Outlets Below Countertop Level The NEC 2023 does not allow installation of an outlet receptacle below the countertop. This very common side installation of outlets led to children, pets, and other accidental instances of appliances and other corded devices being pulled off counters causing injury.
Receptacles located below the counter top intended to service the counter top are dangerous and should be illegal. People plug hot pots and such in for serving or cooking and the cord hangs over the side.
Receptacles are NOT allowed below a countertop extending more than 6 inches beyond its base.
If a window is where an outlet needs to be, then installing an outlet that pops out of your countertop might be your only option. The countertop space behind a sink and a wall can't exceed 18" without an outlet on the wall behind it, the space between a range and a wall can't exceed 24" and has the same requirement.
Kitchens: Outlets can be no more than 48 inches apart, applicable for any wall 12 inches wide or more. Outlets cannot be more than 20 inches above countertops. TR receptacles: Tamper-resistant receptacles are required in many municipalities for locations 66 inches or lower on the wall.
Receptacles are placed no more than 48″ apart. No point along the countertop is more than 24″ from a receptacle. Countertops of 12″ or more wide get a receptacle. The maximum height above countertop to receptacle is 20.”
Do all of the outlets in my kitchen need to have ground-fault circuit interrupters? In kitchens, all outlets that serve countertop surfaces should be equipped with GFCI outlet protection. That would include any outlets on walls, behind wet areas (sinks, etc.)
Tamper-Resistant Receptacles (TR): All 15- and 20-ampere receptacles in a home are now required to be tamper-resistant. Tamper-resistant receptacles have built-in shutters that prevent children from inserting foreign objects in the receptacle slots.
Receptacle outlets shall not be installed within or directly over a bathtub or shower space. A receptacle shall not be installed in a face-up position in any countertop. Receptacle outlets shall not be installed above electric baseboard heaters, unless provided for in the listing or manufacturer's instructions.
Providing a receptacle at a 10-inch (254 mm) countertop space, for example, is a good idea, although not a code requirement. As indicated in Figure E3901. 4, receptacle outlets must not be spaced more than 48 inches (1219 mm) apart along the wall line of the countertop.
According to the code, that outlet must be within 2 feet of the kitchen sink.
According to the NEC, outlets should be installed so that no point along the wall is more than 6 feet from an outlet. This means that outlets should be spaced no more than 12 feet apart on any wall.
Receptacle outlets for islands and peninsulas are no longer able to be installed below the countertop and work surface level.
Traditionally, this requirement applied only to kitchen countertop receptacles, but now any cord-and-plug connection points in the kitchen (such as refrigerator receptacles, disposal receptacles and microwave receptacles) now require GFCI protection.
Section 210.52(C)(3) of the 2023 NEC code requires that: "Kitchen receptacle outlets in islands and peninsulas must be installed on or above countertop or work surfaces and if a receptacle outlet is not provided, provisions must be provided for the addition of a receptacle outlet in the future."
AFCI is required for 120V circuits 10-20A supplying outlets and devices in kitchens (that's receptacles, lighting, and hardwired appliances). GFCI is required for kitchen receptacles and specific appliances like dishwashers.
Each island countertop space requires only 1 receptacle regardless of size (no 2 ft. / 4 ft. rule) If this distance is ≥ 12 inches the sink does not divide the island into two separate countertop spaces. If < 12 in., the spaces to each side of the sink require a receptacle.
How high should an outlet be over a countertop? The height of outlets placed above countertops varies. This can vary due to local electrical codes or simple style preference, but it is common for outlets to be 42 to 48 inches above the finished floor, and no more than 20 inches above the surface of the counter.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) requires outlets in kitchens. This article discusses accessibility to outlets over a counter. The NEC says every piece of counter 12 inches or wider must have an outlet over it. In addition, there must be at least one outlet every 4 feet.
What height should the sockets be? Generally, it's good to install sockets that are at the worktops, about 10-15cm above the surface. If you have a kitchen/diner with a table and want to have an outlet for easy access for chargers and laptops, position it 45cm above the floor.
The average height for countertop outlets, which are commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms, is often set at 4 inches above the countertop surface. You want to allow for easy access to electrical power for various appliances, including blenders, toasters, and coffee makers.