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Building Code Reference

Got a CEC 210.8 correction?

GFCI outlet locations

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 210.8 requires GFCI protection on all 125-volt through 250-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-amp receptacle circuits in locations where the risk of electric shock from ground faults is elevated — bathrooms, kitchens, garages, outdoors, crawl spaces, unfinished basements, laundry areas, boathouses, and any receptacle within 6 feet of a sink. The 2025 California Electrical Code expands that coverage to dedicated circuits for specific appliances: dishwashers, sump pumps, and electric ranges now require GFCI protection regardless of amperage, closing a gap that tripped up plan reviewers for years. Residential electrical permits, ADU additions, and kitchen or bath remodels are the jobs most commonly flagged on this section.

How to fix it

  1. Mark every GFCI-required location on the electrical plan

    Go through your floor plan room by room using the Section 210.8 location list: bathrooms, all kitchen receptacles, all receptacles within 6 feet of any sink or of a bathtub or shower, garages and accessory buildings, outdoor receptacles, crawl spaces, basements, laundry areas, indoor damp and wet locations, and boathouses. On each affected outlet, add a 'GFCI' symbol or note in your legend. Do not rely on a blanket note — reviewers want to see each protected location individually called out.

  2. Add GFCI callouts on dedicated appliance circuits

    For dishwashers, electric ranges, and sump pumps, show the GFCI protection method on the circuit run — either a GFCI circuit breaker at the panel or a GFCI outlet at the first point of connection. Note the method in your panel schedule or circuit table. Under 210.8(D), the 2025 code covers these appliances at 150 volts to ground or less and 60 amps or less, whether cord-and-plug or hardwired, so your 20-amp dishwasher circuit and your 40- or 50-amp range circuit both fall in scope.

  3. Update the panel schedule to reflect GFCI breakers

    If you're using GFCI circuit breakers rather than GFCI outlets, the panel schedule needs to show them. Reviewers cross-reference the panel schedule against the floor plan. A floor plan note that says 'GFCI protected' but a panel schedule showing a standard breaker is a mismatch that generates a second correction. Update each affected circuit in the panel schedule with 'GFCI CB' or equivalent notation.

  4. Show GFCI protection for crawl space lighting

    Lighting outlets in crawl spaces require GFCI protection under 210.8(C) — not just receptacles. If your plans show a crawl space access light, add a GFCI breaker note on that circuit. A single-line note in the electrical riser or a callout on the lighting plan works. Either way, the plan needs to show how the protection is achieved.

  5. Address existing non-GFCI outlets if the permit scope includes that space

    When you add new circuits in a garage, kitchen, or outdoor area, the plan-checker may flag existing non-GFCI receptacles in the same space. Review your scope carefully. If you're touching the panel or extending circuits into a protected zone, show either: (a) new GFCI protection added to existing outlets in that zone, or (b) a written note identifying a specific code exception that applies. Exceptions exist for receptacles that are not readily accessible or for industrial labs — most residential jobs don't qualify, so the safer path is upgrading the existing outlets.

  6. Check within-6-feet-of-sink rule across all spaces

    The 6-foot rule applies to any sink, not just kitchen and bathroom sinks. Utility sinks in laundry rooms, wet bars, outdoor sink setups, and secondary kitchen prep sinks all trigger the requirement. Measure from the top edge of the sink basin to the nearest receptacle. If any outlet falls within 6 feet, it needs GFCI protection noted on your plans. A simple dimension callout confirming the distance keeps the reviewer from guessing.

  7. Resubmit with a response letter citing each change

    In your correction response letter, reference each change by sheet and detail number. Example: 'Sheet E1.1 — added GFCI symbols to all receptacles within 6 feet of kitchen sinks, per CEC 210.8(A)(6). Sheet E2.0 — panel schedule updated, circuits 14 and 16 changed to GFCI CB, per CEC 210.8(D) for dishwasher and range.' Specific citations cut the chance of a second review cycle.

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Why you got flagged

Corrections letters citing CEC 210.8 almost always fall into one of four situations.

The most common is a missing GFCI callout on new appliance circuits. The 2025 code added GFCI requirements for dishwashers, ranges, and sump pumps — circuits that contractors have wired unprotected for decades. If your electrical plans show a dedicated 20-amp circuit to the dishwasher without a GFCI breaker or GFCI outlet noted, the plan reviewer will flag it. The requirement covers 150-volt-to-ground circuits up to 50 amps, not just the usual 15/20-amp receptacles, so dedicated high-draw appliances are now fully in scope.

The second common scenario is an incomplete room-by-room GFCI schedule. A plan-checker reviewing a kitchen or bath remodel expects to see every receptacle outlet within 6 feet of a sink explicitly labeled as GFCI-protected. Contractors often note GFCI on the standard countertop outlets but miss the outlet at the island prep sink, the wet bar, or a second sink in a double-vanity bathroom. One unlabeled outlet near a sink is enough to generate a correction.

The third scenario involves garages and outdoor circuits on older structures. When you pull a permit for an EV charger or a garage conversion, the plan-checker reviews the entire electrical scope. Existing non-GFCI receptacles in the garage or on the exterior that fall within the code's protection zones get flagged as part of the new work scope. The plans need to show either new GFCI protection on those circuits or written justification for a recognized exception.

The fourth situation is crawl space and unfinished basement lighting. Section 210.8(A)(4) requires GFCI protection for lighting outlets in crawl spaces, not just receptacles. This surprises contractors who assume GFCI is only a receptacle requirement. An ADU foundation or a subfloor access space with a light fixture needs GFCI protection on the circuit, and plans that don't show it get kicked back.

The official code

California Electrical Code (Title 24, Part 3) — published via Building Standards Commission

Read the source →

Common questions

Does CEC 210.8 apply to dedicated 240V appliance circuits like ranges and dryers?
Yes, for ranges and dishwashers it does — the 2025 California Electrical Code extended GFCI requirements to 125V–250V single-phase circuits rated 150 volts to ground or less at 50 amps or less. That covers the typical 240V/30-amp range circuit and the 120V/20-amp dishwasher circuit. Standard electric dryers are generally 240V two-pole circuits that land above the 50-amp threshold or fall under exceptions — check the specific circuit amperage and consult with your inspector. When in doubt, showing GFCI protection on the plans is far cheaper than a second correction cycle.
Do all receptacles in a garage need GFCI protection under CEC 210.8?
Yes. Every 125V–250V, single-phase, 15- and 20-amp receptacle in a garage requires GFCI protection. The code does not distinguish between receptacles used for tools, EV charging (on a dedicated circuit under 50 amps), or general use outlets on the garage walls. Exception: receptacles that are not readily accessible — like a single outlet installed on the ceiling specifically for a garage door opener — are sometimes excluded, but that exception is narrow and requires the outlet to be genuinely inaccessible. Plan reviewers will flag any receptacle in the garage that isn't marked GFCI on your electrical plans.
What counts as within 6 feet of a sink for GFCI purposes?
The 6-foot measurement runs from the top outer edge of the sink or wash basin to the nearest receptacle outlet. It applies horizontally, not just directly beside the sink. Any outlet on the wall within that radius triggers the requirement — including outlets behind appliances that sit adjacent to a sink, outlets across a narrow prep counter, or outlets on a kitchen island that has a sink. If the measurement is close, show it on your plans with a dimension callout. Reviewers appreciate it and it closes the flag without a follow-up question.
Does a GFCI outlet at the first receptacle protect all outlets downstream on that circuit?
Yes. A GFCI receptacle wired with the load-side terminals feeding the rest of the circuit protects all downstream outlets from that same circuit. This is a cost-effective way to protect a run of kitchen countertop outlets or bathroom outlets — one GFCI outlet near the panel end of the circuit covers the others. The downstream outlets should be labeled 'GFCI Protected' per NEC convention. Show this clearly on your plans: identify the first GFCI outlet and note that downstream outlets are load-protected. Reviewers see this frequently and will accept it if it's clearly documented.
Does CEC 210.8 require GFCI protection in crawl spaces?
Yes, and it covers lighting outlets too, not just receptacles. Section 210.8(A)(4) requires GFCI protection for all 15- and 20-amp, 125-volt receptacle outlets in crawl spaces at or below grade level. Lighting outlets in crawl spaces are also covered. If your ADU foundation, subfloor access space, or any below-grade crawl area has a light fixture or receptacle, show GFCI protection on the circuit — typically a GFCI breaker in the panel. This one surprises a lot of contractors who assume GFCI only applies to receptacle outlets.
Are GFCI breakers acceptable instead of GFCI outlets on my plans?
Yes. GFCI circuit breakers installed at the panel are a fully acceptable alternative to GFCI outlets and protect every outlet and load on that circuit branch. They're often the preferred choice for dedicated appliance circuits (dishwasher, range) where there's no accessible outlet location to install a GFCI receptacle. If you use GFCI breakers, update both your panel schedule (label the breaker 'GFCI CB') and your floor plan notes so the reviewer can verify both documents are consistent. Inconsistency between the panel schedule and floor plan is a common trigger for a second correction.
When does a remodel trigger GFCI upgrades on existing outlets?
When the permit scope includes work in a location covered by CEC 210.8, the plan-checker reviews all outlets in that space — not just the new ones. Replacing a panel, extending circuits, or adding new outlets in a kitchen, bathroom, or garage can result in existing non-GFCI outlets in the same zone getting flagged. California's adoption of the NEC generally requires that replacement receptacles in GFCI locations be GFCI-type per CEC 406.4(D). The safest approach: when your scope touches any 210.8 space, show GFCI protection on all existing outlets in that zone on your plans, or document a specific code exception. The cost of adding a GFCI outlet or breaker is far lower than another 60-day correction cycle.

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