When performing a complete electrical service upgrade—such as replacing an old fuse box or outdated panel with a modern breaker panel—local building authorities and the National Electrical Code (NEC) generally require that any new or modified branch circuits, as well as circuits extended into newly renovated areas, must be brought up to current code standards, which includes installing AFCI protection. However, existing unmodified branch circuits retained during a simple panel swap may sometimes fall under local jurisdiction grandfather clauses, though upgrading all circuits to AFCI is heavily encouraged for safety. You can troubleshoot upgrade compliance safely by consulting your local municipal electrical inspector. You can verify that your installation is correct when having a licensed electrician install code-compliant breakers guarantees full safety approval.
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