The 2026 edition of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) has been issued after one of the larger revision cycles in recent years. The process drew nearly 4,000 public inputs. Alongside new requirements, this edition starts a broader reorganization of the code that NFPA plans to continue in 2029.
Notable changes
- Load calculations move. Requirements formerly in Article 220 now sit in a new Article 120.
- Higher-voltage installations are reorganized. Article 235 is removed, and requirements for equipment over 1000 V ac and 1500 V dc are reorganized into other articles, including Articles 265 to 270.
- Limited-energy systems are restructured, including a new Article 750.
- New Article 624 covers power transfer systems for electric self-propelled vehicles.
- An outdoor emergency disconnect for one- and two-family dwelling services is addressed in 230.70.
When it applies
As with every edition, the 2026 NEC only applies where it’s adopted, and US states adopt on very different schedules. Expect some states to move to it during 2026 while others remain on the 2020 or 2023 editions for some time.
For our electrical teams, the practical impact is that the same requirement may sit under a different article number depending on where a project is. We check the adopted edition and local amendments at the start of each project, and we keep our crews trained on the edition they’re working to.
