Electrical Codes

Back to All Building Codes

Please note that the library cannot help determine which codes apply to your specific project.

The codes adopted by law are published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), the International Code Council, and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

The publishers of the codes make some editions available for free online — often with some restrictions — but note that it may not always be possible to find an online version of the code as it existed on the date specified by law. In order to view NFPA publications, you must first set up a profile and agree to their licensing restrictions. To view IAPMO documents, you may need to install Adobe Flash Player.

Local Government Code
Chapter 214. Municipal Regulation of Housing and Other Structures
Sec. 214.214. National Electrical Code

Section 214.214 adopts the National Electrical Code as it existed on May 1, 2001, as the municipal electrical code in Texas. This law also allows a municipality to adopt amendments to the National Electrical Code. For the correct version of the code for your municipality, please contact your local government officials.

OCCUPATIONS CODE
CHAPTER 1305. ELECTRICIANS
SEC. 1305.101. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES

Section 1305.101 requires the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to adopt a revised version of the National Electrical Code every three years as the electrical code for Texas. As of November 2020, the 2020 National Electrical Code has been adopted by Rule 73.100 of Title 16 of the Texas Administrative Code.

Texas Administrative Code
Title 25. Health Services
Chapter 135. Ambulatory Surgical Centers
Rule §135.52 Construction Requirements for a New Ambulatory Surgical Center

Rule 135.52 (i) requires all electrical material and equipment to be compliant with a section of the the 2002 edition of NFPA 70, the National Electric Code. See the text of the rule for additional details as it refers to other codes as well.

Texas Administrative Code
Title 26. Health and Human Services
Chapter 553. Licensing Standards for Assisted Living Facilities
Subchapter D. Facility Construction
Rule §553.101 Definitions

Rule 553.101 states that the term "NFPA 70," when used in Chapter 553, Subchapter D, refers to the 2011 edition of the National Electrical Code. Specific requirements will depend on the type and size of the facility; see the text of the rules for details.

Texas Administrative Code
Title 25. Health Services
Chapter 117. End Stage Renal Disease Facilities
Rule §117.102 Construction Requirements for a New End Stage Renal Disease Facility

Rule 117.102 (i) requires all new electrical material and equipment to be compliant with the 2002 edition of NFPA 70, the National Electric Code. See the text of the rule for details.

Texas Administrative Code
Title 28. Insurance
Chapter 34. State Fire Marshal
Subchapter H. Storage and Sale of Fireworks

Rule 34.821 requires that the wiring, switches, and fixtures in storage buildings at fireworks manufacturing plants comply with a section of the 1984 edition of the National Electrical Code.

Rule 34.823 requires that electrical installations, if used, in storage facilities for more than 500 cases of Fireworks 1.4G comply with the 1984 edition of the National Electrical Code.

Texas Administrative Code
Title 25. Health Services
Chapter 131. Freestanding Emergency Medical Care Facilities
Subchapter G. Physical Plant and Construction Requirements

Rule 131.141 requires that any facilities operating on or before June 1, 2010, have electrical materials and equipment that are in compliance with the 2002 edition of NFPA 70. See the text of the rule for details.

Rule 131.143 requires that any facilities operating on or before June 1, 2010, have electrical materials and equipment that are in compliance with the 2002 edition of NFPA 70. See the text of the rule for details.

Texas Administrative Code
Title 25. Health Services
Chapter 133. Hospital Licensing
Rule §133.162 New Construction Requirements

Rule 133.162 requires all new electrical material and equipment to be compliant with the 1999 edition of NFPA 70. See the text of the rule for details.

Texas Administrative Code
Title 16. Economic Regulation
Chapter 70. Industrialized Housing and Buildings
Rule §70.100 Mandatory Building Codes

Rule 70.100 adopts the 2014 edition of the National Electrical Code for industrialized and modular buildings:

(a) Effective August 1, 2017, all industrialized housing and buildings, modules, and modular components, shall be constructed in accordance with the codes referenced in subsection (c) - (j).
[…]
(j) The National Electrical Code, 2014 edition, published by the National Fire Protection Association, is adopted as the Electrical Code of the Texas Industrialized Housing and Buildings Program.

Texas Administrative Code
Title 26. Health and Human Services
Chapter 551. Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with an Intellectual Disability)
Subchapter D. General Requirements for Facility Construction

Rule 551.61 requires that electrical and illumination systems must be designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 70.

Rule 551.65 states that wiring and circuitry for fire alarm systems must comply with NFPA 70.

Texas Administrative Code
Title 37. Public Safety and Corrections
Part 9. Texas Commission on Jail Standards
Chapter 259. New Construction Rules

Rule 259.522 (Electrical Wiring) adopts the National Electrical Code for electrical wiring in temporary housing tents.

Rule 259.622 (Electrical Power) adopts the National Electrical Code for electrical wiring in temporary housing buildings.

Texas Administrative Code
Title 25. Health Services
Part 9. Texas Commission on Jail Standards
Chapter 265. General Sanitation
Subchapter F. Minimum Standards for Mobile Home Developments

In the absence of local codes, Rule 265.82 adopts the current edition of the National Electrical Code.

Texas Administrative Code
Title 26. Health and Human Services
Chapter 554. Nursing Facility Requirements for Licensure and Medicaid Certification
Rule §554.301 Definitions

Rule 554.301 specifies that all references to the NFPA 70 in Chapter 554, Subchapter D refer to the 2011 edition of the NFPA 70.

Texas Administrative Code
Title 30. Environmental Quality
Chapter 285. On-Site Sewage Facilities
Rule §285.34 Other Requirements

Rule 285.34 requires that all electrical wiring shall conform to the requirements of the 1999 National Electrical Code.

Section 181.045 of the Utilities Code requires that a municipal electric utility shall construct, operate, and maintain its transmission power lines and distribution power lines in accordance with the National Electrical Safety Code “as published in March 1948 by the National Bureau of Standards, Handbook 30, as revised by Handbook 81, published by the National Bureau of Standards in November 1961.”

Section 38.004 of the Utilities Code requires power lines shall be constructed, operated, and maintained with respect to clearance in accordance with the edition of the National Electrical Safety Code “in effect at the time of construction.”

Section 91.019 of the Natural Resources Code requires that all power lines serving a well site or other surface facility be compliant with the National Electrical Code adopted by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Rule 73.100 adopts the 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code.

Texas Administrative Code
Title 26. Health and Human Services
Chapter 510. Private Psychiatric Hospitals and Crisis Stabilization Units
Rule §510.122 Physical Plant and Construction Requirements

Rule 510.122 requires all new electrical material and equipment to be compliant with the 1999 edition of NFPA 70 and NFPA 99. Please see the text of the rule for additional details.

Texas Administrative Code
Title 19. Education
Chapter 61. School Districts

For construction before November 1, 2021: In the absence of local codes, Rule 61.1036 states that the school district shall adopt and use "the building code and related fire, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, and energy conservation codes from the latest edition of the family of International Codes as published by the ICC"; and the National Electrical Code

For construction on or after November 1, 2021: In the absence of local codes, Rule 61.1040 (j) requires that projects reasonably comply with the National Electric Code as adopted by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. As of November 1, 2020, the Department has adopted the 2020 National Electric Code.

Texas Administrative Code
Title 26. Health and Human Services
Chapter 506. Special Care Facilities
Rule §506.91 Construction Requirements

Rule 506.91 requires all electrical material and equipment to be compliant with the 1999 edition of NFPA 70. See the text of the rule for details.

Texas Administrative Code
Title 30. Environmental Quality
Chapter 217. Design Criteria for Domestic Wastewater Systems
Rule §217.326 Electrical and Fire Code Compliance

Rule 217.326 states that the facilities must comply with local electrical codes. In the absence of a local electrical code, the rule adopts the most recent edition of the National Electrical Code.

Disclaimer: The library's list of adopted codes is not exhaustive. We include only the adoptions that the library has found relevant as building codes. State laws quoted on this page are not the official versions of the law. See the Texas Constitution and Statutes website.

page last updated: 11 Aug 2023 4:04 PM