Residential Kitchen Receptacle Requirements
(2010 California Electrical Code)
GENERAL
1) At least two 20-ampere branch circuits shall supply kitchen countertop receptacles.
2) Wall Counter Spaces (See Figure 1):
a) A receptacle shall be installed for any counter that is 12 inches wide or greater; and,
b) No point on the kitchen counter, measured at the wall may be more that 24 inches away from a receptacle. Also
known as the 2ft. / 4ft. rule (See Figure 2 for explanation).
3) Island and Peninsular Counter Spaces (See Figure 1):
a) At least one receptacle is required for an island or peninsular counter with dimensions of at least 24 inches by 12
inches;
b) An island counter with a rangetop or sink installed where the dimension behind the rangetop or sink to the edge of the
counter is less than 12 inches is considered as two separate island countertops; and,
c) A peninsular countertop is measured from the connecting edge.
Fig. 1
Receptacle max. 20 in.
above countertop
2 ft. max.
4 ft. max.
4 ft. max.
Max. 12 in. below
countertop surface
Max. 6 in. overhang above
receptacle
Bar-type counter acts as
room divider, so receptacle
required within 6 ft. of end
Island or penninsula countertop
spaces require only 1
receptacle , so the 2 ft./4 ft.
rule does not apply
This receptacle does not
serve countertop or need
GFCI protection
Fig. 2
2 ft.
2 ft.
4 ft. max.
Wall countertop recepteacles serve spaces for 2f ft. on each
side of the receptacle. Therefore, the max. spacing between
receptacles on the same countertop spaces is 4 ft.
Page 1 of 2
All illustrations ©2014 Paddy Morrissey
inquiries: [email protected]
Residential Kitchen Receptacle Requirements
(2010 California Electrical Code)
4) Receptacle installation (See Figure 1):
a) Maximum of 20 inches above countertop;
b) Maximum of 12 below island or peninsular countertops;
c) Island or peninsular countertops may not extend more than 6 inches beyond the cabinet housing the receptacle; and,
d) Receptacle may not be installed face-up in the countertop.
5) Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter (GFCI) protection is required for all receptacles serving kitchen
countertops, as well as pantries, breakfast rooms, dining rooms and similar areas.
6) Countertops separated by sinks, ranges, or refrigerators shall be treated as separate spaces. The wall behind the
sink or cook top is not to be treated as wall space unless the distance exceeds 12 inches to the wall or 18 inches
to a corner (See Figures 3 and 4).
Fig. 3
If X < 12 in.,
measure from here
Extended Range or Sink
Distance from range
or sink to wall
If X < 12 in.,
measure from here
X
Fig. 4
If X < 18 in.,
outlet not needed here
If X ≥ 12 in., countertops are not considered
separate spaces & the 2 ft./4 ft. rule applies to
the entire countertop
Distance from
range or sink
to corner of
wall
If X < 18 in.,
measure from here
Page 2 of 2
Corner Range or Sink
If X < 18 in.,
measure from here
X
If X ≥ 18 in., countertops
are not considered separate
spaces & the 2 ft./4 ft. rule
applies to the entire
countertop
All illustrations ©2014 Paddy Morrissey
inquiries: [email protected]