Our Electrical Services

Your home deserves an electrician who treats it like their own. South Lawndale Electric provides comprehensive residential electrical services throughout the Chicago area and the surrounding neighborhoods we call home. From century-old bungalows lining the tree-shaded blocks of South Lawndale to the classic graystones that define so many Chicago side streets, our team handles every residential project with the same care and precision that has made us a trusted name since 2009. We understand the unique character of this neighborhood because we live and work here every day.

Chicago's South Lawndale neighborhood is home to some of the most distinctive residential architecture in the Midwest. The iconic Chicago bungalow, with its low-slung roofline and solid brick construction, presents specific electrical challenges that out-of-town contractors simply do not understand. Two-flats and three-flats require careful attention to shared service panels, separate metering, and code-compliant wiring runs between units. Worker cottages, many of which date back to the late 1800s, often conceal original knob-and-tube wiring behind layers of plaster and lathe. Our electricians have spent years mastering the quirks and hidden surprises found inside these historic Chicago building types.

Courtyard apartment buildings, a beloved hallmark of Chicago residential design, demand an electrician who can coordinate work across multiple units while keeping disruption to a minimum for all residents. Graystones with their ornate limestone facades and tall interior ceilings require thoughtful fixture placement and wiring routes that preserve the architectural beauty homeowners treasure. Whether you own a single-family bungalow on a quiet South Lawndale block or manage a six-unit courtyard building, we bring the right expertise and the right respect for your property to every job.

We are fully licensed, bonded, and insured for residential electrical work in the City of Chicago. Every project we take on is completed to meet or exceed current National Electrical Code standards and Chicago municipal requirements. Our team pulls all necessary permits, schedules inspections, and handles every detail so you do not have to worry about compliance issues down the road. Below is a summary of the residential services we provide to homeowners across South Lawndale and the greater Chicago area.

• Complete home rewiring and electrical upgrades for older Chicago properties, including bungalows, two-flats, and graystones that still rely on outdated wiring from the early 1900s.
• Electrical panel upgrades and circuit breaker replacements (100-400 amp) to bring aging South Lawndale homes up to modern power demands safely and reliably.
• Smart home system installation covering thermostats, lighting controls, voice-activated switches, and full home automation tailored to fit the unique layouts of Chicago residences.
• Indoor and outdoor lighting design, installation, and retrofitting, from recessed lighting in graystone parlors to security floodlights along gangways and back porches.
• Ceiling fan installation, bathroom exhaust fans, and ventilation wiring to improve airflow in tightly built worker cottages and courtyard apartments where proper ventilation is essential.
• Dedicated circuits for home offices, workshops, kitchen appliances, and window air conditioning units, which are a necessity in Chicago two-flats that were never wired for modern electrical loads.
• Smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm installation and maintenance, ensuring every floor of your multi-level home meets current Chicago fire code requirements.
• Whole-house surge protection to safeguard electronics, appliances, and HVAC systems from the power surges that are common during Chicago summer storms.
• Knob-and-tube wiring replacement in vintage Chicago homes, a critical safety upgrade for bungalows and worker cottages built before 1940 that still have original wiring hidden behind plaster walls.
• Home inspection electrical evaluations and code compliance updates for buyers, sellers, and homeowners preparing South Lawndale properties for renovation or refinancing.
• Two-flat and multi-unit metering upgrades, including separate service entrances and sub-panel installations that allow landlords and owners to properly divide electrical service between units.
• Aluminum wiring remediation and copper pigtailing for 1960s- and 1970s-era homes throughout the South Lawndale neighborhood, reducing the fire risk associated with aging aluminum branch circuits.
• Electric vehicle charger installation (Level 2, 240-volt) in garages, carports, and driveways, with dedicated circuits sized to handle the charging demands of modern EVs without overloading your existing panel.
• Outdoor and landscape lighting for front yards, backyard patios, and shared courtyard spaces in Chicago courtyard apartment buildings, enhancing both curb appeal and nighttime safety.

Chicago homeowners choose South Lawndale Electric because we combine deep neighborhood knowledge with honest, transparent service. We do not upsell unnecessary work, we do not cut corners behind your walls, and we do not disappear after the job is done. Our reputation in the South Lawndale community has been built one bungalow, one two-flat, and one graystone at a time over more than a decade of reliable residential electrical work. When your home needs an electrician who truly understands Chicago construction and the specific demands of South Lawndale's housing stock, we are the team to call.

Chicago businesses rely on dependable electrical systems to keep operations running smoothly every single day. South Lawndale Electric brings the same neighborhood dedication to every commercial project, whether you are a small shop on the bustling 26th Street corridor or a large facility serving the greater Chicago area. Our commercial team understands the unique demands of business environments and delivers solutions that minimize downtime while keeping your employees, customers, and equipment safe.

The 26th Street corridor in Little Village is one of the highest-grossing commercial strips in the entire Midwest, and the businesses along it deserve electrical service that matches their ambition. From family-owned restaurants and bakeries to clothing retailers, auto shops, and medical offices, every storefront on 26th Street has its own set of electrical demands. We have spent years wiring, rewiring, and maintaining commercial spaces along this vibrant stretch, and we understand the building stock, the permitting process, and the code requirements that come with operating in this district.

Beyond 26th Street, our commercial work extends to the Cermak Road business corridor and surrounding Chicago business districts where owners count on fast turnaround and transparent pricing. Cermak Road is home to a diverse mix of wholesale distributors, food importers, event venues, and professional offices, all of which require specialized electrical configurations. Whether it is three-phase power for a machine shop, dedicated circuits for a commercial kitchen, or a full lighting redesign for a retail showroom, our licensed electricians bring the expertise these corridors demand.

We also serve commercial clients in the broader Chicago business districts, including the Pilsen industrial zone, the Back of the Yards commercial area, and the rapidly developing corridors near the Illinois Medical District. No matter where your business is located, South Lawndale Electric provides the same thorough planning, clean workmanship, and honest communication that has earned us lasting relationships with commercial property owners throughout the city. Below is an overview of the commercial electrical services we offer.

• Commercial electrical system design, installation, and ongoing maintenance for businesses of all sizes across the Chicago metro area.
• Office and retail space wiring, power distribution, and lighting layouts tailored to maximize productivity and meet tenant requirements.
• Industrial automation controls and programmable logic systems for manufacturing floors, warehouses, and distribution centers.
• Three-phase power installation, balancing, and troubleshooting for heavy equipment and high-demand commercial operations.
• Emergency backup generator installation, automatic transfer switches, and load-shedding systems to protect against revenue-killing outages.
• Energy-efficient LED lighting upgrades and retrofits for commercial properties, helping business owners reduce utility costs by up to 60 percent.
• Data center and server room electrical infrastructure including redundant power feeds, UPS integration, and precision cooling circuits.
• Restaurant and food service electrical code compliance, including hood ventilation circuits, walk-in cooler wiring, and kitchen equipment hookups.
• Tenant improvement electrical buildouts for leased spaces, coordinating with general contractors and property managers to meet tight move-in deadlines.
• Periodic commercial electrical inspections and preventive maintenance programs designed to catch problems before they cause costly downtime.
• Parking lot and exterior security lighting installation, pole-mounted fixtures, and photocell-controlled systems for commercial plazas and strip malls.
• High-voltage switchgear maintenance, panel upgrades, and bus duct installation for large commercial and light-industrial facilities.
• Electrical service upgrades and transformer coordination for growing businesses that have outgrown their original power capacity.

Commercial reliability is not optional — it is the foundation of every service we provide. A single electrical failure can halt production, send customers elsewhere, spoil inventory, or create safety hazards for your staff. That is why South Lawndale Electric builds every commercial installation with long-term durability in mind, uses only commercial-grade materials and components, and stands behind our work with responsive follow-up service. When you partner with us, you get a team that treats your business's electrical system as seriously as you do, because we know that keeping the lights on and the power flowing is what keeps Chicago's commercial corridors thriving.

Need Electrical Work Done Right?

Getting a free estimate from South Lawndale Electric is simple. Give us a call or fill out our contact form, and we will schedule a convenient time to assess your project. We provide an honest evaluation of the work needed along with a fair, transparent price — no hidden fees and no pressure.

Our service area covers Chicago's South and West Side neighborhoods and beyond. Whether you are in Bridgeport, Back of the Yards, Brighton Park, or anywhere else in the greater Chicago area, our licensed electricians are ready to help with projects of any size.

We are proud to call South Lawndale home and remain committed to serving this community with the quality and integrity it deserves. See what our customers have to say about us on Yelp.