Accessory dwelling units
Electrical planning for a Burlington ADU, backyard cottage, or garage apartment
The practical answer
For a Burlington ADU, list all heating, water-heating, cooking, laundry, ventilation, alarm, lighting, receptacle, exterior, EV, and future loads before the electrical design is fixed. Coordinate zoning and construction approvals with electrical trade permitting, have the service and panel evaluated, confirm metering and utility questions with Burlington Electric Department, and assign rough inspection, wall closure, commissioning, and closeout in the project schedule.
Build one complete equipment schedule
An ADU may add space heating and cooling, domestic hot water, cooking, refrigeration, laundry, bath ventilation, smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms, lighting, receptacles, exterior equipment, and perhaps EV charging. Exact equipment reduces uncertainty; credible future loads help avoid designing only for move-in day.
The City’s ADU page describes ADUs within or on the same property as an owner-occupied single-family home and points owners to current zoning resources. Confirm that the proposed property and design meet current rules rather than relying on a general definition.
Settle service, panel, and metering questions
An electrician can evaluate the existing service, meter equipment, main panel, calculated loads, feeder, ADU panel, conductor route, and future priorities. Whether separate metering is desired or available is a utility and project question, not something to infer from a floor plan.
Sequence permits and inspections
Burlington’s current materials separate zoning, construction, and trade processes. Electrical rough work may need inspection before insulation and finishes conceal it. Put permit applicant, fees, inspections, correction responsibility, access, and final closeout on the project schedule.
Coordinate every trade boundary
The electrical estimate should identify utility coordination, HVAC power and disconnects, water-heater circuit, appliance connections, ventilation, alarms, site lighting, trenching, data, equipment startup, and finish repair. Name who supplies and connects each item.
- Approved plans and current permit status
- Complete appliance and mechanical schedule
- Service, feeder, panel, and metering concept
- Rough, insulation, drywall, and final sequence
- Owner-supplied fixtures and devices
- Testing, labels, manuals, warranties, and completion records
ADU electrical planning: sequence and boundaries
| Item | What to settle | When |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment schedule | Heating, water heating, cooking, laundry, ventilation, alarms, exterior and EV loads | Before the design is fixed |
| Service and panel | Existing service, meter equipment, feeder and ADU panel | Electrician evaluation |
| Metering | Whether separate metering is desired or available | Confirm with BED |
| Zoning and construction approval | The City's ADU page describes ADUs on the same property as an owner-occupied single-family home | Confirm current rules before design |
| Rough inspection | Before insulation and finishes conceal the work | On the project schedule |
| Trade boundaries | HVAC power, water-heater circuit and appliance connections | Name who supplies and connects each |
Questions
Common questions
Does a Burlington ADU need its own electric meter?+
Whether an accessory dwelling is separately metered or fed from the main service is a design and utility question that depends on the layout, the loads, and how the units will be billed. Have the electrician and BED review the actual project, because the metering decision shapes the panel and service plan around it.
Can my existing service support adding an ADU?+
That cannot be answered from the service rating alone: it depends on the existing and proposed loads together, the panel and service condition, and approved design options. A calculated load for both dwellings tells you whether the current service carries the addition or whether an upgrade belongs in the project.
When should the electrician join the ADU project?+
Before final equipment selection and before permit drawings, routes, and finished assemblies are fixed.
What electrical permits and approvals does an ADU need?+
An ADU typically involves electrical permitting and inspection alongside the broader construction, zoning, and utility steps, and the exact path depends on the scope and the City's current process. Confirm the requirements with Burlington and settle who files and schedules each one before work begins.
Does an ADU need its own panel and disconnect?+
A separate dwelling unit commonly needs its own distribution and a means of disconnect, and the specifics follow the layout and how it is fed from the service. The electrician designs the panel, feeder, and disconnect arrangement to the approved plan rather than to a rule of thumb.
How does utility coordination work for an ADU?+
Because an ADU can affect metering, service capacity, and the connection, the utility is part of the planning, not an afterthought. Bringing BED into the conversation early, alongside the electrician, avoids designing a panel and service arrangement that then has to change to meet the utility's requirements.
Sources
Sources
Programs and requirements can change, so check the linked authority before relying on a figure.
Request electrical service
Tell us what needs to be repaired or installed
Share the location, timing and any symptoms of Burlington ADU electrician that you can observe safely.