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210.8(F) Dwelling Unit Outdoor Outlets

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Change Summary

  • The NEC has included Garages with below grade floors, accessory buildings and boathouses in this article that relates to outdoor outlets. An exception was added for HVAC equipment with a Sept 2026 expiration date.

NEC® Text

Article 210 Branch Circuits Not Over 1000 Volts ac, 1500 Volts dc, Nominal
210.8 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel.

(F) Outdoor Outlets. For dwellings, all outdoor outlets, other than those covered in 210.8(A), Exception No. 1, including outlets installed in the following locations, and supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground, 50 amperes or less, shall be provided with GFCI protection:
(1) Garages that have floors located at or below grade level 
(2) Accessory buildings
(3) Boathouses

If equipment supplied by an outlet covered under the requirements of this section is replaced, the outlet shall be supplied with GFCI protection.

Exception No. 1 GFCI Protection shall not be required on lighting outlets other than those covered in 210.8(C)
Exception No. 2 GFCI Protection shall not be required for listed HVAC equipment. This exception shall expire September 1, 2026

Material taken from the National Electric Code. is reprinted with permission from NFPA 70., 2023 edition. National Electrical Code®, Copyright 2022, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. All rights reserved.

Expert Analysis

A revision has been made to clarify that all outdoor outlets for dwellings, other than those covered in 210.8(A), Exception No. 1, including outlets installed in garages that have floors located at or below grade level, accessory building, or boathouses, are required to have GFCI protection for personnel.

Figure 1

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Figure 2