Living Light Electric is based in Kansas City, Missouri, north of the river. From Northland ranches to Midtown foursquares, the city holds a century of wiring, and most of it has been added to more than once.
North of the river and south of it
Kansas City, Missouri spreads across three counties. North of the Missouri River, the Northland is mostly post-war and newer: ranches, split-levels and subdivisions built from the 1950s on. South of the river, neighborhoods like Hyde Park, Valentine, Brookside, Waldo and the Historic Northeast are full of homes from the early 1900s through the 1940s.
That split shapes the work. Up north it is mostly panel upgrades, added circuits and the loads people put on houses built for far less. In the older neighborhoods it is often knob-and-tube, ungrounded outlets and decades of add-ons that need sorting out before a remodel can go ahead.
Permits and licensing in KCMO
Inside the Kansas City, Missouri city limits, contractor licensing is run by the City Planning and Development Department’s Permits Division. An electrical contractor needs a city business license, a Certificate of Qualification for the trade held by a qualified person, and a contractor license for the business. Electrical permits run through CompassKC, the city’s permitting system.
The city keeps a searchable list of active licensed contractors, and encourages residents to check it before hiring.
Weather that tests the wiring
Spring brings hail, high wind and tornado warnings; summer brings long stretches of heat when every air conditioner in the city is running; winter can bring ice that takes down limbs and lines. Surge protection, solid service connections and a properly wired generator all earn their keep here. Most of the city is served by Evergy.
Kansas City questions
Asked in Kansas City.
Short answers to the questions we hear from Kansas City homeowners and businesses. More in the full Q&A.
Do I need a permit for electrical work in Kansas City, MO?
Most electrical work beyond simple like-for-like device replacement needs a permit in Kansas City, Missouri, and permits are pulled by a licensed contractor through the city’s CompassKC system. When in doubt, ask the city’s Permits Division or your electrician before work starts.
How do I check that an electrician is licensed in Kansas City, MO?
Use the City of Kansas City, Missouri’s search of active licensed contractors, linked from the city’s Contractor Licensing page, or call the Permits Division. Ask the electrician which license they work under and check the name matches.
My Midtown house still has knob-and-tube. Is that a problem?
Not always on its own, but it is ungrounded, it was never meant to be buried in insulation, and after a hundred years it has usually been spliced into by others. Have it evaluated, especially before insulating, remodeling or adding loads, and plan to replace it in stages.
Who do I call when the power is out?
If the whole street is dark, report it to your utility; most of Kansas City is on Evergy. If only your house or part of it is out, check your main and branch breakers, and call an electrician if a breaker will not reset or you smell burning.