How to Mount a TV and Hide the Wires Behind the Wall

Mounting a TV and hiding the cables behind the wall is a popular home improvement project — and one where the electrical requirements depend entirely on how you plan to power the TV. The cable management part of the project is straightforward low-voltage work. The power part, however, may require an ESA permit and an ESA-licensed electrician if it involves adding a new outlet inside the wall. Understanding which parts of the project are DIY-appropriate and which require a permit keeps the finished installation both clean-looking and code-compliant.

How to Mount a TV and Hide the Wires Behind the Wall

This guide covers the full project: mounting the TV bracket, managing signal cables (HDMI, coax, ethernet), and addressing the power cable — including the correct approach for Ontario homes where electrical work inside walls requires an ESA permit.

What You Can Do Without an Electrician

• Mounting the TV bracket to the wall (locate studs, use appropriate lag screws)
• Running HDMI, coax, ethernet inside the wall using CL2 or CL3 rated cable
• Installing low-voltage mounting brackets and cable pass-through plates
• Using surface-mounted cable raceways or cord covers

What Requires an ESA Permit

Adding a new 120V electrical outlet inside the wall behind the TV, or relocating an existing outlet, requires an ESA permit and work by an ESA-licensed electrician. A standard power cord cannot be routed inside a wall — it is not rated for in-wall use.

Contact Us

Want a clean TV installation with a properly permitted outlet added behind the wall? Our ESA-licensed electricians serve the GTA. Call us at 416-838-9006.

Amir Azimipour

Electrician Since 2008 Journeyman Electrician Designated Master Electrician at EZSMART Corp