19.4 Spas, Hot Tubs, Hydromassage Bathtubs, Fountains & Natural Bodies of Water (Article 680 Parts IV–VII & Article 682)
Key Takeaways
The outlet supplying a self-contained spa or hot tub, a packaged spa equipment assembly, or a field-assembled spa must be GFCI protected (680.44).
A clearly labeled emergency shutoff switch for the recirculation and jet motors must be readily accessible, within sight of the spa, and at least 5 ft from it, except at one-family dwellings (680.41).
Receptacles at indoor spas must be at least 6 ft from the inside walls, and those within 10 ft must be GFCI protected; wall switches must be at least 5 ft away (680.43).
Hydromassage bathtubs must be on an individual branch circuit protected by a readily accessible Class A GFCI, and 125 V receptacles of 30 A or less within 6 ft of the tub must also be GFCI protected (680.71).
Under the 2026 NEC 682.33(A), equipotential planes for equipment over 250 V to ground within 10 ft of natural or artificial bodies of water must extend at least 36 in. in all directions from the equipment.
Outdoor spas and hot tubs (680.42)
A spa or hot tub is a hydromassage pool or tub for recreational or therapeutic use that is not designed to be drained after each use.
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Flexible connections | Listed packaged spa or hot tub equipment assemblies, or self-contained spas, may use LFMC or LFNC not longer than 6 ft external to the spa enclosure, in addition to the length needed inside it; cord-and-plug connections with a cord not longer than 15 ft are permitted where GFCI protected |
| Bonding | Metal-to-metal mounting on a common frame or base is considered bonding for listed packaged units; metal bands or hoops securing wooden staves need not be bonded |
| Perimeter bonding exemption | Equipotential bonding of perimeter surfaces is not required around a listed self-contained aboveground spa installed per the instructions on or above grade, where the top rim is at least 28 in. above all perimeter surfaces within 30 in. horizontally |
| Interior wiring to the spa | Inside a dwelling or associated structure, any Chapter 3 wiring method with an insulated (or sheathed) copper EGC not smaller than 12 AWG may supply the spa's disconnect and loads |
| Underwater luminaires | Per 680.23 |
Emergency shutoff (680.41)
A clearly labeled emergency shutoff or control switch that stops the motors providing power to the recirculation system and jet system must be installed:
- at a point readily accessible to the users;
- not less than 5 ft away from the spa;
- adjacent to and within sight of the spa.
This requirement does not apply to one-family dwellings, but it does apply to multifamily buildings, hotels, health clubs, and other commercial spas.
Indoor spas and hot tubs (680.43)
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Required receptacle | At least one 125 V, 15- or 20-ampere receptacle on a general-purpose branch circuit, not less than 6 ft and not more than 10 ft from the inside wall |
| Receptacle location | All receptacles at least 6 ft horizontally from the inside walls |
| Receptacle GFCI | Receptacles rated 125 V and 30 A or less within 10 ft of the inside walls must be GFCI protected; receptacles supplying the spa itself must be GFCI protected |
| Luminaires over or within 5 ft | At least 7 ft 6 in. above the maximum water level and GFCI protected; at 12 ft or more, GFCI protection is not required; lower luminaires need specific listings and GFCI protection |
| Wall switches | At least 5 ft horizontally from the inside walls |
| Bonding | Metal fittings within or attached to the spa, metal parts of electrical equipment associated with the water circulation, metal raceway and piping within 5 ft of the inside walls (unless separated by a permanent barrier), and electrical devices and controls not listed as double insulated must be bonded together with 8 AWG solid copper |
Protection (680.44)
The outlet(s) that supply a self-contained spa or hot tub, a packaged spa equipment assembly, or a field-assembled spa or hot tub must be protected by a GFCI. A listed self-contained unit or packaged assembly that is marked to indicate integral GFCI protection for all its electrical parts does not need an additional GFCI.
Hydromassage bathtubs (Article 680, Part VII)
A hydromassage bathtub is a permanently installed bathtub with a recirculating pump that is designed to be drained after each use.
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Circuit (680.71) | An individual branch circuit, protected by a readily accessible Class A GFCI |
| Nearby receptacles | All 125 V, single-phase receptacles not exceeding 30 A within 6 ft horizontally of the inside walls of the tub must be GFCI protected |
| Accessibility (680.73) | Electrical equipment must be accessible without damaging the building structure or finish; a cord-and-plug pump must have its receptacle within sight of the access opening and not more than 1 ft from it |
| Bonding (680.74) | All metal piping systems and grounded metal parts in contact with the circulating water, metal parts of electrical devices not listed as double insulated, and the pump motor must be bonded together with 8 AWG solid copper; the bonding jumper connects to the pump motor's bonding terminal and need not extend to a remote panelboard or service |
Fountains (Article 680, Part V)
- Luminaires, submersible pumps, and other submersible equipment over the low-voltage contact limit must be GFCI protected, and the fountain equipment must be listed for submersible use or protected.
- Receptacles: all 15- or 20-ampere, single-phase, 125 V through 250 V receptacles within 20 ft of the fountain edge must be GFCI protected.
- Bonding: all metal piping systems associated with the fountain and metal parts of fountain equipment must be bonded to the EGC of the branch circuit supplying the fountain.
- Signs in or adjacent to fountains must be listed for the location and GFCI protected.
Natural and artificially made bodies of water (Article 682)
Article 682 covers equipment in and around ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, reservoirs, and similar bodies of water, such as aerators and pumps, other than marinas covered by Article 555.
- Equipment must be identified for the location and installed above the electrical datum plane where required.
- GFCI (682.15): outlets supplied by single-phase branch circuits not exceeding 150 V to ground and 60 A must have GFCI protection, and feeders and branch circuits on piers need GFPE.
- Equipotential planes (682.33, 2026): where system voltage exceeds 250 V to ground and equipment is within 10 ft of the water, an equipotential plane must encompass the area around outdoor service equipment or disconnecting means and extend at least 36 in. in all directions from the equipment, covering where a person could stand and touch it.
Worked example: an outdoor hot tub at a Minnesota cabin
A homeowner installs a listed self-contained 240 V hot tub on a concrete pad behind a single-family cabin.
- GFCI: the supply outlet must be GFCI protected, typically with a GFCI breaker in a spa disconnect panel.
- Disconnect: a maintenance disconnecting means readily accessible, within sight of the tub, and at least 5 ft from its inside wall (680.13). The separate 680.41 emergency switch is not required at a one-family dwelling.
- Wiring: from the house panel, a Chapter 3 method with an insulated copper EGC of at least 12 AWG; outdoors, the final connection may be LFNC up to 6 ft.
- Bonding: if the tub rim is at least 28 in. above all surfaces within 30 in., perimeter equipotential bonding is not required; otherwise bond the pad's steel or install a copper ring.
An emergency shutoff switch is required for a hot tub at a health club under 680.41. Where must it be installed?
Inside the main electrical room
Within 2 ft of the tub, under the hinged cover
Readily accessible, within sight, at least 5 ft from the tub
At the building's service disconnect, in a locked room
What protection does 680.71 require for a hydromassage bathtub?
An individual circuit with a readily accessible Class A GFCI
AFCI protection only
A shared 20 A bathroom receptacle circuit
GFPE set at 30 mA at the panelboard
How far must wall switches be from the inside walls of an indoor spa under 680.43(C)?
3 ft
5 ft
6 ft
10 ft
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