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Building Code Reference

Got a CEC 210.52(C) correction?

Kitchen counter receptacles

For builders in California, Greater Seattle, the Las Vegas area, the Denver area and Kansas City · CrossBeam Permits

What this code requires, how to fix it, and how cities and counties review it

What this code requires

CEC 210.52(C) is the California Electrical Code section that governs receptacle outlet placement along kitchen counter surfaces. It requires that no point along a kitchen countertop wall line be more than 24 inches from an outlet, measured horizontally. Islands and peninsulas do not require a receptacle, but if none is installed, provisions for adding one later must be provided at the island or peninsula. The rule applies to all dwelling units, so it shows up on permits for new kitchens, kitchen remodels, and ADUs with a full kitchen.

How to fix it

  1. Dimension every counter run on the electrical plan

    Mark the length of each distinct counter section on your electrical plans — not just the total kitchen perimeter. Each straight wall segment with countertop gets its own dimension. Include the distance from the end of the counter to the nearest receptacle. This one step prevents most 210.52(C) corrections because the plan-checker can verify compliance without measuring themselves. If you use Bluebeam, the distance markup tool works well for this; export a marked-up PDF alongside the electrical plan.

  2. Apply the 24-inch rule to each wall segment independently

    For every counter wall segment, confirm no point is more than 24 inches from a receptacle — measured horizontally along the wall. A 48-inch run needs at least one outlet somewhere in the middle (not at one end). A 72-inch run needs two. Work through each wall segment on paper before transferring to the plan. Corners break segments: each leg of a corner counter is measured separately from the outlet in (or nearest to) that leg. The measurement stops at appliance cutouts like ranges or refrigerators, then restarts on the other side.

  3. Check island and peninsula dimensions

    Under the 2025 code, an island or peninsula does not need a receptacle, but if none is installed, CEC 210.52(C)(2) requires a provision at the island for adding one later. If you install one, show it on the island plan with a note that it is a countertop outlet (on or within 20 inches above the counter, or an in-counter assembly listed for countertop use per CEC 210.52(C)(3)). If you omit it, note “future island receptacle provision per 210.52(C)(2)” on the plan. That note helps the plan-checker confirm compliance rather than leaving them to measure from the floor plan themselves.

  4. Show outlets on both the electrical plan and kitchen elevation

    Plan-checkers often review the architectural kitchen elevation independently of the electrical plan. Put outlet symbols on both sheets at the same locations. If only one sheet shows them, you can get a correction on one sheet even when the other sheet is correct. A cross-reference note (‘electrical outlets per E-2, locations per A-3 kitchen elevation’) closes that gap fast. Make sure the elevation shows the outlet height relative to the finished countertop — typically 4 to 6 inches above the counter surface.

  5. Place outlets above the counter surface, not below it

    CEC 210.52(C) receptacles must be located above the countertop surface. Outlets shown at standard 12-inch AFF height under a 36-inch counter do not satisfy the countertop spacing rule — those serve under-counter appliances and are governed by different provisions. Note the mounting height on your plans and on the kitchen elevation. If the countertop finishes at 36 inches, the outlet should be shown at 40 to 42 inches AFF. Backsplash tile work sometimes affects this; flag it if the wall treatment changes the surface material at that height.

  6. Account for refrigerator and range cutouts

    The counter space immediately behind or beside a built-in refrigerator or range is not usable countertop for 210.52(C) purposes. You do not need to satisfy the 24-inch rule for a 4- to 6-inch nib between the range and the wall. But the counter on the opposite side of the appliance starts a new measurement from zero. Make sure your plan labels appliance cutout dimensions so the reviewer knows where usable counter starts and stops on each wall segment.

  7. Note GFCI protection on all kitchen counter outlets

    Every countertop receptacle in the kitchen requires GFCI protection under CEC 210.8(A)(6). While 210.52(C) is the spacing rule and 210.8 covers GFCI, plan-checkers frequently flag them together in the same correction letter. Add a general electrical note: ‘All kitchen countertop receptacles GFCI protected per CEC 210.8(A)(6).’ This costs 30 seconds to add and closes a second common correction in the same submittal, saving you a full review cycle.

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Why you got flagged

Here’s why plan-checkers flag 210.52(C): the 24-inch spacing rule is specific enough that small layout choices on the floor plan can trigger a correction without the designer catching it first.

The most common miss is a wall run that’s just long enough to need a second outlet but only shows one. If a stretch of counter runs from a corner to the range, the plan-checker measures from the outlet to the far end. If that distance exceeds 24 inches, it gets flagged — even if the total run is only 36 or 40 inches. Most contractors know the rule exists but underestimate how short 24 inches actually is in a working kitchen.

Corner counters trip designers up because each section of counter on either side of a corner is measured independently. A receptacle mounted 22 inches from one corner satisfies the section on that side, but the perpendicular leg needs its own outlet if it runs more than 24 inches. Plans that show one outlet in the corner don’t pass; each leg gets its own measurement.

Islands and peninsulas are the other common flag. An island no longer needs a receptacle, but if none is shown, the plans must show a provision for adding one later. Many kitchen plans show a beautiful island layout with neither. The plan-checker sees the gap and writes the correction. Pop-up or in-counter receptacles listed for countertop use are allowed, but they have to be shown on the plans.

Finally, the breakfast bar or raised bar counter is sometimes treated as a separate counter surface when it sits at a different height than the prep counter below. If it has usable counter space, the plan-checker may flag it as a peninsula that needs its own outlet or future-outlet provision.

The official code

California Electrical Code 2025, Section 210.52(C) — Kitchen and Dining Area Receptacle Outlets

Read the source →

Common questions

Does CEC 210.52(C) apply to kitchen counters in an ADU?
Yes. CEC 210.52(C) applies to all dwelling units, which includes ADUs, JDUs, and garage conversions with a full kitchen. The same 24-inch spacing rule and the island/peninsula outlet requirements apply regardless of unit size. A compact ADU kitchen with a small island still needs either a countertop outlet or a provision for adding one later. ADU plan checks are often more thorough than typical additions because the permit package covers a new living unit from scratch, so every counter surface gets scrutinized.
How do I measure the 24-inch rule for a corner counter?
Measure along each straight wall segment independently. A corner counter forms two legs — treat them as separate counter runs meeting at the corner. The outlet nearest the corner satisfies the 24-inch rule for however much of each leg it covers. If the outlet is 20 inches from the corner on the left leg, it covers 20 inches to the left and 24 inches to the right of its position on that same leg. The perpendicular leg to the right starts its own fresh measurement from the corner. You almost always need a separate outlet on each leg of a corner counter unless the legs are very short (under 24 inches each).
Can a pop-up countertop outlet satisfy 210.52(C) for an island?
Yes. CEC 210.52(C)(3) explicitly allows receptacles installed in the countertop surface using assemblies listed for countertop use, including pop-up style outlets. The outlet just has to be listed for countertop installation and shown on the electrical plan with the outlet type noted. Make sure the installer uses a UL-listed countertop receptacle assembly — a standard box surface-mounted or recessed into the counter without a listed countertop assembly does not qualify. Brands like Legrand, Hubbell, and TayMac make listed in-countertop assemblies that inspectors accept. Note the manufacturer and model on the plan if you want to avoid a ‘provide listing’ comment at inspection.
Does a small island still need a receptacle?
No island of any size requires a receptacle under the 2025 code, but CEC 210.52(C)(2) says that if no receptacle is provided to serve the island or peninsula, provisions must be provided there for adding one later. The older size thresholds no longer apply. Put the island on the floor plan and add a brief note: “No island receptacle installed; provision for future receptacle per 210.52(C)(2).” This prevents the plan-checker from guessing and flagging it just to be safe.
Do under-counter outlets count for the 24-inch spacing rule?
No. Receptacles mounted below the counter surface do not satisfy the 210.52(C) countertop spacing requirement. The section requires outlets to be accessible at counter level, above the countertop surface. Standard under-counter outlets installed at 12 inches AFF serve appliances like the dishwasher or refrigerator and are governed by different provisions. Show your countertop outlets at 4 to 6 inches above the finished counter height on both the electrical plan and the kitchen elevation. If a plan-checker sees outlets shown below the counter with no countertop outlets on the elevation, they will flag it.
How many circuits do kitchen counter outlets need to be on?
Kitchen countertop receptacles must be on at least two 20-amp small appliance branch circuits per CEC 210.52(B). This is a separate but related requirement that plan-checkers often review alongside the 210.52(C) spacing check. Both circuits must be dedicated to kitchen counter and dining area receptacles — no lighting, disposal, or dishwasher loads on those circuits. Show the circuit designations on your panel schedule and connect each counter outlet symbol to a circuit on the electrical plan. If your panel schedule does not show two separate 20-amp kitchen counter circuits, expect a correction.

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