5.3 Dwelling Receptacle Outlets, Required Circuits & Lighting Outlets (NEC 210.11, 210.52, 210.63 & 210.70)
Key Takeaways
In dwelling habitable rooms, receptacles must be placed so no point along the floor line of any wall space 2 ft or wider is more than 6 ft from a receptacle outlet (210.52(A)).
Wall countertops 12 in. or wider need receptacles so that no point along the wall line is more than 24 in. from one (210.52(C)(1)).
An island or peninsula does not require a receptacle, but if none is installed, provisions for a future receptacle outlet must be provided (210.52(C)(2)).
Dwellings need at least two 20 A small-appliance circuits, one 20 A laundry circuit, one 20 A bathroom receptacle circuit, and one 20 A garage receptacle circuit (210.11(C)).
Interior stairways with six or more risers between floor levels need a wall-mounted control at each floor level and each landing level with an entryway (210.70(A)(2)).
Why placement rules are tested
DLI's knowledge areas include required outlets and circuits for dwellings. The rules are prescriptive: a question gives room dimensions, and you count receptacles or circuits. Read carefully, because the 2023 and 2026 editions changed the island, peninsula, and below-countertop rules that older study materials still teach.
Required dwelling branch circuits (210.11(C))
| Circuit | Requirement | What else it may serve |
|---|---|---|
| Small-appliance | Two or more 20 A circuits for receptacles in the kitchen, pantry, breakfast room, dining room, or similar area | No other outlets, except an electric clock receptacle and receptacles for supplemental equipment and lighting on gas-fired ranges, ovens, or counter-mounted cooking units |
| Laundry | At least one 20 A circuit for the laundry receptacles required by 210.52(F) | No other outlets |
| Bathroom | At least one 120 V, 20 A circuit for bathroom receptacles | No other outlets, except that a circuit serving a single bathroom may also supply other equipment in that bathroom |
| Garage | At least one 120 V, 20 A circuit for receptacles in attached garages and detached garages with power | No other outlets, except readily accessible outdoor receptacles |
The countertop receptacles in a kitchen must be supplied by at least two small-appliance circuits, and no small-appliance circuit may serve more than one kitchen (210.52(B)(3)). The refrigerator receptacle may be on a small-appliance circuit or on an individual branch circuit rated 15 A or more (210.52(B)(1) Exception No. 2).
General wall receptacles (210.52(A))
In kitchens, family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, sunrooms, bedrooms, recreation rooms, and similar rooms:
- Spacing: no point measured horizontally along the floor line in any wall space may be more than 6 ft from a receptacle outlet in that space, so receptacles can be up to 12 ft apart.
- Wall space includes any space 2 ft or more wide (measured around corners) and unbroken along the floor line by doorways, fireplaces, and fixed cabinets; fixed panels in walls (excluding sliding panels); and fixed room dividers such as freestanding bar-type counters or railings. The 2026 NEC excludes any fixed cabinet from wall space; the 2023 edition excluded only fixed cabinets without countertops or similar work surfaces.
- Floor receptacles count only if within 18 in. of the wall.
- Countertop receptacles required by 210.52(C) do not count toward the wall requirement.
- Not counted at all: receptacles that are part of a luminaire or appliance, inside cabinets, controlled by a wall-mounted control device (except where used in place of a lighting outlet), or more than 5½ ft above the floor.
- 2026 NEC 210.52(A)(5): receptacle outlets may be installed on the walls of cabinets that support a countertop or work surface, such as a bar-type counter, only if they are at least 24 in. below the countertop surface.
Countertops and work surfaces (210.52(C))
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Wall countertops (C)(1) | A receptacle at each wall counter space 12 in. or wider; no point along the wall line more than 24 in. from a receptacle |
| Behind a sink or range | Space behind a range, counter-mounted cooking unit, or sink is treated as described in the figure for 210.52(C)(1); a receptacle is not required directly behind them |
| Islands and peninsulas (C)(2) | A receptacle is not required; if none is installed, provisions for a future receptacle outlet must be provided at the island or peninsula |
| Location (C)(3) | On or above the countertop, not more than 20 in. above it, or in the countertop using receptacle outlet assemblies listed for countertop use |
| Not counted | Receptacles made not readily accessible by fastened-in-place appliances, appliance garages, sinks, or rangetops |
| 2026 NEC (C)(4) | Receptacle outlets are not permitted within 24 in. below the countertop surface, which keeps appliance cords from hanging off islands and peninsulas where children can pull them |
Receptacles may not be installed face up in a countertop or work surface unless listed for that application, and the 2026 NEC also prohibits face-up receptacles in laundry areas (Article 406). The 2026 Article 100 definitions distinguish a countertop, which includes food and beverage preparation or serving, from a work surface, which is intended for dry tasks.
Other required receptacle locations
| Location | Rule |
|---|---|
| Bathrooms (210.52(D)) | At least one receptacle within 3 ft of the outside edge of each basin, on an adjacent wall or partition, on the countertop, or on the side or face of the basin cabinet not more than 12 in. below the countertop; one receptacle between two basins may serve both |
| Outdoors (210.52(E)) | One- and two-family dwellings: one at the front and one at the back, readily accessible from grade and not more than 6½ ft above grade; at-grade multifamily units with an outside entrance: at least one; balconies, decks, and porches accessible from inside: at least one, not more than 6½ ft above the walking surface |
| Laundry (210.52(F)) | At least one receptacle in areas designated for laundry equipment |
| Garages (210.52(G)) | At least one receptacle in each vehicle bay, not more than 5½ ft above the floor; one in each accessory building with power and in each separate unfinished portion of a basement |
| Hallways (210.52(H)) | At least one receptacle in a hallway 10 ft or more long, measured along the centerline without passing through a doorway |
| Foyers (210.52(I)) | Foyers over 60 ft² that are not part of a hallway: a receptacle in each wall space 3 ft or more wide |
| HVAC servicing (210.63(A)) | A 125 V, 15 A or 20 A receptacle within 25 ft of HVAC equipment, on the same level, not on the load side of the equipment disconnect; the 2026 NEC 422.12 allows this receptacle to be supplied from a dedicated furnace circuit |
Lighting outlets (210.70(A))
- Habitable rooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and bathrooms: at least one lighting outlet controlled by a listed wall-mounted control device near the entrance. A 2026 exception lets the laundry lighting outlet be outside a laundry closet if it adequately illuminates the laundry equipment. In rooms other than kitchens and bathrooms, a switched receptacle may replace the lighting outlet. Occupancy sensors are allowed if added to a wall control or installed at the usual switch location with a manual override.
- Hallways, stairways, attached garages, and detached garages with power: at least one wall-controlled lighting outlet.
- Outdoor entrances: a wall-controlled lighting outlet on the exterior side of each outdoor entrance or exit with grade-level access, including garages with power. A garage vehicle door is not an outdoor entrance for this rule.
- Stairways: where the stairway between floor levels has six or more risers, a wall-mounted control at each floor level and each landing level that includes an entryway. Dimmers are not allowed on these controls unless they provide full-range dimming from every location.
- Storage and equipment spaces (210.70(C)): attics, underfloor spaces, utility rooms, and basements used for storage or containing equipment requiring servicing need a lighting outlet at or near the equipment, with a point of control at the usual entrance.
Worked example: a living room
A living room wall space runs 10 ft from a doorway to a corner and continues 12 ft along the next wall to a fireplace. Because wall space is measured around corners, this is one continuous 22 ft wall space. On the far side of the fireplace is a 4 ft space ending at a doorway, and between two doors is a 1 ft 6 in. space.
- 22 ft space: no point may be more than 6 ft from a receptacle, so each receptacle covers 12 ft. Place one 6 ft from the doorway (covering 0 to 12 ft) and one at 18 ft (covering 12 to 24 ft): two receptacles.
- 4 ft space: the fireplace breaks the wall, so this is a separate wall space 2 ft or wider: one receptacle.
- 1 ft 6 in. space: less than 2 ft, so it is not a wall space: none.
The room needs at least three receptacle outlets, all on AFCI-protected circuits.
A new dwelling kitchen has a 3 ft by 6 ft island with no receptacle installed in or on it. What does the 2026 NEC require?
One receptacle for the first 9 ft² and one for each additional 18 ft²
Two receptacles on the side of the island cabinet, 12 in. below the countertop
Provisions at the island for a future receptacle outlet to serve the countertop
Nothing, because islands are exempt from all receptacle requirements
Which branch circuit arrangement meets 210.11(C)(3) for dwelling bathroom receptacles?
One 20 A circuit serving receptacles in three bathrooms and no other outlets
One 15 A circuit serving all bathroom receptacles and bedroom lighting
One 20 A circuit serving the receptacles in two bathrooms plus the lights in both
The bathroom receptacle may be on a small-appliance circuit
An interior stairway between the first floor and the basement has seven risers, with an entryway at each floor level. What control does 210.70(A)(2) require for the stairway lighting?
One switch at the top of the stairs only
A single wall switch at the bottom of the stairs only
A dimmer at the top and a switch at the bottom, regardless of dimming range
A wall-mounted control at each floor level, such as a pair of 3-way switches
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.