Section 210.8/GFCI Protection (2020 Edition)
NEC 2020 Section 210.8 expanded GFCI requirements from 2017, adding kitchens, dishwashers, and outdoor public spaces.
The NEC 2020 expanded GFCI requirements significantly from the 2017 edition. Section 210.8(A) for dwellings added 250-volt outlets in garages and basements, and clarified outdoor requirements. Section 210.8(B) for other-than-dwellings added kitchens in all occupancies, dishwasher branch circuits, and sinks where receptacles are within 6 feet. The 2020 edition also introduced 210.8(F) requiring GFCI for outdoor outlets in public spaces. Note: the 2023 NEC further expanded 210.8 with 150-volt-to-ground thresholds and additional locations.
Key differences from NEC 2023
The 2023 NEC expanded 210.8 further by lowering the voltage threshold from 150 volts to ground to include 208Y/120V systems more explicitly, adding outdoor patios and decks for commercial buildings, and expanding GFCI requirements for 250-volt receptacles. Jurisdictions still on the 2020 NEC use the 2020 requirements, which are less expansive than 2023 but more expansive than 2017.
What plan reviewers look for
Plan reviewers verify which NEC edition the jurisdiction has adopted. Under the 2020 NEC, they check for GFCI on all kitchen receptacles (not just countertop), bathroom, garage, outdoor, crawl space, unfinished basement, laundry, and boathouse receptacles. For commercial kitchens, they verify dishwasher circuits and sink-adjacent receptacles have GFCI protection.