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Electrical work contracted under C K ELECTRIC · CSLB Lic. #354550 (C-10) · Farmer Works Electric license in process

NEC 210.52(G) · Homes

Garage, basement and accessory building receptacles

At dwellings, each attached garage, and each detached garage with power, needs at least one receptacle in every vehicle bay, no more than 5½ ft above the floor. Powered accessory buildings and each unfinished basement area need at least one.

Plan of a two-car garage with a receptacle in each bay, 5½ ft max above the floor; powered sheds and unfinished basement areas need one.
Receptacles for a door opener or other equipment are extra and never stand in for the receptacle required in each vehicle bay. Diagram: Farmer Works Electric, free to share under CC BY 4.0 · Download PNG · How to credit

What the code requires

Section 210.52(G) applies to one-family, two-family and multifamily dwellings. The receptacles it requires are in addition to any receptacles installed for specific equipment.

Garages: every attached garage, and every detached garage that has electric power, needs at least one receptacle outlet in each vehicle bay, no more than 5½ ft above the floor.

Accessory buildings and basements: each accessory building with electric power needs at least one receptacle outlet, and so does each separate unfinished portion of a basement.

On the job

  • A detached garage or accessory building with no electric power does not need a receptacle.
  • Under 210.11(C)(4), at least one 120-V, 20-A branch circuit must supply the garage receptacles. That circuit may also feed outdoor receptacles, and other garage receptacles may be on additional circuits of 15 A or more.
  • A receptacle put in for a specific piece of equipment does not take the place of the required receptacle in each bay.
Clean two-car garage interior with shelving, lights and a pickup truck
Residential garage interior (representative stock photo).

Exceptions that matter

  • In multifamily buildings, garage spaces that are not attached to an individual dwelling unit do not need a receptacle in each vehicle bay.

What changed in 2023

The 2023 NEC added that a receptacle supplying only a permanently installed premises security system does not count toward these required receptacles.

In California

For new construction, the 2025 CEC (625.1.1) also requires electric vehicle charging to comply with CALGreen, the California Green Building Standards Code.

Related sections

Where this comes from

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Electrical work contracted under C K ELECTRIC · CSLB Lic. #354550 (C-10) · Farmer Works Electric license in process