Holiday lights on the side of the house
What's wrong here?
- The flip lid is not weatherproof while a cord is plugged in
- Holiday lighting may stay connected for no more than 30 days
- An outdoor receptacle must be at least 24 in. above grade
- Nothing. This installation is compliant
Show the answer and the code reference
The answer
A receptacle in a wet location has a flat flip-lid cover that is weatherproof only with the plug removed, instead of a listed extra-duty in-use (bubble) cover.
Correct choice: 1. The flip lid is not weatherproof while a cord is plugged in
406.9(B)(1) requires 15- and 20-ampere, 125- and 250-volt receptacles in wet locations to have an enclosure that is weatherproof whether or not the attachment plug is inserted, and an outlet box hood used for that purpose must be listed and identified as extra-duty. A wall exposed to rain and snow is a wet location. With the holiday-light cord plugged in, this flat lid hangs open and snow melt runs straight into the face of the device, which leads to nuisance tripping at best and a failed, tracking receptacle at worst. The GFCI protection and the TR, WR-marked device are fine; the cover is the problem.
How to fix it
Replace the flat cover with a listed in-use cover marked extra-duty that closes over the plug and cord. Keep the TR, WR-rated GFCI device.
Code references
NEC 2023 406.9(B)(1) — Wet Locations: Receptacles of 15 and 20 Amperes in a Wet Location
15- and 20-ampere, 125- and 250-volt receptacles installed in a wet location shall have an enclosure that is weatherproof whether or not the attachment plug cap is inserted; an outlet box hood installed for this purpose shall be listed and identified as extra-duty. All 15- and 20-ampere, 125- and 250-volt nonlocking receptacles there shall also be listed weather-resistant type.
Drills citing 406.9(B)(1)NEC 2023 210.8(A)(3) — GFCI Protection, Dwelling Units: Outdoors
In dwelling units, all 125-volt through 250-volt receptacles installed outdoors, supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground, shall have GFCI protection for personnel.
Drills citing 210.8(A)(3)NEC 2023 590.3(B) — Time Constraints: 90 Days
Temporary electric power and lighting installations are permitted for a period not to exceed 90 days for holiday decorative lighting and similar purposes.
Drills citing 590.3(B)
2026 NEC:same rule and number. Article 406 was restructured in 2026 (device switches moved in from Article 404, and 406.9 now covers both receptacles and switches in damp and wet locations). Summaries still describe the in-use (weatherproof with plug inserted), extra-duty hood and WR rules for 15- and 20-A wet-location receptacles, with no substantive change found. The subdivision number was not confirmed against the 2026 text. Confidence: low
Minnesota
Minnesota adopted the 2023 NEC without amendment (Minn. Stat. 326B.35; Minn. Rules 1315.0200), so 406.9(B)(1) applies as published to permits filed July 1, 2023 through Aug. 16, 2026. Permits filed on or after Aug. 17, 2026 fall under the 2026 NEC; see the 2026 NEC note on this drill.
How Minnesota adopts the NECWhy the other choices are wrong
- Holiday lighting may stay connected for no more than 30 days. 590.3(B) allows temporary decorative holiday lighting for up to 90 days, and the cover problem exists no matter what is plugged in.
- An outdoor receptacle must be at least 24 in. above grade. The NEC sets no minimum height for outdoor receptacles; 210.52(E) only caps the required outdoor outlet at 6 1/2 ft above grade.
- Nothing. This installation is compliant. The receptacle is in a wet location, and with the cord inserted the flat lid cannot close, so it is not weatherproof as 406.9(B)(1) requires.