Code Change Summary: Revisions were made to the previous language for the required garage branch circuit.

In the 2017 NEC^®, language was added (for dwelling units) to require at least one 20-ampere, 120-volt branch circuit to supply receptacle outlets installed in attached garages, and in detached garages supplied with electric power. This required circuit was not permitted to supply other outlets besides those permitted in the exception.

This language was similar to other requirements in the NEC^® for 120-volt, 20-amp circuits required in the bathroom, laundry and kitchen areas of a dwelling.

Not all dwelling units have a garage, but if one does, whether attached or detached and supplied with electricity, at least one 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuit was required to be installed to supply garage receptacle outlets.

The intent of the 2017 code language was to provide for the use of cord and plug connected garage appliances and many portable tools that commonly draw 12 to 16 amps. This is just too much for a typical 15-amp garage branch circuit that often supplies the garage lighting outlet as well.

During the 2020 code cycle, there were 11 public inputs requesting clarification of Section 210.11(C)(4). Many code readers felt that this section required any 120-volt receptacle installed in a dwelling unit garage to be supplied by a 20-amp branch circuit and that a 120-volt, 15-amp branch circuit installed to supply receptacles in a garage was not allowed.

This resulted in a 2020 code change attempting to make it clear that as long as there was at least one receptacle outlet installed in each vehicle bay to satisfy Section 210.52(G)(1), and supplied from a 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuit, any other receptacles installed in the garage could be supplied by other than a 120-volt, 20-amp branch circuit.

In the 2023 NEC^®, further clarification was added in this section making it clear that receptacle outlets, other than those required by 210.52(G)(1), can be supplied by additional 120-volt branch circuits rated 15-amps or more.

Basically, as long as there is at least one 20-amp branch circuit supplying the receptacle required in 210.52(G)(1) for the vehicle bay, then additional 15-amp or larger branch circuits are permitted to be installed to supply other receptacles.

Section 210.11(C)(4) requires this branch circuit, which is installed to serve the vehicle bay receptacle specified in 210.52(G)(1), to have no other “outlets”. Exception 1 reverses this.

In the 2020 NEC^®, exception 1 allowed the required 20-amp branch circuit to also supply “readily accessible outdoor receptacle outlets”. “Readily accessible” outdoor receptacle outlets are those receptacles that can be reached without using a portable ladder and so forth (see Article 100 definition of Readily Accessible). Holiday lighting receptacles up under the eaves of the roof are usually “accessible” rather than “readily accessible”.

In the 2023 NEC^® the words “readily accessible” were removed from exception 1 and now, even though the general rule in 210.11(C)(4) intends for the required 20-amp branch circuit to supply no other outlets, the branch circuit is actually permitted to supply outdoor receptacle outlets with no limitation on how accessible they are.

A new exception #2 was added which allows a single vehicle bay garage to have all outlets (both lighting and receptacle outlets) within the garage to be supplied by the required 120-volt, 20-amp branch circuit in accordance with 210.23(B)(1) or (B)(2).

Below is a preview of the NEC^®. See the actual NEC^® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the 2023 NEC^® edition of NFPA 70.