Spot the Violation

ElectricalDwelling circuit & receptacle layoutLevel 32023 NEC

Kitchen counter run and island

Kitchen wall counter run between a tall pantry cabinet on the left and a refrigerator on the right, with a sink under a window. Three GFCI receptacles are set in the tile backsplash: one near the pantry end with a coffee maker plugged in, one just left of the window, and one just right of it, with the sink between the last two. An inspector's tape measure is stretched along the backsplash from the pantry to the refrigerator, marked in inches. In the foreground, a kitchen island has a raised pop-up receptacle tower in its countertop. 1224364860728496108120
Kitchen remodel at final; the island tower is a pop-up assembly listed for countertops

What's wrong here?

  1. Nothing. This installation is compliant
  2. The 44 in spacing between the backsplash receptacles is more than the maximum
  3. The island receptacle must be on the side of the island cabinet, not in the countertop
  4. A receptacle is required on the wall directly behind the sink
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Show the answer and the code reference

The answer

Nothing is wrong. Every point along the counter wall line is within 24 in of a receptacle, and the island receptacle is a listed countertop assembly.

Correct choice: 1. Nothing. This installation is compliant

Reading the tape, the receptacles sit at about 20 in, 64 in and 108 in on a 128 in counter run, so the ends are 20 in from a receptacle and the two gaps are 44 in, with no point more than 22 in from a receptacle (210.52(C)(1) allows 24 in). All three are on the wall within 20 in above the countertop as 210.52(C)(3) requires, and they are GFCI devices as 210.8(A)(6) requires. Under the 2023 NEC an island is not required to have a receptacle at all, only provisions for a future one (210.52(C)(2)). When one is installed it must comply with 210.52(C)(3), which allows receptacle assemblies listed for countertop use, such as this pop-up.

How to fix it

No correction needed. At inspection, confirm the pop-up is listed for countertop use, is GFCI protected, and is fed from one of the 20 A small-appliance branch circuits (210.11(C)(1), 210.52(B)(1)).

Code references

  • NEC 2023 210.52(C)(1) — Wall Countertop and Work Surface

    A receptacle outlet is required at each wall countertop and work surface 300 mm (12 in.) or wider, installed so that no point along the wall line is more than 600 mm (24 in.) measured horizontally from a receptacle outlet in that space.

    Drills citing 210.52(C)(1)

  • NEC 2023 210.52(C)(2) — Island and Peninsular Countertops and Work Surfaces

    Receptacle outlets, if installed to serve an island or peninsular countertop or work surface, must comply with 210.52(C)(3). If none is installed, provisions must be made at the island or peninsula for the future addition of one.

    Drills citing 210.52(C)(2)

  • NEC 2023 210.52(C)(3) — Receptacle Outlet Location

    Receptacle outlets serving countertops and work surfaces must be on or above the countertop or work surface, not more than 500 mm (20 in.) above it, or in the countertop or work surface using receptacle outlet assemblies listed for that use. The 2020 option of mounting receptacles up to 300 mm (12 in.) below the countertop was deleted in 2023.

    Drills citing 210.52(C)(3)

  • NEC 2023 210.8(A)(6) — Dwelling Units: Kitchens

    125-volt through 250-volt receptacles installed in dwelling unit kitchens require GFCI protection for personnel. The 2023 edition dropped the 2020 limit to receptacles installed to serve countertop surfaces.

    Drills citing 210.8(A)(6)

2026 NEC:changed: 210.52(C) was revised in 2026: (C)(2) now says receptacles 'if provided' rather than 'if installed', and requires 'electrical provisions' for a future island or peninsula receptacle. A new (C)(4) restricts receptacles below countertops (none within 24 in. below the countertop or on adjacent walls, except in a drawer). The answer that this layout is compliant appears unaffected, but the explanation's wording about 'provisions' for an island receptacle is now 'electrical provisions'. Confidence: medium

Minnesota

MN adopts the NEC rule as writtenConfidence: high

Minnesota adopted the 2023 NEC without amendment as the Minnesota Electrical Code (Minn. Rules 1315.0200; Minn. Stat. 326B.35), effective July 1, 2023, so no Minnesota amendment to 210.52(C) exists. The Board of Electricity has since adopted the 2026 NEC, also without amendment, for permits filed on or after Aug. 17, 2026; this drill follows the 2023 text, which governs permits filed before that date.

How Minnesota adopts the NEC

Why the other choices are wrong

  • The 44 in spacing between the backsplash receptacles is more than the maximum. 210.52(C)(1) only requires that no point along the wall line be more than 24 in from a receptacle, which allows up to 48 in between receptacles. At 44 in apart, no point is more than 22 in from one.
  • The island receptacle must be on the side of the island cabinet, not in the countertop. This is backwards for the 2023 NEC: the 2020 option of mounting countertop receptacles up to 12 in below the counter was deleted, and receptacle outlet assemblies listed for use in countertops are permitted (210.52(C)(3)).
  • A receptacle is required on the wall directly behind the sink. Spacing is measured along the wall line. The receptacles at 64 in and 108 in flank the sink, so no point behind it is more than 22 in from a receptacle, and none is needed behind the sink.
Code complianceLevel 3 · Master#kitchen#countertop#island#spacing#receptacle#calibration

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