Just when you heard enough about these outlets 2026 NEC throws a new twist.
210.52(C)(4) prohibits receptacle outlets within 24 inches below the countertop.
New or revised Code language:
(4) Prohibited Receptacle Outlet
Locations. Receptacle outlets are
not permitted within 24 in. of the
countertop.
How that prevents injuries is beyond me, but that child is too cool to be hurt with those shades (shades indoors is always suspicious).
So, islands are no longer required to have an outlet?
Not quite. Countertops are typically 36". So as long as the outlet is no more than 1 foot off the floor it’s OK. So any dumb kid can still pull the appliance off the countertop.
Time to get out the extension cord
The 2023 NEC eliminated the island receptacle requirement. The use of receptacles to serve an island are now optional. You have two options: one install a pop up style receptacle in the island countertop surface or two make provisions for a receptacle to be added in the future if the homeowner wants a pop up receptacle.
I think they should put the receptacles behind the toe-kick, nice and safe down there!!
Last time I looked it was 2026. This post is specifically about the 2026 NEC !
Seems like now would be a good time to install one of those Ki Wireless Induction deals. It can both heat stuff and has a translation module that can convert back to 120v if you need portable power, but why would you need that? They have a whole range of induction powered appliances up to 2200 watts.
Of course, it’s a bit of promiseware at this time, but hey, no cords for kids to pull a steaming crockpot of boiling Chili onto their head.
Thank you.
Wasn’t the rational behind requiring island receptacles to prevent
??
Now this is exactly what people will most likely revert too.
Did the
require provisions be provided to install the (future) counter-top outlet?
Here the wording from the code section regarding future installations from the 2023 NEC:
210.52(2) Island and Peninsular Countertops and Work Surfaces
Receptacle outlets, if installed to serve an island or peninsular countertop or work surface, shall
be installed in accordance with 210.52(C)(3). If a receptacle outlet is not provided to serve an
island or peninsular countertop or work surface, provisions shall be provided at the island or
peninsula for future addition of a receptacle outlet to serve the island or peninsular countertop or
work surface.
First out of curiosity do you have access to the actual NEC “Behind the scenes” discussions and reasoning documents displaying why they eliminated other than pop-up style outlets on the island? All I have ever found were discussions without links or uploads of the actual NEC deliberations about this.
Next IMO that was one of the dumbest changes they made for two main reasons. I have yet to see an island that is not a stone countertop these days. Yes you can later cut a stone countertop to add an outlet but there are multiple problems with that. Accessing the underside to mount a outlet unit is very difficult since most islands are well utilized for space and there is just not the room under the counter to get at it. Not only that but boring through a countertop can contribute to other damages to it. If you mount it under the cantilevered portion of the countertop that can be problematic as many are made to be used as a quasi “breakfast bar” type seating. The unit is now in the way of that and can contribute to injuries there.
The other reasons deals with the positioning of the island and possibly you can point to a NEC reference about this. Most islands are a separator between the kitchen and typically a large living room area. Outlets were many times added to the island on the living room side to provide access since floor outlets were not mandatory and still do not appear to be. That left a very large area without access to an electrical outlet and now with this rule it is worse since I did not see any change to account for that. So now we get to see more people using extension cords contributing to other possible injuries.
I can somewhat see the safety aspect from a child or an older person getting to close and pulling on the cord inadvertently when island sidewall outlets were used. However there has to be a point where the NEC, and other codes, stop trying to reduce the ignorant gene pool at the expense of the remainder of the smarter children and people.
Maybe he is a “Crack Baby” and the NEC is trying to protect all??
@rmeier2 fails again to deal with CURRENT (2026) code referenced in this post. Must be tough when you are 3 years behind.
The 2023 NEC doesn’t address the original post because there is no 210.52 (C) (4) in it. That is an entirely new section for 2026.
Aren’t appliance cords shorter than 24” these days? Maybe it’s to keep people from plugging in crockpots, etc. Seems the NEC really doesn’t want me making my pot roast on my island. I’m just guessing.
With the moving target PITA this whole issue has turned into I’m starting to think of a blanket statement in my reports.
This change in the 2023 NEC was due to a 30 year CPSC report that studied accidents involving people being injured buy objects being pulled from the island due to the dangling cords. I’ll see if can find a link to the Public inputs and the comments.
The 2026 addresses the possibility of a required wall or fixed barrier receptacle being used on the island by requiring them to be at least 24" below the island countertop. Here’s some information regarding the evolution of the requirements for island receptacles from the NFPA.
Interesting comment. So I measured the readily available kitchen appliance cords I have.
The oldest is a hand mixer from my mother-in-law. This was 5 and 1/2 feet. The next longest was an electric knife at 5 feet. the stand mixer was 3.5 ft, the Keurig 3 ft. the air fryer and the toaster were 2.5 feet.
Yes the appliance cord length does seem to be getting shorter however each of these could reach an outlet spaced 2 feet below the countertop. The little druggie kid could still cause havoc with the cord. (Mike Holt tells me that is a little @rmeier2 - same sunglasses).
The only comment I might make is about safety concerns in either the absence or presence of island outlets. Code is always a moving target and not mentioned in my reports.
That’s how I handled it also. 
