The National Electric Code ( NEC ) Key Provisions:

The National Electrical Code includes hundreds of provisions including these for electrical receptacles in homes.

• Receptacle outlets for most rooms in a home are required so that no point in a wall space (measured along the floor line) is more than six feet from a receptacle outlet. This requirement helps to minimize this need for extension cords.
• A receptacle outlet is required outdoors at grade level at the front and back of each one-family dwelling and each unit of a two-family dwelling. (These receptacles must have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection.)
• A receptacle outlet is required for the laundry in each dwelling unit. An additional receptacle outlet is required for each one-family dwelling in each basement, attached garage, and detached garage with electric power. (Receptacles installed in garages and unfinished basements must have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection.)
• Dwelling units are required to have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for receptacles installed outdoors, and for receptacles in bathrooms, garages, unfinished accessory buildings, crawl spaces, unfinished basements, and for receptacles installed to serve kitchen countertops, and for receptacles installed to serve wet bar counter tops if within 6 ft of the sink.
• Ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection is generally required for swimming pool, fountain, spa and hot tub, and hydromassage bathtub installations. Refer to the Code for specific requirements. Use of NFPA 70 The National Electrical Code is adopted and enforced in all 50 states in the United States. It is also the basis for electrical codes in several other countries.