How much does it cost to replace a circuit breaker in Virginia?

There is no single Virginia price for replacing a circuit breaker, and we found no primary source that publishes one with a date, so any flat figure you see online is a guess. What you will pay depends on the type of breaker, how easy the panel is to work in, and whether the real problem is the breaker at all. Get a written quote that names the breaker and the work.

What is in a breaker replacement quote

A breaker replacement is not a part swap to improvise. The breaker sits in a live panel, and in Virginia the electrical trade is licensed. Under the Code of Virginia, no individual may do or offer tradesman work, which includes the electrical trade, for compensation without a licence, with an exception for people working under a licensed tradesman's supervision.^[1][2]

A quote should have these lines:

• The breaker. Which type, which amperage and which brand, matched to your panel.
• Labour. Often a minimum visit charge, plus time on site.
• Diagnosis. Finding out why the breaker failed, if it did.
• Permit and inspection, if your locality requires them.
• Anything found in the panel that must be fixed before the new breaker goes in.

What moves the price

Breaker type. A standard breaker, a ground-fault (GFCI) breaker and an arc-fault (AFCI) breaker are not the same part. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) describes a GFCI breaker as protection against electrocution and an AFCI breaker as protection against arcing from a damaged wire or connection that could start a fire.^[3] Ask what each type costs on your quote; CPSC says a defective one should be replaced by a qualified electrician.^[3]

Your panel. If an electrician opens the panel and finds problems, such as overheated connections or a panel that is overrated for its wiring, the job changes from replacing a breaker to repairing the panel. CPSC lists overrated panels, where breakers are rated above what the circuit wiring can safely carry, as a hazard to have corrected.^[4]

Whether the breaker was the problem. A breaker that trips often is often reporting an overloaded circuit, a faulty appliance or a wiring fault, and replacing it does not fix those. A good electrician will check what is on the circuit before quoting a new breaker. See whether it is safe to reset a tripped breaker.

Access and timing. A panel in a clear basement is quicker than one in a cramped closet, and emergency or after-hours calls are usually priced higher than scheduled visits.

Permits

Virginia's building code requires a permit before work starts on electric wiring.^[5] It lists ordinary jobs that need no permit, among them replacing general use switches, dimmer and control switches, 125-volt 15- or 20-ampere receptacles, light fixtures and ceiling fans in homes, but circuit breakers are not named on that list.^[5] Whether a like-for-like breaker swap needs a permit is a question for your local building department, and your electrician should know the answer.

Fees are set by each locality. When we checked on October 27, 2026, Montgomery County's fee schedule listed an electrical trade permit at $0.03 per square foot with a $45 minimum, and an upgrade of residential service at $75.^[6] Those are one county's figures, not a Virginia rate, and a breaker replacement may not fall under either line, but they show the order of magnitude of a permit fee.

The Board for Contractors advises that licensed contractors should apply for and obtain the building permits, not the homeowner, because the permit holder takes on responsibility for the overall job.^[7]

Getting quotes you can compare

Ask each electrician to write down:

• the breaker type, amperage and brand
• whether diagnosis and the visit charge are included
• whether a permit is needed, and who pays for it
• what happens if they find a problem in the panel
• their Virginia licence number, which you can look up before they arrive

Virginia law requires licensed contractors to provide a written contract for residential work, and the Board advises that it include the total price and when payments are due.^[7]

When to call a licensed pro

If a breaker is hot, buzzing, scorched or will not stay on, switch off what you can and call a licensed electrician now rather than waiting for quotes. For how to judge urgency, read when to call an electrician about a breaker panel. For general pricing, see electrician hourly rates in Virginia, the electrical answers hub and local electricians.

To get a real price for your own panel, describe the problem once and licensed local electricians quote it.