ASL
New construction is where an electrical system is either done right once or patched for decades afterward. ASL Electric provides complete electrical for new homes, custom builds, additions, ADUs and commercial spaces across Orange County, from planning the system on paper to the final inspection and the day the utility energizes the service.
We design and install the entire electrical system, coordinate with the builder and the other trades so the project stays on time and on budget, and advise on permitting at the state, county and city level. Whether you are a homeowner building a custom home in Coto de Caza, a builder in a South County community or a business owner putting up a new building, you get one licensed contractor accountable for the whole electrical scope.
What we wire on new construction projects
⚡Service, meter and panels
We plan and install the main service, meter section, main panel and any subpanels, sized from a load calculation that accounts for EV charging, heat pumps, cooking and future additions, then coordinate the service connection with SCE or SDG&E.
⚡Branch circuits and devices
Every outlet, switch and dedicated appliance circuit is laid out to code and to how the home will actually be used, including GFCI and AFCI protection, USB outlets and tamper-resistant receptacles.
⚡Lighting
LED recessed lighting, chandeliers and entry fixtures, pendants, under-cabinet and accent lighting, exterior and landscape lighting, all with dimmers or smart controls as specified.
⚡Life safety
Hard-wired, interconnected smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside sleeping areas and on every level, plus carbon monoxide alarms as California requires.
⚡Low voltage and smart home
Structured wiring for data and Wi-Fi access points, home theater and surround sound pre-wire, doorbell and camera wiring, and smart lighting and switch systems.
⚡Exterior and landscape lighting
Entry, path, step, patio and security lighting planned with the architecture and landscape design, with low-voltage transformers, timers and photocells placed where they are easy to service.
⚡Garage, workshop and outdoor power
Shop lighting, 240V circuits for tools, outdoor kitchen and patio heater circuits, and weatherproof outlets where you will actually use them.
⚡EV and electric-ready
Circuits and capacity for EV chargers, plus the electric-ready provisions California's 2025 Energy Code calls for when gas appliances are installed, so the home is ready for future electric appliances.
Decisions to make before the walls go up
The earlier these are settled, the smoother the build and the inspections:
- Service size and panel location
- EV charger locations in the garage or driveway
- Kitchen appliance specifications and circuits
- Lighting plan and control types
- Smart home, network and low-voltage needs
- Exterior, landscape and security lighting
- Outdoor kitchen and patio heater circuits
- Garage and workshop power
- Future ADU or addition capacity
- Utility service route and meter location
Why the electrical contractor matters on a new build
On a new build, the electrical rough-in is hidden by insulation and drywall within weeks. Mistakes made then are expensive to find and fix later, and an undersized service can force an upgrade the first time you add an EV or a heat pump. A licensed electrical contractor who plans for how the home will be used, passes inspections the first time and coordinates with the utility keeps the whole project on schedule.
Recent work by our electricians
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Real ASL Electric jobs in Orange County homes and businesses.
How we deliver a new construction project
Design from scratch
We review the plans, appliance specifications and your wish list, run the load calculation, and lay out circuits, lighting and low voltage. If changes are needed for code or capacity, they are made on paper, not in the field.
Permits and code
We advise on electrical permitting and work to the 2025 California Electrical Code and Energy Code, which took effect January 1, 2026, and to local amendments from your city or the County of Orange.
Rough-in and inspections
We install the service, panels, wiring and boxes on schedule with framing, then pass the rough electrical inspection before insulation.
Trim-out and energize
After drywall and finishes we install devices and fixtures, test the system, pass the final inspection and coordinate the utility release so the home is energized.
Types of new construction we wire
Custom homes
Larger homes with detailed lighting plans, smart home systems, landscape lighting and multiple panels, built to the owner's specifications.
Additions and ADUs
New living space on an existing property, including subpanel or service upgrade planning so the addition does not overload the main house.
Commercial buildings
New commercial spaces with code-compliant lighting controls, emergency lighting and exit signs, and power for equipment.
Rebuilds and major renovations
Homes taken down to the studs and rebuilt, where the electrical system is effectively new construction inside an existing shell.
Planning electrical capacity for the next twenty years
A new home's service size and panel layout should account for how electrical loads are changing. EV chargers, heat pump heating and water heating, induction cooking and electric dryers are becoming common, and California's 2025 Energy Code adds electric-ready requirements when gas appliances are installed. We plan the main service and panel spaces so these can be added later without a costly upgrade, and we leave clear routes and spare capacity for an ADU, outdoor living or a workshop.
We also think about access: panels where they can be serviced, junction points for future lighting and outlets, and conduit or pull strings to locations where low voltage or EV circuits are likely later. These small decisions on paper save real money over the life of the home.
“I had an emergency and ASL Electric sent Walter out within 3 hours. He identified and resolved the problem immediately. We were under construction and he patiently waited while others completed their assignment and when the time was right he worked quickly and cleanly.”
What affects the cost of new construction electrical
New construction electrical is quoted from the plans. Cost depends on the square footage and number of circuits, service size and the number of panels, the lighting and fixture count and type, low-voltage and smart home scope, exterior and landscape lighting, EV and future-ready provisions, and permit and utility requirements. We provide a free, itemized estimate so builders and owners can compare and plan.
How it works with ASL Electric
We review the plans, run the load calculation and lay out the electrical system with you or your builder.
We install the service, panels and wiring in step with framing and pass the rough inspection.
We install devices and fixtures, pass the final inspection and coordinate the utility connection.
New Construction Wiring across Orange County
Some of the newest homes in Orange County are being built in Rancho Mission Viejo, where the Ranch Plan communities of Sendero and Esencia opened in 2013 and 2015, and in Ladera Ranch, which began in 1999. Both are unincorporated, so permits run through the County of Orange, and both are served by SDG&E. Custom homes and rebuilds in Coto de Caza, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach often have detailed lighting and landscape plans, while ADUs and additions are going up in older neighborhoods throughout the county.
Our crews have worked on everything from custom home builds to job sites where they had to coordinate around other trades, and we know the inspection expectations of the local building departments. Whether your project is in SCE or SDG&E territory, we coordinate the service connection for you.
We also bring the same planning mindset to smaller projects. A backyard ADU in an older Tustin or Costa Mesa neighborhood, a garage conversion in Huntington Beach or a second-story addition in Mission Viejo all start with the same question: can the existing service carry the new space, or does it need a subpanel or an upgrade? Answering that before construction starts keeps the budget and the schedule intact.