TV mounting · Essex, Morris, Union
TV mounting in Essex, Morris and Union County, NJ: the outlet and hidden wiring
The electrician's part of TV mounting is the power: a recessed outlet behind the TV and wiring the code allows inside the wall. A new outlet runs $150 to $350 (HomeGuide). Whether MDL also hangs the bracket is confirmed when you call.
The short answer
In TV mounting, the electrician's job is the power behind the TV.
A licensed electrician puts a recessed outlet behind the TV and runs power the code allows inside the wall. Published prices put a new outlet at $150 to $350 (HomeGuide) and electrical prep at $75 to $300 (Angi). See the price table. These are market ranges, not an MDL quote.
What the code does not allow: pushing the TV's own power cord through the drywall. The National Electrical Code keeps cords out of walls, and New Jersey enforces its 2023 edition (why, below).
Many people who search for TV mounting want someone to hang the bracket. That part is not electrical work. MDL Electric holds a New Jersey electrical contractor license (34EI01606200) and works from 4 Harrison Avenue in West Orange across Essex, Morris and Union County, from Montclair and Livingston to Morristown and Summit. Outlets and dedicated circuits are on its list of electrical services. Whether MDL also hangs the bracket and the TV is confirmed when you call 973.809.2339.
Where the TV goesA plain wall, a corner, or over a fireplace.
The wallDrywall, plaster, brick or stone.
The nearest outletBelow the TV spot on the same wall, somewhere else, or none.
What plugs inThe TV alone, or a soundbar, streaming box, game console or cable box too.
Handyman or electrician
Which part of TV mounting needs an electrician.
Hanging a bracket on studs is carpentry. Adding an outlet or a circuit is electrical work. Most jobs have some of each, so here is the split.
Scroll sideways to see the whole table.
| Part of the job | Who usually does it | What the rules say |
|---|---|---|
| Bracket and TV on the wall | A handyman, a TV installer or you | Not electrical work. Samsung says the mount goes into a stud, or into drywall anchors only if the wall can hold the weight. Whether MDL hangs it is confirmed when you call. |
| Plug-in in-wall power kit | You or any installer | Legrand sells its CMK70 kit as plug and play, with "no electrician or hard-wiring required". Follow the kit's own instructions. |
| New outlet behind the TV | A licensed electrician | A new outlet is minor work: the town is told before work starts (5:23-2.17A). Only licensed persons do electrical work, except a single-family homeowner on his or her own home (5:23-2.15). |
| Outlet over a fireplace | A licensed electrician | The same rules as any new outlet. Brick, stone and heat make it harder (see below). |
| New circuit for a home theater | A licensed electrician | New wiring from the panel. A full panel may need work first: see panel upgrades. |
| Coax, network or phone cable in the wall | Anyone; it can be done at the same visit | Communications wiring in a one- or two-family home is ordinary maintenance with no permit, if no fire-rated wall is opened (5:23-2.7(c)3.iii). The rule does not name HDMI, so ask the town. |
| An old outlet swapped for a like one | An electrician, or a homeowner on his or her own home | Ordinary maintenance, with no permit (5:23-2.7(c)3.i). |
Cost
What TV mounting and the wiring behind it cost.
Published national ranges, read October 29, 2026. A bracket on drywall with the outlet already there sits at the low end. A new outlet, hidden power and brick sit at the high end. Market ranges, not MDL prices.
Scroll sideways to see the whole table.
| What | Market range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Professional TV mounting, average | $153 to $353 | Angi |
| Mount and labor | $165 to $900; $150 to $400 for labor alone | HomeGuide |
| Basic mounting, national average | $100 to $130 | Thumbtack |
| A new electrical outlet | $150 to $350 | HomeGuide |
| Electrical prep: new outlet, running cables | $75 to $300 | Angi |
| Concealed wiring: power and HDMI inside the wall | $75 to $300 | Angi |
| An electrician, for power or wiring | $65 to $150 per hour | Angi |
| Fireplace or masonry mounting | $100 to $300 extra (Angi); $179 to $249 over a fireplace with wires hidden (Thumbtack example) | Angi; Thumbtack |
- The wall changes the labor. HomeGuide says brick, stone and concrete walls are much harder and costlier to work with than drywall.HomeGuide
- Hidden wires cost extra. HomeGuide says a basic job attaches the TV to the wall without hiding any wires, and A/V wires behind the wall cost extra. Thumbtack's examples: $119 for a mount with an external cord cover, $139 with the wires hidden inside the wall.HomeGuide; Thumbtack
- Outlets and wiring take time. HomeGuide says hiding wires, installing new outlets or mounting a TV on a high wall may take over 4 hours.HomeGuide
- The permit is a separate cost. A new outlet is minor work in New Jersey, so the town's permit fee is added to the installer's price.N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.17A
The code
Why the TV's power cord cannot go inside the wall.
This rule is why the outlet behind a TV is electrician's work.
- The rule, NEC 400.12. Flexible cords, cord sets and power supply cords may not be used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a building, run through holes in walls, ceilings or floors, run through doorways or windows, attached to building surfaces, or concealed by walls, floors or ceilings. A TV's power cord is a power supply cord.NEC 400.12 text (2017), ElectricalLicenseRenewal
- In NFPA's own words. NFPA's guidance, quoted by the Home Ventilating Institute in November 2024: "400.12 prohibits the use of flexible cords and flexible power supply cables as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure or where concealed behind building walls, floors, or ceilings." HVI notes the same section in the 2017, 2020 and 2023 editions.HVI, NEC Fact Sheet Concerning Flexible Power Supply Cords
- New Jersey enforces it. The state adopts the National Electrical Code 2023 as its electrical subcode.N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.16
- Extension cords are no answer. The Electrical Safety Foundation says roughly 3,300 home fires start in extension cords each year, killing 50 people and injuring 270. It says never to run them through walls or use them in place of permanent wiring.ESFi
- Legal way 1: a listed in-wall kit. A plug-in kit carries power through the wall in its own harness and plugs into an outlet below. Legrand's CMK70 includes two power grommets with a 54-inch harness and a 6-foot power cord.Legrand
- Legal way 2: a new outlet behind the TV. In-wall cable runs from a circuit to a new box behind the TV. The TV plugs in there, and nothing but the outlet is in the wall. This is the electrician's job (how it is done).
The outlet behind the TV
How a recessed outlet behind a TV goes in.
The order matters: the TV height comes first, the box second.
01
Set the TV height
Thumbtack's guide cites Bob Vila: about 42 inches on-center for seated viewing. A fireplace or alcove changes that.
02
Find the power
An outlet below on the same wall, or a new circuit from the panel if there is none.
03
Cut in a recessed box
Plugs and connectors stay inside the box, not past the wall, so the TV can sit flush (Arlington).
04
Fish, connect, test
Cable is fished inside the wall. The town is told first, because it is minor work (5:23-2.17A).
- Power on one side, cables on the other. Arlington's two-gang recessed TV box puts power in one side and low voltage in the other, for Class 2 wiring of satellite or cable TV, speakers and more.Arlington TVBU505 spec sheet
- Fishing wire counts as minor work. New Jersey treats fishing as minor work whatever the number of outlets, as long as the existing circuits and panel can carry the load.N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.17A
- Inspection within three business days. The town inspects minor work within three business days of the request, or at another time the owner agrees to.N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.17A
- A big setup may want its own circuit. Ask what else is on the circuit that will feed the new outlet. If the panel has no room for a new one, see panel upgrades.
HDMI and low voltage
Hiding HDMI, coax and network cables in the wall.
Low-voltage cables follow different rules from power. They can go in the wall, but they should not share a box with it.
- Low voltage can go in the wall. Legrand describes its kit as letting you run low-voltage cables such as HDMI and other component cabling in the wall and out of sight.Legrand
- Kept apart from power. A combination TV box has a divider, with power in one side and low voltage in the other.Arlington
- No permit for communications wiring. In a one- or two-family home, New Jersey counts installing communications wiring as ordinary maintenance if no fire-rated wall is opened. Its examples are telephone, radio antenna, coaxial cable TV and data wiring.N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7(c)3.iii; 5:23-4.3A
- A fire-rated wall changes that. Communications wiring that goes through a fire-resistance rated wall or ceiling is minor work instead.N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.17A
- Plan for the next cable. Ask whether the cables will run in a conduit, so a new HDMI cable can be pulled later without opening the wall.
Over a fireplace
A TV and an outlet over a fireplace.
Heat decides whether the TV belongs there. Masonry decides how the power gets there.
- Heat first. Samsung's support page says it does not recommend mounting a TV over a fireplace, that Samsung TVs should never exceed 104°F, and to light a fire and check the temperature first.Samsung
- Ask the TV maker. Thumbtack's guide says to consult the manufacturer about the distance from heat sources, and suggests a tilting or full-motion mount so the TV can tilt down.Thumbtack
- Masonry costs more. Angi lists fireplace or masonry mounting at $100 to $300 extra. Best Buy says its agents bring different tools to fix a mount to brick than to drywall.Angi; Best Buy
- The outlet is the electrician's part. Before the bracket goes up, ask how the power will reach the TV: inside the wall, or on the surface in a raceway or conduit on brick or stone.
- Brick and stone. HomeGuide says brick, stone and concrete walls are much harder and costlier to work with than drywall.HomeGuide
- Hidden wires over a fireplace. Thumbtack's example price for a TV over a fireplace with the wires hidden is $179 to $249, against $119 for a basic mount.Thumbtack
- The same permit rules apply. A new outlet over the mantel is minor work like any other new outlet.N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.17A
A new TV for the holidays
Book the outlet before the TV comes home.
If a new TV is coming after Black Friday or for the holidays, get the outlet in first. Then the TV goes up once, with nothing hanging below it.
- Tip-overs are common. CPSC says about 17,800 people a year were treated in emergency rooms for TV, furniture and appliance tip-overs (2020 to 2022 average).CPSC, February 2024
- Nearly half the deaths involved a TV. Of the 217 tip-over deaths CPSC counted from 2013 through July 2023, 47 percent involved a television.CPSC
- Anchor it. CPSC urges anchoring TVs and furniture to the wall. Where that is not possible, it says to use a sturdy, low base, push the TV back and keep cords out of reach.CPSC
- Check the mount fits. Thumbtack says most wall mounts follow the VESA standards, but a few TV brands do not. Check the pattern and weight before the TV arrives.Thumbtack
- Tell MDL what plugs in. The TV, a soundbar, a console and a streaming box all need power at the outlet, and their cables need a path.
New Jersey rules
When TV wiring needs a permit in New Jersey.
From the state Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23-2, NJ Department of Community Affairs (published through August 17, 2026), read October 29, 2026. The state code does not name TVs. Your town's construction office enforces it and decides edge cases.
Scroll sideways to see the whole table.
| Job | What the code says | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Swap an outlet for a like one | Ordinary electrical maintenance includes "the replacement of any receptacle, switch, or lighting fixture, or part thereof ... with a like or similar item": no permit. | 5:23-2.7(c)3.i |
| A new outlet behind the TV | In one- and two-family homes, minor work includes installing five or fewer outlets where the existing circuits and panel can carry the load, and fishing wire whatever the number. The town is told before work starts; the permit application follows within five business days. | 5:23-2.17A |
| Coax, phone or data cable | Installing communications wiring in a Class 3 structure (which includes one- and two-family homes) is ordinary maintenance, unless it goes through a fire-rated assembly. | 5:23-2.7(c)3.iii; 4.3A(d) |
| Who may do the wiring | Electrical work only by persons licensed to do it, except a single-family homeowner on his or her own home. | 5:23-2.15 |
| The standard for the work | New Jersey adopts the National Electrical Code 2023 as its electrical subcode, including the cord rules in 400.12. | 5:23-3.16 |
Where MDL works
Essex, Morris and Union County, from a West Orange base.
MDL works from 4 Harrison Avenue in West Orange. These are the towns in the three counties that have their own MDL service-area page. Whatever the town, start with a call: tell MDL the town, the wall and where the nearest outlet is, and MDL will tell you which parts of the job it handles.
Morris County
Union County
TV wiring
Call to ask which parts of your TV job MDL handles.
Call or send the form with your town, where the TV goes, the wall it goes on, where the nearest outlet is, and what else plugs in. Say whether you also need the bracket hung.
TV mounting questions
Straight answers on cost, cords, outlets and fireplaces.
Rules come from the National Electrical Code and the New Jersey code, mounting advice from the manufacturers, prices from published market ranges, not an MDL quote.
How much does TV mounting usually cost?
Published national ranges, not MDL prices: Angi (updated September 28, 2026) puts professional TV mounting at $153 to $353 on average. HomeGuide puts the mount and labor at $165 to $900, or $150 to $400 for labor alone. Thumbtack lists a national average of $100 to $130. Hidden wires, brick or stone, and a new outlet all add to the price.
How much does it cost to add an outlet behind a TV?
HomeGuide puts a new electrical outlet at $150 to $350. Angi lists electrical prep, meaning a new outlet and running cables, at $75 to $300, and an electrician at $65 to $150 an hour. Thumbtack's examples include $65 for an additional outlet. These are published market ranges, not an MDL quote, and the town's permit fee is extra.
Can you run a TV power cord inside the wall?
No. Section 400.12 of the National Electrical Code says flexible cords, cord sets and power supply cords may not be run through holes in walls or concealed by walls, floors or ceilings. A TV's power cord is a power supply cord. New Jersey enforces the 2023 edition of the code. The legal ways are a listed in-wall power kit, used as its maker says, or a new outlet behind the TV.
Do I need an electrician to hide TV wires in the wall?
Not always. HDMI and other low-voltage cables can run inside the wall, and plug-in power kits are sold for homeowners: Legrand says its CMK70 kit needs no electrician or hard-wiring. A new hard-wired outlet behind the TV is different. In New Jersey that is minor work with a permit, done by a licensed electrician or by a homeowner on his or her own single-family home.
Do I need a permit to add an outlet behind my TV in New Jersey?
Usually, yes. Replacing an outlet with a like one is ordinary maintenance, with no permit (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7). A new outlet is not. Five or fewer new outlets on circuits that can carry the load, or wire fished through finished walls, is minor work (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.17A). The town is told before work starts, the permit application follows within five business days, and the town decides edge cases.
Can a TV be mounted above a fireplace?
Sometimes, and heat is the question. Samsung's support page says it does not recommend a TV over a fireplace, that Samsung TVs should never exceed 104°F, and to light a fire and check the temperature first. Angi lists fireplace or masonry mounting at $100 to $300 extra. Power has to reach the TV too, which is harder on brick or stone than on drywall.
Can I mount my TV myself?
Often, yes. Samsung's support page says the mount should go into a stud, or into drywall anchors only if the wall can hold the TV's weight. A homeowner may also do electrical work on his or her own single-family home in New Jersey (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.15), but the permit and inspection still apply. Pushing the TV's own cord through the wall is not allowed for anyone.
Who installs TVs for Best Buy?
Best Buy's TV mounting page says its Geek Squad agents do the mounting. Home Depot offers TV mounting through its Pro Referral service. If the job also needs a new hard-wired outlet behind the TV, that part is electrical work. In New Jersey it is done by a licensed electrician, or by the homeowner on a single-family home.
How high should a TV be mounted?
Thumbtack's guide cites Bob Vila: about 42 inches on-center for standard seated viewing, with a fireplace or alcove setting the height where there is one. Settle the TV height first. Then the recessed outlet goes where the TV will hide it.
Can you get a TV mount for any TV?
Mostly. Thumbtack says most wall mounts follow the VESA standards, so most mounts fit most TVs, but a few brands do not. Check the TV's mounting pattern and weight against the mount's rating before anything goes on the wall.
How long does TV mounting take?
Thumbtack says one to two hours, or more with a full home theater. HomeGuide says hiding wires, installing new outlets or mounting a TV on a high wall may take over 4 hours.
What is a recessed TV outlet?
A box set into the wall so the plugs and connectors stay inside it instead of sticking out past the wall. Arlington's two-gang TV box, for example, puts power in one side and low-voltage wiring in the other, so the TV can sit flush. It adds a new receptacle, so it is electrical work.
Can I run an extension cord to my wall-mounted TV?
Not through the wall. The Electrical Safety Foundation says roughly 3,300 home fires start in extension cords each year, killing 50 people and injuring 270. It says never to run extension cords through walls and never to use them in place of permanent wiring. A TV that needs power where there is none needs an outlet.
Why mount or anchor a TV at all?
Because TVs tip over. Of the 217 tip-over deaths CPSC counted from 2013 through July 2023, 47 percent involved a television. CPSC urges anchoring TVs and furniture to the wall. Where that is not possible, it says to use a sturdy, low base, push the TV back and keep cords out of reach.
Does MDL mount the TV and the bracket?
Call to confirm. MDL Electric holds a New Jersey electrical contractor license (34EI01606200), and outlets and dedicated circuits are on its list of electrical services. Whether MDL also hangs the bracket and the TV, mounts on brick or stone, and what it charges are confirmed when you call 973.809.2339.
Sources
Where the rules, numbers and advice on this page come from.
All read October 29, 2026.
- NEC 400.12, Uses Not Permitted, 2014 and 2017 code language as published by ElectricalLicenseRenewal.com: power supply cords, holes in walls, concealed by walls.
- Home Ventilating Institute, NEC Fact Sheet Concerning Flexible Power Supply Cords (November 21, 2024): NFPA's interpretation of 400.10 and 400.12 in the 2017, 2020 and 2023 editions.
- N.J.A.C. 5:23-2, Uniform Construction Code, administration and enforcement, NJ Department of Community Affairs (published through August 17, 2026): ordinary maintenance, licensed work, minor work, inspections.
- N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.16, electrical subcode: New Jersey adopts the National Electrical Code 2023. N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.3A: Class 3 structures include Group R-3 and R-5 homes.
- Angi, How Much Does It Cost to Mount a TV? (updated September 28, 2026): mounting, electrical prep, concealed wiring, fireplace and electrician rates.
- HomeGuide, How Much Does a TV Mount Installation Cost? (updated September 8, 2025): mount and labor, new outlet, wall materials, time.
- Thumbtack, TV wall mount installers near Hackensack, NJ: cost guide examples, mounting height, fireplaces, VESA, time.
- Legrand (Wiremold) CMK70 Flat Screen TV Cord and Cable Power Kit: plug-in kit contents, low-voltage cables in the wall.
- Arlington, Recessed Power/Low Voltage TV Box spec sheet (TVBU505, TVBU507): recessed box, power and low voltage sides.
- Samsung support, How to wall mount your Samsung TV: studs and anchors, fireplace heat, 104°F.
- Electrical Safety Foundation (ESFi), Use Extension Cords Properly: 3,300 home fires a year, cords through walls.
- CPSC, TV and furniture tip-over release (February 2024): 17,800 injuries a year, 217 deaths, 47 percent involving a TV, anchoring advice.
- Best Buy, TV Mounting and Installation (Geek Squad, brick and fireplace mounts) and Home Depot, TV Mounting by Pro Referral.
- Photos: Pexels, TV mounted over a wooden console (yair elgazar), HDMI cable (Srattha Nualsate), living room with a TV over the fireplace (Curtis Adams) and outlet on a brick wall (Benjamin Farren), all Pexels License. Not MDL jobs.
Next steps
Related services
Electrical services
The full list of MDL's electrical work: outlets, switches, dedicated circuits, panels and more.
Learn moreRecessed lighting installation
Ceiling lights for the same room, often wired while the TV wall is open.
Learn morePanel upgrades
When a new circuit for a home theater needs room the panel does not have.
Learn moreElectrical repair
An outlet that is dead, warm or loose, or a breaker that trips when the TV and console come on.
Learn moreRequest service
Send MDL the service, town, and best callback number.
Use the form for planned service or call for urgent electrical, heating, or cooling help.