2023 National Electrical Code Adoption
2023 National Electrical Code Adoption
The City of Austin is proposing adoption of the 2023 National Electric Code (NEC) in alignment with adoption by the state of Texas. This page provides you the opportunity to provide feedback on the local amendments proposed to this Code. Your feedback will inform the staff recommendation and will be considered in Austin City Council's deliberations later this summer.
Proposed Changes in 2023 NEC
The City's proposal would replace the 2020 NEC with the 2023 NEC. Updates to the national code include clarifications and additional requirements related to ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) and surge protection. Changes also address physical access concerns, provide guidance for medium voltage installations, and eliminate redundancies. Additional information about the proposed changes can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions section of this page.
About the NEC
The NEC is part of the National Fire Code series published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The NEC provides guidance for the safe installation and wiring of electrical equipment. The NEC is regularly updated to include new practices, technologies, and discoveries in the safe use of electrical equipment.
Thank you in advance for your participation. For additional information, please contact dsdcommunications@austintexas.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 2023 National Electrical Code makes several changes to the processes outlined in the 2020 National Electrical Code. Some of the more significant changes are listed below:
Expansion of ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection
Appliances expanded to include wall-mounted ovens, counter-mounted cooking units, ranges, clothes dryers, and microwave ovens.
Inclusion of any cord- and plug-connected appliance in kitchens, not only on countertops.
Requirement of ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection for all receptacles in kitchens.
Although no requirement exists for kitchen island countertop receptacles, if kitchen island countertop receptacles are installed, they cannot be under the edge of the countertop.
Requirement of arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) protection for sleeping quarters. This rule applies to such dwellings as police, fire, and ranger stations.
Surge protection requirement for multifamily dwelling units, dormitory units, guest rooms and guest suites of hotels and motels, as well as patient sleeping rooms in nursing homes and limited care facilities.
In addition to adoption of the 2023 National Electrical Code, the City of Austin proposes several additional amendments to help simplify and standardize code requirements to align with the City of Austin Code requirements.
- Adopt the 2023 National Electrical Code. This will align with the adoption of these codes by the state of Texas. The expected effective date for NEC changes in Texas is September 2023.
- Removal of the definition of Chief Electrical Inspector. The City of Austin does not have a Chief Electrical Inspector position.
- Modification of the definition of an Electrical Inspector. The modification will refer to the definition already located in the Building Criteria Manual.
- Removal of the word "Electrical" from Professional Electrical Engineer. This edit will align with the State requirements.
- Removal of Section 80.27- Inspector Qualifications. This requirement already exists in the Building Criteria Manual.
- Removal of the word "looping" from Section 110.12- Mechanical Execution of Work. The National Electrical Code already has bending radius requirements to cover this issue.
- Identify conductors at terminations, connections, and splice points - exception added for non-metallic sheathed (NM) Cable. This proposal allows for the installer to avoid maintaining the color of conductors throughout the system. Maintaining the color will only be required at at terminations, connections, and splice points. This proposal will ensure the NEC meets the City of Austin’s color code requirement.
Development Services Department (DSD) staff shared the updated code with local contractors at January 2023 meetings of the local chapters of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Independent Electrical Contractors. The City of Austin Electric Board unanimously voted in January to adopt the 2023 NEC.