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NEC 2020 Changes
State Adoptions
2020 NEC Adoption in Effect
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Missouri
2020 NEC Adoption Underway (2024)
- Indiana
- Kentucky
What You Need to Know
Whether you’re doing a home service upgrade, remodeling or wiring for a new home, you should always research what the NEC requires before starting a new installation. Below are several significant required electrical safety items that you should review before starting any electrical wiring project. Arc-fault circuit interrupters also remain an important safety item for your home and can be considered part of code compliance.
Major 2020 NEC Changes
GFCIs for Dwellings
Ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection is required for all 125-volt to 250-volt receptacles within 6 feet of sinks. Notable spaces include:
- Laundry areas
- Kitchens
- Unfinished basements
- Finished basements
- Outdoor outlets rated 150 volts to ground or less and up to 50 amps
This applies to:
- Ranges within 6 feet of sinks
- Electric dryers
- Dishwashers
- Sump pumps
- Pool motors
- Equipment that requires service, including heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) units and refrigeration units
GFCIs for Nondwellings
GFCI protection is also required in nondwellings. Notable spaces include:
- Indoor damp and wet locations
- Permanent fixtures for cooking
- Permanent provisions for food preparation
- Accessory buildings
This applies to:
- Dishwashers
- Drinking fountains
- Sump pumps
- Pool motors
- Equipment that requires service, including HVAC and refrigeration units
- Required for all single- and two-family dwellings
- Must function from outside dwellings
- Must be readily accessible
- Applies to generators and energy storage systems
- Must be marked with one of the following:
- Emergency Disconnect, Service Disconnect
- Emergency Disconnect, Meter Disconnect, Not Service Equipment
- Emergency Disconnect, Not Service Equipment
- Required for service lines to dwelling units (New Article 242)
- Must be part of service equipment or adjacent
- May be located at each level of downstream distribution
Now applies to:
- Line-side and load-side services
- Replacements and service upgrades
- Requires solar panels on new constructions*
- Requires all energy storage units to have outdoor disconnects
*The state of California started requiring solar photovoltaic systems for newly constructed healthcare facilities on Jan. 1, 2020.
Key Changes for 2023 NEC
- NEC 2023 removes the 6-foot rule for electric stoves. GFCI protection is required for 250-volt appliances — HVAC units, dryers, ranges, ovens — regardless of location.
- NEC 2023 expands surge protection from one or two families to multi-family.
Products Mentioned in This Update
NEC 2020 New Articles
Article 242 Overvoltage Protection combines Articles 280 and 285 and addresses surge-protection requirements, devices and arresters.
Article 337 Type P Cable addresses 600-volt Type P cables used in industrial and hazardous areas and specifications.
Article 311 Medium-Voltage (MV) Conductors and Cable expands on deleted Article 328 and addresses MV conductors and cables, their use, and specifications.
Article 800 General Requirements for Communications Systems consolidates the previous contents of 2017 NEC Chapter 8 into one article and addresses requirements for communication circuits, including television- and radio-distribution antennae and network-powered broadband systems.
NEC 2020 removes several articles present in NEC 2017 to improve clarity and limit redundancies. These are:
- Article 280 Surge-Protection Devices (SPDs) Over 1,000 Volts
- Article 285 SPDs 1,000 Volts or Less
- Article 328 MV Cable: Type MV
- Article 553 Floating Buildings
When to Expect NEC Updates
Frequently Asked Questions
The information on this page is provided only for general reference. The NFPA develops and publishes the NEC. Lowe’s doesn’t provide information on how changes to the NEC might affect your work. Please consult with local code authorities or other licensed professionals concerning specific questions relating to the NEC or the changes in the 2020 or 2023 NEC.
California Energy Commission, “2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards.” 2018.
National Fire Protection Association, “Power Aid: GFCI Protection, Emergency Power Disconnects, and much more.” 2019.
National Fire Protection Association, “NEC Enforcement.” 2019
Reproduced from the NFPA website, © NFPA 2020.