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Homeowner Electrical Permit Guide

The Homeowner’s Electrical Permit may only be issued to homeowners performing basic

Electrical work without physical assistance from professionals or others. They must be

listed as the homeowner of record on the deed and live in the home to perform the

work.

A Preliminary Conference is a mandatory inspection that can help troubleshoot

problems before you begin. Request the conference prior to beginning any work. After

an approval to start has been received, begin electrical rough-in installation. Upon

completion of rough-in installation, call to schedule a rough-in inspection prior to

covering the system. Call to schedule a Final Inspection at 100% completion of

electrical installation.

To schedule a conference or inspection please go online (permits.cityofboise.org) or

call the Permit Desk at 208-608-7070.

MOST COMMON RESIDENTIAL WIRING TOPICS

ABBREVIATIONS

National Electrical Code: NEC

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter: GFCI

Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter: AFCI

Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable: NM Cable

Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride Conduit: PVC

American Wire Gage: AWG

GENERAL CIRCUITRY

NEC 590.6 - GFCI Protection for Temporary Power: All receptacle outlets used for

temporary power for construction shall have GFCI protection.

NEC 110.3 - All Electrical Equipment Shall be Listed and Labeled by a qualified electrical

testing laboratory and shall be installed as per manufacturer’s instructions.

NEC 210.8 - GFCI Protection: All receptacle outlets installed to serve the kitchen counter

top areas or located within 6ft. from the inside edge of a basin or sink, bathrooms,

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outdoors, garages, and receptacles located in crawl spaces, unfinished portions or

areas of a basement not intended as habitable rooms, shall be GFCI protection.

NEC 210.12 - AFCI Protection: All new 120-volt, single phase, 15 or 20-amp branch

circuits supplying outlets and devices installed in dwelling unit bedroom areas shall

have AFCI protection. This includes receptacle outlets, switches, lights, and smoke

detectors. AFCI receptacle shall be installed in a readily accessible location.

NEC 210.52(A) - Receptacle Spacing: Habitable room minimum electrical receptacle

layout. Examples of habitable rooms are living room, family rooms, dens, dining rooms,

nooks, and bedrooms. A receptacle outlet shall be located within 6’ of an opening or

break in wall, such as a door or fireplace. No location measured along floor line shall

exceed 6’ from a receptacle outlet. Any wall 24” or wider (including space measured

around corners) shall have a receptacle outlet installed.

A fixed panel of a window or sliding door is considered wall space so a receptacle

outlet may be required to be installed in the floor. Floor receptacles to qualify for wall

space shall be installed within 18” of wall served. Receptacles installed to serve

countertop and similar work surfaces as specified in 210.52(C) shall not be considered

as the receptacle outlets required by 210.52(A).

NEC 210.52(I) - Foyer Receptacle Spacing: Foyer areas that are not a part of a hallway

and are greater than 60 square foot shall have a receptacle outlet installed on each

wall spaced 3’ or wider. Doorways or door-side windows that extend to the floor and

similar openings shall not be considered wall space.

NEC 210.52(B) - Receptacle Spacing: Receptacle outlets serving kitchen countertop

and similar work surface. Any kitchen countertop 12” or wider shall have a receptacle

outlet installed. While measuring along wall line, at no point shall there be more than

24” from a receptacle outlet. For example, from the edge of a wall or range a

receptacle outlet shall be located within 24” of the wall or range, then from that

receptacle the next receptacle outlet shall be located within 48” and so on until the

next wall or break in counter top in reached. The last receptacle outlet shall be located

within 24” of that point. The receptacle outlets shall be located above countertop but

shall not be more than 20” above counter.

Island and peninsula countertop areas do require receptacle outlets depending on

design. These receptacle outlets can be located below countertop area however shall

not be more than 12” below and shall not be located more than 6” back under an

overhang. Kitchen receptacle outlets serving countertop areas shall be supplied by a

minimum of 2, 20-amp, 120-volt small appliance circuits. Kitchen small appliance circuit

shall only serve receptacles located in kitchen, island, dining, nook, and pantry areas.

NEC 210.23 - Permissible Loads: Cord connected equipment, such as appliances not

fastened in place, shall not exceed 80% of branch circuit rating. If equipment is

fastened in place it shall not exceed 50% of the branch circuit rating. If these loads

exceed these values, a dedicated circuit is required. Code does have a limit to how

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many receptacle outlets may be installed on an individual branch circuit. However, an

individual branch circuit shall not feed rooms larger than 600 square feet. Additional

circuit would be needed.

NEC 210.52(D) - Bathroom Receptacle Outlets: At least one receptacle outlet shall be

located within 36” of the outside edge of each basin or sink. The receptacle shall be

located on a wall or partition adjacent to the basin or basin countertop. The

receptacle can be located below, however not more than 12” below the top of basin,

located on the countertop, or installed on the side or face of the basin cabinet.

NEC 210.52(E)(1) - Outdoor Receptacle Outlets: For a one-family dwelling and each unit

of a two-family dwelling that is at grade level, (at least) one receptacle outlet shall be

installed at the front and rear of dwelling. Each balcony, deck, or porch that is

attached to the dwelling unit shall have a receptacle outlet installed. The receptacle

shall be accessible from but not more than 6 1/2’ above balcony, deck, or porch

walking surface.

NEC 210.52(F) - Receptacles in Laundry Areas: Areas designed for laundry shall have at

least 1 dedicated 20-amperes, 120-volt receptacle outlet installed for laundry

equipment.

NEC 210.52(G) - Receptacles in One-and Two-Family Dwelling Garages: In one-and

two-family dwellings garages with electrical power, shall have at least 1 receptacle

outlet and 1 lighting outlet installed. A receptacle outlet shall be installed in each car

bay. At least one 120-volt, 20-amp circuit shall be installed to feed receptacle outlets in

attached or detached garages. This circuit shall have no other outlets apart from

outdoor receptacles installed in a readily accessible location. Detached garages with

not more than 2 circuits shall have a branch circuit disconnecting means not less than

30-amps (30-ampere 2 pole rated switch).

For all other installations, the branch circuit disconnecting rating shall not less than 60-

amps. A means to disconnect, shall be provided for all-power from a detached

structure or building. Detached buildings with three or more circuits shall have a

grounding electrode system installed. A grounding electrode system is a concrete

encased electrode or ground rods. A branch circuit or feeder to a detached building

shall have an equipment grounding conductor if a second conductive path exists

between structures.

NEC 210.70 – Lighting Outlets Required: All habitable rooms, including kitchens and

bathrooms shall have at least 1 outlet (receptacle or Light) controlled by a wall switch

installed for lighting. Additional locations include at least one wall-controlled lighting

outlet shall be installed in hallways, stairways, attached garages and detached

garages with electrical power. A switch shall be located at each floor level of a

stairway with 6 or more steps. Each doorway, with access to outdoors, shall have a light

fixture installed on the exterior, controlled by a wall switch by a door.

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NEC 406.12 - Tamper Resistant Receptacles: All 15 and 20-amp, 125 and 250-volt non

locking type receptacle outlets located below 5’6” installed in or on a dwelling unit

shall be a listed tamper resistant type. Except when receptacles are a part of a

luminaire or appliance, non-grounding receptacle used for replacement as permitted

in NEC 406.4(D)(2)(a). Required Tamper Resistant Receptacles includes indoor, outdoor,

and appliance garages. Outdoor receptacle outlets shall be the tampered and

weather resistant type and have a hard service in-use cover.

NEC 240.4(D) - Protection of Conductors: Overcurrent devices shall not exceed 15-amps

for #14 AWG (American Wire Gage), 20-amps for #12 AWG, 30-amps for #10 AWG, 40-

amps for #8 AWG, 50-amps for #6 AWG copper NM cable.

NEC 300.4 - Nail Plates: NM cable when ran through bored holes that do not maintain 1

¼” from edge of framing member shall be protected from physical damage by nail

plates.

NEC 300.14 - Free Wire Length: The minimum free conductor length, including grounding

conductors, at all boxes shall be 6”. However, at least 3” of each conductor shall

extend outside the box.

NEC 300.22 - NM Cable Locations: NM cables shall not be installed in spaces used for

environmental air, cold air returns or heat ducts.

NEC 314.17 - NM Cable: The outer jacket of NM cable shall extend into the box and

past a clamping device a minimum of ¼”.

NEC 314.23(B)(1) - Securing Electrical Boxes: Nails and screws, where used as a

fastening means, shall secure boxes by using brackets on the outside of the

enclosure, or by using mounting holes in the back or in a single side of the

enclosure, or they shall pass through the interior within 6 mm (1∕4 in.) of the back

or ends of the enclosure. Screws shall not be permitted to pass through the box

unless exposed threads in the box are protected using approved means to

avoid abrasion of conductor insulation. Mounting holes made in the field shall

be approved.

NEC 314.27 - Mounting Ceiling Fans: When boxes are sole support for a ceiling paddle

fan, they shall be listed and labeled for such use.

NEC 300.22 - NM Cable Locations: NM cables shall not be installed in spaces used for

environmental air, cold air returns or heat ducts.

NEC 250.134, 314.4, 404.9 - Required Grounding of Devices and Metal Boxes: All

electrical equipment, metal boxes, cover plates, plaster rings, switches and dimmers

shall be grounded.

NEC 110.12, 314.17 - All Unused Openings in Boxes Shall be Effectively Closed: When

openings in non-metallic boxes are broken out and not used, the entire box must be

replaced.

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NEC 110.14 - Only One Conductor Shall be Installed Under a Terminal Screw: In boxes

with more than one ground wire, the ground wires shall be spliced with a pigtail and

attached to the grounding terminal of the device.

NEC 110.14 - Wiring Splices: Splices must be made with an approved (or listed) wire cap

or wire nut and shall be made in an approved enclosure or electrical box. Wire splicing

used for a means for direct burial shall be identified for such use. Dissimilar metals shall

not be intermixed in a terminal or splicing device. Listed anti-oxidant compound shall

be used for aluminum conductor terminations.

NEC 314.25, 410.22 - Incomplete Installations: All outlet boxes shall have a cover, lamp-

holder, canopy for a luminaire, or device with an appropriate cover plate.

NEC 314.29 - J-Boxes Accessibly: All Junction boxes shall be installed so that wiring

installed in them can be rendered accessible without removing any part of the building.

NEC 334.30 - Support and Secure of NM Cable: NM cable shall have supports not

exceeding 4 ½’ and shall be secured with in 12” of a box with a clamping connector,

8” without clamp exists. Flat cables shall not be stapled on edge.

NEC 410.16 - Luminaire Clearances: Luminaires or light fixtures installed in clothes closets

shall have clearance from storage space. Insure a 12” for surface mount incandescent

fixtures, 6” for recessed incandescent fixtures, 6” for fluorescent fixtures are present.

These luminaires shall have totally enclosed lamps.

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

NEC 110.26 - Spaces About Electrical Equipment: Access and working space shall be

provided and maintained about all electrical equipment to permit ready and safe

operation and maintenance of such equipment. When voltage to ground does not

exceed 150-volts, the depth of that space in the direction of access to live parts, shall

not be less than 3’. The minimum width of that space, in front of electrical equipment,

shall be the width of the equipment or 30”, whichever is greater. This workspace shall be

clear and shall extend from floor to a height of 6 ½’. This space shall not be used for

storage. All workspaces shall be provided with illumination.

NEC 230.54 - Service Entrance Conductors: Where exposed to weather, service

entrance conductors shall be arranged so that water will not enter service raceway or

equipment. A drip loop shall be installed.

NEC 230.70 - Accessible Service Gear: The electrical service disconnecting means shall

be installed in a readily accessible location. Either outside a building or structure or

inside nearest point of entrance of the service entrance conductors.

NEC 230.70 - Service Panel Locations: Electrical service panels shall be readily

accessible, and shall not be installed in a bathroom, over the steps of a stairway or in

the vicinity of easily ignitable materials such as clothes closets.

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NEC 240.24(A)- Accessibility; Location in or on Premises: Switches containing fuses and

circuit breakers shall be readily accessible and installed so that the center of the grip of

the operating handle of the switch or circuit breaker, when in its highest position, is not

more than 2.0 m (6 ft 7 in.) above the floor or working platform.

NEC 300.4(G) - Abrasion Protection: Where raceways contain 4 AWG or larger insulated

circuit conductors, and these conductors enter a cabinet, a box, an enclosure, or a

raceway, the conductors shall be protected by an identified fitting providing a

smoothly rounded insulating surface, unless the conductors are separated from the

fitting or raceway by identified insulating material that is securely fastened in place.

NEC 310.15 - Ampacities for Conductors: Standard conductor sizes for service entrance

conductors on residential services. #4 AWG copper or #2 AWG Aluminum for 100-amp,

#1 AWG copper or #2/0 AWG aluminum for 150-amp, 2/0 AWG copper or 4/0 AWG

Aluminum for 200-amp.

GROUNDING

NEC 250.28 - Bonding Jumper: A main bonding jumper or green bonding screw

provided by the panel manufacturer shall be installed in the service panel to

electrically bond the grounded service conductor and the equipment grounding

conductors to the enclosure.

NEC 250.50 - Grounding Electrode System: A premises electrical service shall be

connected to any available grounding electrodes described in NEC 250.52 to form a

grounding electrode system.

NEC 250.52 - Grounding Electrodes: Metal underground water pipe with 10’ or more in

contact with earth (including well casings), metal building frame, concrete encased

electrode of #4 AWG copper conductor 20’ long or 20’ of ½” bare reinforcing bar

within and near the bottom of a concrete footing, and 8’ ground rods. An additional

electrode must supplement the underground metal water pipe or a single rod.

NEC 250.64(C) - Grounding Electrode Conductor Shall Not be Spliced: Grounding

electrode conductor(s) shall be installed in one continuous length without a splice or

joint.

NEC 250.66 - Table 250.66: The size of the grounding electrode conductor is determined

by the size of the service entrance conductors. For 100-amp conductors #8 copper or

#6 aluminum, 150-amp conductors #6 copper or #4 aluminum, for 200-amp conductors

#4 copper or # 2 aluminum. The conductor that is sole connection for ground rods is not

required to be larger than #6 AWG copper. For a concrete encased electrode, the

grounding electrode conductor shall not be required to be larger than #4 AWG

copper.

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NEC 250.104 - Metal Water Pipe Bond: Interior metal water piping and other metal

piping systems, that may become energized, shall be bonded to the service equipment

with a bonding jumper sizes, the same as the grounding electrode conductor.

NEC 250.134, 314.4, 404.9 - Required Grounding of Devices and Metal Boxes: All

electrical equipment, metal boxes, cover plates, plaster rings, switches and dimmers

shall be grounded.

UNDERGROUND WIRING

NEC 300.5 - Direct Buried Cable or Conduit or Other Raceways: Shall meet the following

minimum cover requirements:

 A rigid or intermediate metal conduit shall be buried at a minimum 6”.

 A non-metallic raceway (PVC) shall be buried at a minimum 18”.

 A direct burial cable and approved individual conductors shall be buried at a

minimum 24”.

 An underground service laterals shall be buried at a minimum 30” and shall have

their location identified by a warning ribbon placed at least 12” above the

underground installation.

Where subject to movement, direct buried cables or conduit shall be arranged to

prevent damage to the enclosed conductors and equipment. Conductors emerging

from grade, shall be installed in rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, or

schedule 80 PVC conduit to provide protection from physical damage and shall extend

18” below grade.