Tenant Improvement & Build-Out Electrical

Restaurant electrical build-outs are among the most complex and demanding tenant improvement projects. The electrical requirements of a commercial kitchen alone can rival an entire office building, with high-amperage circuits for commercial ovens, ranges, fryers, griddles, salamanders, dishwashers, walk-in coolers and freezers, ice machines, and exhaust hood motors. Each piece of equipment has specific voltage, amperage, and circuit requirements that must be carefully planned and installed.

In the Tampa Bay area, restaurant build-outs must comply with the Florida Building Code, the NEC, and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) requirements that affect electrical installations. GFCI protection is required in all kitchen areas, within six feet of sinks, in outdoor dining areas, and in any location where water and electricity may interact. Emergency and exit lighting must be provided per the Florida Fire Prevention Code, and fire alarm connections must interface with the kitchen hood suppression system.

Ranch and Coast Electric has completed numerous restaurant electrical build-outs across Tampa Bay, from casual dining and fast-casual concepts to full-service restaurants and bars. We work closely with kitchen design consultants and equipment vendors to ensure every circuit is correctly sized and positioned. Our experience with the specific permit requirements of Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, and the City of Tampa means we know exactly what inspectors expect, which keeps your project on schedule and avoids costly failed inspections.

Office tenant improvements are driven by changing work patterns, company growth, and the evolving needs of modern businesses. Whether you are converting an open floor plan to private offices, building out a conference center, adding a server room or IT closet, or completely reconfiguring the layout of your office space, the electrical system must adapt to support the new configuration.

Common office TI electrical requirements include relocating or adding receptacle outlets to match new workstation layouts, installing under-floor or overhead power distribution for open plan areas, adding dedicated circuits for server rooms and networking equipment with proper cooling provisions, installing new lighting fixtures and controls to match the updated floor plan, adding conference room power and AV connections, and upgrading the electrical panel to accommodate additional circuits.

In Tampa Bay, office buildings range from modern Class A towers with raised access floors and centralized building management systems to older Class B and C buildings with more conventional construction. Each building type presents different challenges and opportunities for electrical modifications. Ranch and Coast Electric adapts our approach to the specific building construction and works within the building management's requirements for contractor access, hot work permits, and construction hours. We also coordinate with the building's existing electrical infrastructure to ensure modifications do not affect other tenants or building systems.

Every tenant improvement project in Tampa Bay that involves electrical modifications requires an electrical permit from the local building department. The permitting requirements and timelines vary by jurisdiction. Hillsborough County processes most commercial electrical permits within five to ten business days, while the City of Tampa has its own permitting process that may take slightly longer for complex projects. Pinellas County and Pasco County each have their own timelines and submittal requirements.

Ranch and Coast Electric manages the permit process from start to finish. We prepare or review the electrical plans for permit submission, submit the permit application with all required documentation, pay permit fees on behalf of the project (billed as a line item on our proposal), and track the plan review status. Once the permit is issued and work is underway, we schedule all required inspections at the appropriate project milestones. Typical inspection stages for a TI project include the rough-in inspection after all concealed wiring is installed but before walls are closed, and the final inspection after all fixtures, devices, and equipment are installed and operational.

Passing inspections on the first attempt is critical for maintaining your project schedule. A failed inspection can delay the project by days or even weeks if significant corrections are required. Ranch and Coast Electric maintains a strong track record of first-time inspection passes because we install to code from the start, document our work thoroughly, and pre-inspect our own installations before calling for the official inspection.