- Gas and electric have to be disconnected by PG&E before any demolition starts, and most Bay Area cities want proof of that for the demolition permit.
- A full gas service removal is not the same as stopping service. PG&E asks for at least 30 days of notice and handles it as a project.
- Start this the same week you decide to demolish. It is usually the slowest step of the whole job.
On most Bay Area demolition projects, the excavator is ready long before the utility paperwork is. The step that holds everything up is usually the same one: getting PG&E to disconnect the gas and electric service and put it in writing. This guide explains what to ask for, how long it takes and how it fits with your demolition permit.
It applies to a full house demolition, a garage with power or gas, a small building or an old mobile home. PG&E's process and timing can change, so confirm the current steps with PG&E before you schedule anything around them.
Why the disconnect has to come first
PG&E's own guidance to contractors is direct: do not begin the job until the gas and electric service have been shut off, the gas line and the electric service drop have been disconnected, and the meters have been removed. Hitting a live gas line with an excavator is one of the most dangerous things that can happen on a demolition site.
Cities back this up. Santa Clara County asks for a PG&E disconnect letter for the structure being demolished. Daly City uses a pre-demolition checklist signed by PG&E. Walnut Creek sends applicants to PG&E for a service disconnect sign-off, and Pleasanton asks for a PG&E letter showing that gas and electric have been disconnected. The form changes from city to city, but the idea is the same.
Stopping service is not the same as removing it
This is an easy mistake to make. There are two very different requests:
- Stop service and remove the meter. You call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000, and PG&E says it can do this with about four days of notice. It is the right request when you are closing an account, but the gas line is still connected in the street.
- Remove the gas service. The line is cut off at the source, so nothing can reach the building. This is what a demolition needs, and PG&E handles it as a project through its Your Projects portal, with a representative assigned to you or your contractor.
If you ask only for the first one, you can lose weeks when the city or your contractor finds out the line is still live.
How the gas service removal works
PG&E breaks the work into five stages:
- Intake: you or your contractor submit the request online.
- Design: PG&E plans how the service will be cut off.
- Permits and scheduling: PG&E lines up what it needs to work at the site, which can include work in the street.
- Meter removal and cut off: the meter comes out and the line is cut off at the source.
- Restoration: the area PG&E opened is put back.
PG&E asks for at least 30 days of notice before you need the gas removed, and the review of the application can take longer on its own. Once the service is cut off, PG&E sends a confirmation letter. That letter is usually what the city wants to see.
What about the electric service?
The electric side has its own disconnect: PG&E removes the meter and the service drop, the line from the pole to the building. Request it together with the gas so a single schedule covers both.
Which comes first, PG&E or the permit?
It depends on your city, and this is where projects get stuck. PG&E asks for approved city paperwork when you apply, while many cities want PG&E's confirmation before they issue the demolition permit. The way through is simple:
- Open the demolition application with the city and ask exactly what they need from PG&E and at what point.
- Submit the PG&E request as soon as you have what PG&E asks for.
- Keep the other steps moving at the same time, such as the asbestos survey and the air district notice.
The full sequence is in our Bay Area demolition permit guide.
What does the disconnect cost?
PG&E decides this case by case, so ask for the amount in writing. In PG&E filings, removing service lines that have been in place for more than ten years on a building being demolished has not been charged to the customer, while newer service lines and other facilities can be. Confirm how that applies to your property before you count on it.
Partial demolition needs extra care
If part of the building stays, part of the service may need to stay too. PG&E specifically warns about partial demolitions, where gas or electric may still reach a portion of the property. Before work starts, confirm which lines are dead and which are live, and mark them. See how we approached a partial demolition in Danville.
Other things to line up
- Not every city is on PG&E for everything. Palo Alto, for example, runs its own utilities and has its own disconnection application.
- Water and sewer are separate. The water provider shuts off or removes the meter, and the sewer line is capped under a separate permit.
- Call 811 before digging. California law requires at least two working days of notice before excavation, so underground lines can be marked.
- Solar panels or a battery? Tell PG&E and your contractor up front, because those systems can still produce power after the utility is off.
Should you do it yourself?
You can apply as the property owner, but the back and forth takes time, and the request has to match what the city expects. A licensed demolition contractor does this every week and knows what each city asks for. Learn more about our house demolition service, or request a free on-site estimate below and we will tell you what your property needs.
Frequently asked questions
How long does PG&E take to disconnect service for a demolition?
For a full gas service removal, PG&E asks for at least 30 days of notice, and the application review can take longer. Stopping service and removing only the meter can be done with about four days of notice, but that does not cut off the line for a demolition.
Do I need a PG&E letter for a demolition permit?
Most Bay Area cities want proof that gas and electric are disconnected, often a PG&E letter or a signed checklist. Ask your building department what form it accepts.
Does PG&E charge to disconnect service for a demolition?
It depends on the property. In PG&E filings, service lines in place for more than ten years on a building being demolished have not been charged to the customer, while newer lines and other facilities can be. Ask PG&E for the amount in writing.
Can I start demolition after the meter is removed?
No. The meter being gone does not mean the line is dead. Demolition should start only after PG&E confirms that the gas and electric service are disconnected.
