AFCI and GFCI Requirements - NAHB

1 AFCI and GFCI Requirements State-by-State Data Arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) have been on the market since about the year 2000. They differ from ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), which were introduced into the NEC in the 1960s. Where GFCIs are designed to protect people from shock if parts of an electric appliance or tool become energized due to a ground fault, AFCIs are designed to protect branch circuit wiring from arcing faults. NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (NEC), first required AFCIs in the 1999 edition . Subsequent editions added locations which were required to be covered. 1999 NEC: Branch circuits serving dwelling unit bedrooms needed to be covered by AFCIs as of January 1, 2002. 2008 NEC: The use of AFCIs expanded to family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, sunrooms, recreation rooms, closets, hallways and similar rooms or areas.

2 2014 NEC: Kitchens and laundry areas to the list of required areas. The list has remained unchanged in the 2017 and 2020 editions of the NEC. The maps and table on the following pages detail the status of AFCI and GFCI Requirements in each state. The table includes hyperlinks to state building code agencies as well as relevant documents. If you have questions or comments about the information in this table, please contact Dan Buuck at 202-266-8366. Revised December 2020. AFCI Requirements in Effect Covered Circuits Family Rooms, Dining Rooms, Living Rooms, Parlors, Bedrooms AND. No Statewide Libraries, Dens, Sunrooms, Recreation Rooms, Family Rooms, Dining Rooms, Living Rooms, Parlors, Bedrooms Adoption Closets, Hallways and Similar Rooms or Areas AND Libraries, Dens, Sunrooms, Recreation Rooms, of AFCI Provisions Kitchen and Laundry Areas Closets, Hallways and Similar Rooms or Areas Total: 32 Total: 6 Total: 3 Total: 9.

3 California Oklahoma Alabama Idaho Alaska Colorado Pennsylvania Arkansas Tennessee Arizona Connecticut Rhode Island Illinois Virginia Indiana Delaware South Dakota North Carolina Kansas Florida Texas Oregon Michigan Georgia Vermont South Carolina Mississippi Hawaii Washington Missouri Iowa West Virginia Nevada Kentucky Wisconsin* Utah Louisiana Wyoming Maine Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota Montana*. Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Dakota Ohio * Excludes kitchens Page 2 of 12. Amendments to AFCI and GFCI Provisions No Statewide Adoption of Amendments to Both AFCI Amendments to AFCI Amendments to GFCI No Amendments to AFCI or Residential Electrical Code And GFCI Provisions Provisions Provisions GFCI Provisions Total: 6 Total: 11 Total: 12 Total: 3 Total: 19. Alaska Connecticut Arkansas District of Columbia Alabama Arizona Idaho Delaware Texas California Kansas Indiana Iowa Washington Colorado Mississippi Massachusetts Michigan Florida Missouri New Jersey Montana Georgia Nevada North Carolina New Hampshire Hawaii Ohio North Dakota Illinois Oregon South Carolina Kentucky South Dakota Tennessee Louisiana Vermont Utah Maine Wisconsin Virginia Maryland West Virginia Minnesota Nebraska New Mexico New York Oklahoma Pennsylvania Rhode Island Wyoming Page 3 of 12.

4 Residential Electrical Technical State Code Adopted and Amendments State Agency Documents Notes Effective Date (AFCI/GFCI/X). IRC International Residential X Amendments Code Electrical do not include Section AFCI or GFCI. NEC National Electrical provisions. Code Div. of Construction The 2015 IRC was adopted, but the 2008 NEC is deemed Management 2008 NEC equivalent to the electrical Requirements of the IRC. Alabama Adoption Effective 6/4/2017 The 2014 NEC only applies to state projects (effective Dept. of Economic 7/1/2016). and Community Affairs "Public structures" and any place of employment are required to be completed under the 2017 NEC (effective 5/9/2018). "Public structures" are buildings such as Div. of Labor No Statewide hotels, resident housing with more than one rental unit, Alaska Standards and Adoption Adoption restaurants, taverns, lodging houses, children's homes, Safety auditoriums, town halls, or any structure designed or used for public assembly, whether publicly or privately financed.

5 No Statewide Arizona Adoption The 2017 NEC was adopted with an amendment which 2017 NEC Department of Arkansas AFCI Amendments removes the requirement for arc-fault circuit- Effective 1/1/2018 Labor interrupters (AFCIs) in kitchens and laundry rooms. The 2019 California Electrical Code, or Part 3 of the California Building Standards Code, incorporates the 2017 NEC Building Standards California Adopted Code 2017 edition of the NEC. Local jurisdictions may adopt Effective 1/1/2020 Commission more restrictive Requirements if they are warranted by local conditions. Page 4 of 12. Residential Electrical Technical State Code Adopted and Amendments State Agency Documents Notes Effective Date (AFCI/GFCI/X). 2020 NEC. Colorado Electrical Board Adoption Effective 8/1/2020. An exception was added for AFCI protection. It is not 2015 IRC Office of the State required for replacement receptacles.

6 Connecticut AFCI/GFCI Amendments Effective 10/1/2018 Building Inspector The GFCI amendment is editorial and does not affect the Requirements of the code. The 2014 NEC was adopted in its entirety except for two 2014 NEC Fire Prevention Delaware AFCI Amendments amendments requiring smoke alarms to be installed on Effective 3/11/2016 Commission dedicated branch circuits without AFCI protection. The 2014 NEC was adopted with an amendment Dept. of Consumer requiring the 125-volt receptacle installed within 25 feet District of 2014 NEC. GFCI and Regulatory Amendments of the electrical service equipment in to be a 20-amp Columbia Effective 5/29/2020. Affairs receptacle and GFCI-protected. This receptacle is not required in one- and two-family dwellings. 2017 NEC Building IRC Electrical systems, equipment and components are Florida Effective 12/31/2020 Commission Amendments required to comply with the 2017 edition of the NEC.

7 Adoption 2020 NEC Dept. of The 2020 edition of the NEC was adopted without Georgia Effective 1/1/2020 Community Affairs IRC amendments. Amendments 2017 NEC Building Code Hawaii Adoption Effective 8/21/2018 Council AFCI protection Requirements were amended to include only bedrooms. 2017 NEC Division of Building Idaho AFCI/GFCI Amendments GFCI protection was removed from laundry areas and Effective 7/1/2017 Safety outlets supplying dishwashers. GFCI protection is still required within 6 feet of sinks. Page 5 of 12. Residential Electrical Technical State Code Adopted and Amendments State Agency Documents Notes Effective Date (AFCI/GFCI/X). Building codes, including the electrical code, may be Capital adopted at the local level. All new construction must 2008 NEC. Illinois Development Adoption comply with the 2008 or later edition of the NEC for Effective 7/1/2011. Board those jurisdictions which have not adopted a code locally.

8 AFCI protection Requirements have been completely Fire Prevention &. 2018 IRC removed from the IRC, as have the provisions for Indiana AFCI/GFCI Building Safety Amendments Effective 12/26/2019 tamper-resistant receptacles. GFCI protection was Commission modified for spas, hot tubs, and hydromassage tubs. The AFCI provisions for extending or modifying a branch 2017 NEC Electrical Iowa AFCI Amendments circuit were deleted, but those for new construction Effective 1/1/2018 Examining Board were not amended. No Statewide Office of the State 2008 NEC was adopted by the state for state-owned Kansas Adoption Fire Marshal buildings only. Dept. of Housing, 2017 NEC. Kentucky Buildings and Adoption Effective 1/1/2019. Construction State Uniform 2014 NEC. Louisiana Construction Code Adoption Effective 2/1/2018. Council The 2014 NEC was adopted with eight technical 2014 NEC Electricians'.

9 Maine X Amendments amendments which do not affect AFCI or GFCI. Effective 7/1/2014 Examining Board Requirements . For the applicable electrical Requirements , refer to the 2017 NEC Building Codes local electrical code and the National Electrical Code as Maryland Adoption Effective 3/25/2019 Administration adopted and enforced by the State Fire Marshal, authorized fire officials, or building officials. Page 6 of 12. Residential Electrical Technical State Code Adopted and Amendments State Agency Documents Notes Effective Date (AFCI/GFCI/X). The GFCI provisions were amended. When determining the distance from receptacles, the shortest path may not be measured through a door opening or doorway. 2020 NEC Dept. of Fire GFCI protection is specifically called out for receptacles Massachusetts AFCI/GFCI Amendments Effective 1/1/2020 Services within a cabinet supporting a sink. GFCI protection was removed for outdoor, non-receptacle outlets.

10 AFCI protection Requirements were expanded to include all circuits in dwelling units. 2015 IRC LARA Building AFCI protection Requirements have been completely Michigan AFCI Amendments Effective 2/8/2016 Division removed from the IRC. 2020 NEC. Minnesota Board of Electricity Adoption Effective 11/17/2020. No Statewide Local jurisdictions shall adopt one of the last three Mississippi State Fire Marshal Adoption Adoption editions of the IRC. No Statewide Division of Fire The NEC was adopted by the state for state-owned Missouri Adoption Safety buildings only. The Requirements for AFCI protection was deleted for 2017 NEC State Electrical kitchens. Montana AFCI Adoption Effective 12/7/2019 Board Cities and counties are not permitted to amend the NEC. as adopted by the State. 2017 NEC State Electrical Nebraska Adoption Effective 8/24/2017 Division No Statewide The NEC was adopted by the state for state-owned Nevada State Fire Marshal Adoption buildings only.