NEC 210.52 Receptacle Outlet Lookup
NEC 210.52 is a dwelling-unit receptacle outlet layout checkpoint. Use it to identify where receptacle outlets are required before treating a branch-circuit layout, breaker selection, conductor size, or protection method as ready for field use.
| Field Item | NEC Reference | Field Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| General wall-space spacing | NEC 210.52(A) | Dwelling habitable rooms need receptacle outlets placed so normal cord-and-plug use does not depend on extension cords across long wall sections. |
| Wall-space definition | NEC 210.52(A)(2) | Measure qualifying wall spaces carefully. Openings, fixed cabinets, stationary equipment, and room dividers can change the layout path. |
| Kitchen and similar countertop areas | NEC 210.52(C) | Countertop and work-surface receptacles have their own placement checks and should not be treated as the same review as general wall-space receptacles. |
| Bathroom basin areas | NEC 210.52(D) | Bathroom receptacle placement is tied to basin use and still needs separate GFCI, circuit, and equipment-location review. |
| Outdoor dwelling receptacles | NEC 210.52(E) | Outdoor required receptacle locations need weather, accessibility, in-use cover, GFCI, and local amendment checks beyond the placement rule. |
| Laundry areas | NEC 210.52(F) | Laundry receptacle placement must coordinate with laundry circuit rules, equipment needs, GFCI/AFCI protection, and appliance instructions. |
| Basements, garages, and accessory buildings | NEC 210.52(G) | These areas have required receptacle placement checks that also intersect with GFCI protection, physical damage, vehicle bay, and equipment-use conditions. For the garage branch-circuit requirement, review NEC 210.11(C) Garage Branch Circuit. |
| Hallways | NEC 210.52(H) | Long hallway layouts need a receptacle outlet check, but conductor sizing and protection still come from separate NEC rules. |
FIELD WORKFLOW
Layout Workflow
Receptacle outlet placement is only one part of the field decision. After the required outlet locations are identified, the branch circuit still needs load, breaker, conductor, protection, and installation-condition review.
Identify the space. Confirm whether the area is general wall space, countertop or work surface, bathroom, outdoor, laundry, garage, basement, accessory building, or hallway.
Measure the layout path. Measure qualifying wall or work-surface segments. Do not count interrupted spaces, fixed cabinets, openings, or stationary equipment incorrectly.
Check required protection. After placement is known, review NEC 210.8 GFCI Protection Requirements, NEC 210.12 AFCI Protection Requirements, weather-resistant, tamper-resistant, and equipment-specific requirements.
Size the circuit path. Use the load, breaker, conductor, voltage-drop, and raceway checks that apply to the branch circuit feeding the receptacles.
FIELD BOUNDARY
Wall Spacing Boundary
Placement answers the outlet-location question. NEC 210.52 helps identify where receptacle outlets are needed in dwelling-unit spaces. It does not by itself approve the load calculation, breaker size, conductor size, voltage drop, box fill, raceway fill, or protection method.
Room type changes the review. A living room wall, kitchen countertop, bathroom basin, garage bay, exterior wall, and laundry area are not checked the same way. Start with the space type before deciding whether a receptacle is missing or misplaced.
COUNTERTOP AND DEDICATED LOCATIONS
Countertop and Work-Surface Checks
Kitchen, pantry, breakfast room, dining room, and similar work-surface areas have receptacle placement concerns that are different from the general wall-space rule. Island, peninsula, sink, range, and fixed-cabinet conditions can change the layout decision.
Use NEC 210.52 to decide where receptacles are required or where provisions may be needed, then check NEC 210.11(C) Required Home Circuits, small-appliance circuit requirements, GFCI/AFCI protection, tamper-resistant and weather-resistant ratings, and the adopted local code cycle.
Field Boundary
A correct outlet location does not automatically mean the circuit, device, or conductor is correctly sized.
Confirm protection, circuit rating, conductor ampacity, voltage drop, box fill, raceway fill, and manufacturer instructions separately.
Calculator Use
TradeHub Calculator Application
TradeHub calculators can support the load, breaker, conductor, and box-fill checks that follow receptacle planning. NEC 210.52 layout review remains a separate field condition.
Related TradeHub Calculators
FIELD CHECKS
Common Field Misses
Misreading wall space. Doorways, openings, fixed cabinets, fireplaces, stationary equipment, and room dividers can change where the wall-space rule applies.
Treating countertop outlets as general wall outlets. Work-surface locations need their own NEC 210.52 review and should not be used as a shortcut for room wall spacing.
Forgetting protection requirements. GFCI, AFCI, tamper-resistant, weather-resistant, and in-use cover requirements may apply after the outlet location is selected.
Skipping circuit sizing. NEC 210.52 does not replace branch-circuit load, breaker, conductor, voltage-drop, box-fill, or raceway-fill checks.
RELATED REFERENCES
Related NEC Field References
SOURCE SCOPE
Source Alignment and Use Scope
This page is a field reference based on NEC 210.52 dwelling-unit receptacle outlet placement and related TradeHub source alignment records. It is intended for screening, planning, and layout review only. It does not replace the adopted NEC, local amendments, equipment markings, manufacturer instructions, engineered design documents, licensed electrical judgment, or AHJ review. Review the TradeHub Code Citation & Source Log for source alignment records and the TradeHub Methodology page for how field references are scoped.
FAQ
Receptacle Outlet FAQ
Does NEC 210.52 tell me what breaker size to use?
No. NEC 210.52 is mainly a dwelling-unit receptacle outlet placement rule. Breaker sizing, conductor sizing, load calculation, AFCI/GFCI protection, and equipment instructions still need separate review.
Does every NEC 210.52 receptacle automatically require GFCI protection?
No. NEC 210.52 identifies where receptacle outlets are required in dwelling-unit layouts. GFCI protection is checked separately under NEC 210.8 and any applicable local amendments or equipment instructions.
Can I use countertop receptacles to satisfy general wall-space spacing?
Countertop and work-surface receptacles are reviewed under their own NEC 210.52 rules and should not be treated as a shortcut for general wall-space layout without checking the adopted code text, room layout, and AHJ interpretation.