Should I add a 30A outlet for my RV in a New Brunswick driveway?

Adding a 30A RV outlet to your driveway is absolutely worth considering, and it's a very common request for New Brunswick homeowners — but it does require a licensed electrician and a TSANB permit.

A dedicated 30A RV outlet (NEMA TT-30R) lets you run your RV's air conditioning, fridge, and other systems without running an extension cord through a window or draining your coach batteries. It also protects your RV's electrical system from the kind of voltage drop you'd get from a standard 15A household outlet. If you camp locally, store your RV at home between trips, or host family with RVs, this is a genuinely useful upgrade.

What's Involved in the Installation

The electrician will run a dedicated 20 or 30A circuit from your main panel to the driveway location. This typically means a weatherproof outdoor box, a GFCI-protected TT-30R receptacle, and conduit or direct-burial cable rated for outdoor and underground use. In New Brunswick, frost depth can reach 1.2m to 1.5m, so any underground portion of the run needs to be buried deep enough to avoid frost heave — your electrician will know the local requirements. The receptacle itself must be in a weatherproof, in-use cover to handle our Maritime rain and ice.

If your panel is already near capacity (common in older NB homes with 100A service), the electrician will assess whether you have room for the new circuit. If not, a panel upgrade may be needed before adding the outlet.

Costs and Permits in New Brunswick

A dedicated 30A outdoor circuit typically runs $300–$600 in the New Brunswick market, assuming your panel has capacity and the run isn't excessively long. If trenching is required across a long driveway, costs can climb higher. A TSANB permit is required for this work — it's a new circuit, which always triggers the permit and inspection process. Your electrician pulls the permit, completes the work, and a TSANB inspector signs off before you use the outlet.

Safety Notes

Outdoor electrical work done without permits and proper weatherproofing is a real hazard — water intrusion into a non-rated box or a missing GFCI can cause electrocution or fire. GFCI protection is required for outdoor receptacles under the Canadian Electrical Code, so make sure your electrician includes it. Don't skip the permit to save a few dollars; an unpermitted outlet can also cause problems with your home insurance if something goes wrong.

If you're thinking ahead, some homeowners also add a 50A outlet (NEMA 14-50) at the same time — it costs a bit more but future-proofs the installation for larger RVs or even EV charging down the road.

New Brunswick Electrical can match you with a local licensed electrician to assess your panel and give you a free estimate on the installation. It's a straightforward project for an experienced electrician and a great addition to any NB property.