charger or schedule installation, email electrictransportation@avistacorp.com and ask what's currently available for residential customers. If there's a rebate with a deadline or specific charger requirements, you want to know before you're locked in. There may also be TOU rate options that make overnight charging significantly cheaper, worth setting up at the same time as the install.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, plan to be home for the full half-day block. The electrician needs panel and garage access and may have questions during the job. You can be available without watching over their shoulder.
Some Spokane electricians can get same-day permits for simple EV installs, but it's not guaranteed. Most prefer to pull the permit a day in advance. Ask when you're getting quotes.
Spokane winters don't significantly affect attached garage installs. That work is done indoors. Detached garage trenching is harder in frozen ground, so if you're planning a detached garage install, fall or early spring is easier scheduling. Demand for electricians can also be higher in shoulder seasons.
Plan for a full day. If Avista needs to disconnect the service meter, it may require coordinating a separate utility visit, which can add a day to the total schedule.
Want the full picture from start to finish? See our complete installation roadmap.