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Georgia State Amendments to the National Electrical Code (2023 Edition) Georgia Department of Community Affairs Community Development Division 60 Executive Park South, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-3118 dca.georgia.gov Revised January 1, 2026 ---PAGE BREAK--- National Electrical Code Amendment 2026 2 GEORGIA STATE MINIMUM STANDARD ELECTRICAL CODE (NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE WITH GEORGIA STATE AMENDMENTS) The NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE, 2023 Edition, published by the National Fire Protection Association, when used in conjunction with these and any other Georgia State Amendments to the NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE, 2023 Edition, shall constitute the official Georgia State Minimum Standard Electrical Code. GEORGIA STATE AMENDMENTS CODE REFERENCE: a) Replace all references to the ICC Electrical Code with references to the Georgia State Minimum Standard Electrical Code (National Electrical Code with Georgia State Amendments). b) Replace all references to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) with references to the Georgia State Minimum Standard Energy Code (IECC with Georgia State Supplements and Amendments). The Georgia State Minimum Standard Energy Code shall be used for heating and air conditioning equipment. c) Replace all references to “Accessibility” with a cross-reference to Title 30, Chapter 3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) and the Rules and Regulations of the Georgia Safety Fire Commissioner. ---PAGE BREAK--- National Electrical Code Amendment 2026 3 d) The following table titled ‘Codes Reference Guide’ establishes specific primary and supplementary code applications and is to be applied by the authority having jurisdiction. CODES REFERENCE GUIDE Area Primary Supplement Occupancy Classification LSC IBC Building Construction Types including allowable height, allowable building areas, and the requirements for sprinkler protection related to minimum building construction types. IBC LSC Means of Egress LSC NONE Standpipes IBC IFC Interior Finish LSC NONE HVAC Systems IMC NONE Vertical Openings LSC NONE Sprinkler Systems minimum construction standard LSC NONE Fire Alarm Systems LSC NONE Smoke Alarms and Smoke Detection Systems State Statute and LSC NONE Portable Fire Extinguishers IFC NONE Cooking Equipment LSC and NFPA 96 NONE Fuel Fired Appliances IFGC NFPA 54 Liquid Petroleum Gas NFPA 58 NFPA 54 Compressed Natural Gas NFPA 52 NONE ---PAGE BREAK--- National Electrical Code Amendment 2026 4 *Revise the National Electrical Code, 2023 Edition, as follows: CHAPTER 1 GENERAL ARTICLE 100 DEFINITIONS *Add new Definition ‘Townhouse (Row House)’ to read as follows: Dwelling, One-Family. (One-Family Dwelling) A building that consists solely of one dwelling unit. TOWNHOUSE (ROW HOUSE). A single-family dwelling unit constructed in a group of three or more attached units. Each unit extends from foundation to roof, not more than three stories in height, with a separate means of egress, and with an open space/yard or public way on at least two sides. Each townhouse shall be considered a separate building with independent exterior walls and shall be separated by a 2-hour fire-resistance-rated wall assembly. (Effective January 1, 2026) CHAPTER 2 WIRING AND PROTECTION ARTICLE 210 BRANCH CIRCUITS NOT OVER 1000 VOLTS AC, 1500 VOLTS DC, NOMINAL *Revise Article 210.8(A) ‘Dwelling Units’ to read as follows: 210.8(A) Dwelling Units. All 125-volt through 250-volt receptacles installed in the locations and supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel. Bathrooms Garages and also accessory buildings that have a floor located at or below grade level not intended as habitable rooms and limited to storage areas, work areas, and areas of similar use Outdoors Crawl spaces — at or below grade level Basements Kitchens — where the receptacles are installed to serve the countertop surfaces Sinks — where receptacles are installed within 1.8 m (6 ft) from the top inside edge of the bowl of the sink Boathouses ---PAGE BREAK--- National Electrical Code Amendment 2026 5 Bathtubs or shower stalls — where receptacles are installed within 1.8 m (6 ft) of the outside edge of the bathtub or shower stall (10) Laundry areas (11) Indoor damp and wet locations [The exceptions remain unchanged.] (Effective January 1, 2026) *Revise Article 210.8(D) ‘Specific Appliances’ to read as follows: 210.8(D) Specific Appliances. GFCI protection shall be provided for the branch circuit or outlet supplying the following appliances rated 150 volts or less to ground and 60 amperes or less, single- or 3-phase: Automotive vacuum machines Drinking water coolers and bottle fill stations High-pressure spray washing machines Tire inflation machines Vending machines Sump pumps Dishwashers (Effective January 1, 2026) *Revise Article 210.8(F) ‘Outdoor Outlets’ to read as follows: 210.8(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: Garages that have floors located at or below grade level Accessory buildings 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. (Effective January 1, 2026) *Revise Article 210.12(B) ‘Dwelling Units’ to read as follows: 210.12(B) Dwelling Units. All 120 volt, single-phase, 10-,15-, and 20-ampere branch circuits supplying outlets or devices installed in the following locations shall be protected by any of the means described in 210.12(A)(1) through ---PAGE BREAK--- National Electrical Code Amendment 2026 6 Family rooms Dining rooms Living rooms Parlors Libraries Dens Bedrooms Sunrooms Recreation rooms (10) Closets (11) Hallways (12) Similar areas [The exceptions remain unchanged.] (Effective January 1, 2026) *Revise Article 210.52(C)(2) ‘Island and Peninsular Countertops and Work Services’ to read as follows: 210.52(C)(2) Island and Peninsular Countertops and Work Surfaces. At least one receptacle shall be installed at each island and peninsular countertop space with a long dimension of 600 mm (24 in.) or greater and a short dimension of 300 mm (12 in.) or greater. A peninsular countertop is measured from the connected perpendicular wall. (Effective January 1, 2026) *Revise Article 210.52(C)(3) ‘Receptacle Outlet Location’ to add new exception to read as follows: 210.52(C)(3) Receptacle Outlet Location. Receptacle outlets shall be located in one or more of the following: On or above, but not more than 500 mm (20 in.) above, a countertop or work surface In a countertop using receptacle outlet assemblies listed for use in countertops In a work surface using receptacle outlet assemblies listed for use in work surfaces or listed for use in countertops Receptacle outlets rendered not readily accessible by appliances fastened in place, appliance garages, sinks, or rangetops as covered in 210.52(C)(1), Exception No. 1, or appliances occupying assigned spaces shall not be considered as these required outlets. Exception: To comply with the following conditions and receptacle outlets shall be permitted to be mounted not more than 300 mm (12 in.) below the countertop or work surface. Receptacles mounted below a countertop or work surface in accordance with this exception shall not be located where the countertop or work surface extends more than 150 mm (6 in.) beyond its support base. ---PAGE BREAK--- National Electrical Code Amendment 2026 7 Construction for the physically impaired On island and peninsular countertops or work surface where the surface is flat across its entire surface (no dividers, etc.) and there are no means to mount a receptacle within 500 mm (20 in.) above the countertop or work surface, such as an overhead cabinet Informational Note No. 1: See 406.5(E) for installation of receptacles in countertops and 406.5(F) for installation of receptacles in work surfaces. See 380.10 for installation of multioutlet assemblies. Informational Note No. 2: See Informative Annex J and ANSI/ICC A117.1-2009, Standard on Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, for additional information. (Effective January 1, 2026) ARTICLE 215 FEEDERS *Revise Article 215.18 ‘Surge-Protective Device’ to add new exception to read as follows: 215.18 Surge-Protective Device. Where a feeder supplies any of the following, a surge- protective device (SPD) shall be installed: Dwelling units Dormitory units Guest rooms and guest suites of hotels and motels Areas of nursing homes and limited-care facilities used exclusively as patient sleeping rooms Exception: One- and two-family dwellings are exempt. (Effective January 1, 2026) ARTICLE 225 OUTSIDE BRANCH CIRCUITS AND FEEDERS *Revise Article 225.42 ‘Surge-Protective Device’ to add new exception to read as follows: 225.42 Surge-Protective Device. Where a feeder supplies any of the following, a surge- protective device (SPD) shall be installed: Dwelling units Dormitory units Guest rooms and guest suites of hotels and motels Areas of nursing homes and limited-care facilities used exclusively as patient sleeping rooms Exception: One- and two-family dwellings are exempt. ---PAGE BREAK--- National Electrical Code Amendment 2026 8 (Effective January 1, 2026) ARTICLE 230 SERVICES *Revise Article 230.67 ‘Surge-Protective Device’ to add new exception to read as follows: 230.67 Surge-Protective Device. All services supplying the following occupancies shall be provided with a surge-protective device (SPD): Dwelling units Dormitory units Guest rooms and guest suites of hotels and motels Areas of nursing homes and limited-care facilities used exclusively as patient sleeping rooms Exception: One- and two-family dwellings are exempt. (Effective January 1, 2026) CHAPTER 5 SPECIAL OCCUPANCIES ARTICLE 517 HEALTH CARE FACILITIES *Delete Exception to Article 517.40 ‘Applicability’ (Effective January 1, 2027) *Add new Article 517.45 ‘Assisted Living Community, Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Facilities’ to read as follows: 517.45(F) Assisted Living Community, Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Facilities. All Category 3 Assisted Living Community, Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Facilities licensed by the Department of Community Health shall be served by an essential electrical distribution system in accordance with 517.40 through 517.45. The required life safety and equipment branches shall be arranged for either delayed-automatic or manual connection to the alternate power source. The heating and cooling systems supplying these spaces shall be connected to the equipment branch of the essential electrical distribution system. (Effective January 1, 2027) End of Amendments.