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210.11(C)(4) Dwelling Unit Garage Branch Circuits

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Change Summary

  • Another code cycle, another subtle change to Article 210.11(C)(4). The NEC once again is trying to clarify branch circuit and receptacle requirements in residential garages.

NEC®Text

Article 210 Branch Circuits Not Over 1000 Volts ac, 1500 Volts dc, Nominal
210.11 Branch Circuits Required.
(C) Dwelling Units.
(4) Garage Branch Circuits.  In addition to the number of branch circuits required by other parts of this section, at least one 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuit shall be installed to supply receptacle outlets, including those required by 210.52(G)(1) for attached garages and in detached garages with electric power. This circuit shall have no other outlets. Additional branch circuits rated 15 amperes or greater shall be permitted to serve receptacle outlets other than those required by 210.52(G)(1).
Exception No. 1: This circuit shall be permitted to supply outdoor receptacle outlets.
Exception No. 2: Where the 20-ampere circuit supplies a single vehicle bay garage, outlets for other equipment within the same garage shall be permitted to be supplied in accordance with 210.23(A)(1) and (A)(2).

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 the required receptacle outlets from 210.52(G)(1) must be served from at least one 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuit, and that this 20-ampere branch circuit is also permitted to serve other receptacle outlets within the garage. Other kinds of outlets within the garage or in other space(s) not included by Exception 1 are prohibited from being connected to the required 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuit. Additional text provides clarification that receptacle outlets, other than those required by 210.52(G)(1), can be served by additional 120-volt branch circuit(s) rated either 15- or 20-amperes. A new Exception Number 2 was added to permit a single bay garage to have all outlets within that garage to be served by the required 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuit in accordance with 210.23(A)(1) or (A)(2). The existing numbering of the exceptions is modified to account for these changes.

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