How Long Does a Panel Upgrade Take in Fort Myers? | CoHarbor Electric

Homeowners in Fort Myers ask this more than almost any other question — usually because they’re trying to figure out how to plan around the job. Do you need to take a day off work? Will the power be out overnight? What about FPL? We’ll walk through the whole timeline from assessment to inspection so you know exactly what to expect.

The Installation Day

How long does a panel upgrade take on the day of the job?

Most residential panel upgrades in Fort Myers take one full day — typically six to eight hours from start to finish. Some straightforward jobs on newer homes wrap up closer to the six-hour mark. More involved jobs, particularly on older homes in neighborhoods like Dunbar, McGregor, or near the Caloosahatchee where the service entrance has corrosion or the scope is more complex, can run the full day.

Will my power be out the entire time?

No. There’s a window during the job — usually one to two hours — where the home has no power at all. That’s when we’re making the switch from the old panel to the new one and coordinating FPL’s service disconnect. Outside of that window, power to most of the home is typically maintained in some form. We’ll walk you through the sequence before we start so there are no surprises.

Does the whole job happen in one day?

For the installation itself, yes. You won’t have workers in your home for multiple days on a standard panel upgrade. The permit inspection happens after the installation and is a separate appointment — more on that below.

FPL Coordination

Why does FPL have to be involved?

FPL has to disconnect and reconnect the utility service at the meter for the job to be done safely. We coordinate that scheduling with FPL as part of the project — it’s not something you need to manage on your end.

How far in advance does FPL need to be scheduled?

FPL’s scheduling availability varies. It’s not something we can control directly, but we plan around it. In our experience serving Fort Myers and the surrounding Lee County area, lead times are usually workable when we have reasonable notice — which is another way of saying don’t wait until you absolutely need the panel replaced tomorrow. Give us some runway and the coordination is smooth.

Can FPL delays push back my installation date?

They can affect scheduling, yes. If FPL’s earliest available disconnect window doesn’t line up with our schedule, we find a date that works for both. It’s not common for this to cause significant delays, but it’s a real factor and worth building in some flexibility for — especially in spring when we’re heading into storm season and scheduling fills up faster.

Permits and Inspections

Does a panel upgrade in Fort Myers require a permit?

Yes. Panel work in Fort Myers requires a permit through Lee County, and we pull it on every job. Any contractor offering to skip the permit is cutting a corner that will cost you later — unpermitted electrical work creates insurance issues, problems at resale, and skips the inspection step that confirms the work was done right.

How long does the permit process take?

We handle the permit submission as part of the project. Processing time through Lee County can vary, but we factor it into the schedule and it typically doesn’t hold up the installation itself.

When does the inspection happen?

After the installation is complete. We schedule the county inspection and handle the coordination. The inspector verifies the work meets current NEC code and local requirements. Once it passes, you have a documented, permitted panel installation on record — which matters for your homeowner’s insurance and for any future home sale.

How long does the inspection itself take?

The inspection appointment is typically short — thirty minutes to an hour on-site. You or someone over 18 needs to be present to provide access.

Total Timeline From Start to Finish

From the time I call, how long until the job is done?

Here’s a realistic breakdown:

Assessment: We schedule a site visit to look at your home’s current setup before quoting. This is usually a short appointment and can often happen within a few days of your initial call.

Quote and scheduling: Once we’ve assessed the home and you’ve approved the scope and price, we get you on the schedule. Lead time varies by season — spring books faster than fall.

Permit submission: We submit the permit before the job. Processing typically takes a few business days to a couple of weeks depending on Lee County’s current volume.

FPL coordination: We schedule FPL’s involvement around the installation date.

Installation day: One day, as described above.

County inspection: Scheduled after installation, usually within a few days to a week.

From first call to completed inspection, most Fort Myers panel upgrades move through the process in two to four weeks under normal conditions. During busy periods — particularly late spring — it can take a bit longer.

Is there anything that could extend the timeline?

A few things. Complex scope on an older home can add time to the installation day itself. FPL scheduling variability can affect the install date. Lee County permit processing volume fluctuates. And if the inspection requires a correction before it passes — which is uncommon when the work is done correctly — that adds a re-inspection step.

None of these are typical, and we build our scheduling to account for them. But they’re real factors on any permitted job.

Fort Myers-Specific Considerations

Do older Fort Myers homes take longer?

Sometimes. Homes in older Fort Myers neighborhoods — parts of the McGregor corridor, Cape Coral’s earlier developments, Lehigh Acres — can have conditions that add scope. Corroded service entrance equipment, outdated configurations, or panels in locations that don’t meet current clearance requirements all affect how the day goes. We find those things during the assessment so the installation day doesn’t have surprises.

Does storm season affect scheduling?

It does. The window between spring and early hurricane season is when we see the most panel upgrade requests in Fort Myers — homeowners getting their homes ready before June. That’s also when our schedule fills up fastest. If you’re thinking about getting a panel upgrade done before storm season, earlier in the year gives you the most options.

After a significant storm, scheduling can get tight quickly as service call volume goes up across Southwest Florida. Planning ahead is always the better path.

Let’s Get Your Job on the Calendar

Coharbor Electric serves Fort Myers and the surrounding Southwest Florida area, including Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Estero, and beyond. We’re licensed, we pull permits through Lee County, and we coordinate FPL from start to finish.

If you’re ready to get a panel upgrade scheduled — or you just want to know what your home actually needs — reach out and we’ll set up an assessment. We’ll give you a clear scope, a real timeline, and a straight answer on cost before anything gets started.

Coharbor Electric — Licensed Electrical Contractor Serving Fort Myers and Southwest Florida