A minimum of one exterior receptacle was first required for new homes by the 1971 NEC (National Electric Code), although they were already being installed much earlier due to consumer demand. The 2005 edition of the NEC upped the ante to two receptacles, specifying at least one each on the front and back walls of the home. Then the 2008 NEC further expanded the requirement to include at least one receptacle within any balcony, deck. or porch that is accessible from inside the house and more than twenty square feet. The exterior receptacles cannot be more than six-and-a-half feet above the ground or walking surface, and also must have GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) shock protection.

    The primary reason for outdoor receptacle requirements is the trend towards outdoor living that began in mid-1950s with sliding glass doors opening onto a backyard patio or deck. Front porches that are more than just a covered entry area have also become more popular in recent decades. The shock and trip hazards of extension cords running from inside the home proliferated along with the barbecues, pools, tiki huts, and porch furniture, so the NEC rules changed to make the it safer.

    Outdoor receptacles must also be protected from moisture and rain. If the receptacle is in what the NEC calls a “damp location,” meaning that it is outdoors but under a roof so that it cannot be directly rained on, then it should have a “weatherproof” cover, which has a flap mechanism that covers the slots when it is not in use. Receptacles in a “wet location,” that are exposed to direct rain, must have a “while-in-use” cover that is able to seal out rain while a cord is plugged into it.

    Also, see our blog post What is the minimum height for an exterior receptacle outlet?

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  To learn more about electrical wiring, devices, and receptacles, see these other blog posts:

 • What is the difference between what trips a GFCI (ground fault) receptacle and a circuit breaker?

• What is the code requirement for GFCI protection for receptacles near a wet bar sink? 

• What is the height requirement for an electric receptacle outlet? 

• Where are GFCI receptacle outlets required?

• When were GFCI receptacle outlets first required?

• Does a home inspector remove receptacle outlet cover plates?

• What is the minimum height for an exterior receptacle outlet? 

• When was the current receptacle/outlet spacing of 12-feet first required? 

• When was the three-slot (grounding) outlet/receptacle first required? 

• Why does painting an electric receptacle (outlet) make it unsafe?

• Why are electrical outlets and plugs polarized? 

• How many electrical receptacles (outlets) are required in a hallway?  

• What problems does having too many electric receptacle outlets on a single circuit cause? 

• Is a house required to have outdoor electric receptacle outlets?

• How I can tell if a receptacle outlet is tamper resistant?

• Why is there a GFCI breaker in the electric panel for the bathroom shower light and exhaust fan?

• What is a false ground, bootleg ground, or cheated ground receptacle? 

• How can adding wood paneling or a wainscot create an electrical safety hazard?

• How far apart should kitchen counter receptacles be spaced?  

• How far above a kitchen countertop do electrical outlets have to be?

• What is reversed polarity at an outlet/receptacle? Why is it dangerous? 

• How high above the floor do electric outlets/receptacles in a garage have to be?

• How far apart should electric receptacles be spaced in a bathroom? 

• Is an ungrounded electric receptacle outlet dangerous?

• My bathroom electric receptacle/outlet is dead and there are no tripped breakers in the electric panel. What's wrong?  

• Is there an adapter that can be placed on a two-slot receptacle to make it safe? 

• How do the new tamper-resistant electric outlets work?

• Why is there no bathroom electric receptacle in this old house?

• How can I tell if the electric receptacle outlets are grounded? 

• How far apart should the electrical receptacles be placed?

• What are the most common problems/defects found with electric receptacle outlets during a home inspection?

   Visit our ELECTRICAL page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.