No, a power cord or extension cord is not allowed to be run through a wall or ceiling by code, even if it looks neat and professional like in the photo above. The National Electrical Code (NEC) does not allow a cord to be concealed in the wall, per NEC 400.12(5), which states that power cords shall not be used “where concealed by walls, floors, or ceilings or located above suspended or dropped ceilings.” If any part of a cord is not readily accessible to view, then it’s not acceptable.

   Only wiring that is rated to be concealed, such as conduit or NM-cable, will do—except in some jurisdictions, such as New York City or Cook County, Illinois, where even NM-cable is not approved. There are kits avaiable specifically for homeowners running power up inside a wall to a wall-mounted TV screen that use NM-cable and listed connectors. But otherwise you’ll need an electrician.

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Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about ELECTRICAL WIRING:

• Which house appliances need a dedicated electrical circuit?

• Can a short circuit cause a high electric bill?

• What is the maximum spacing requirement for securing NM-cable (nonmetallic-sheathed cable)?

• What is the color code for NM cable (Romex®) sheathing?

• Why are old electrical components not always "grandfathered" as acceptable by home inspectors?

• How can I find out the size of the electric service to a house?

• Can old electrical wiring go bad inside a wall? 

• What is an open electrical splice?

• What are the most common electrical defects found in a home inspection? 

• What is the life expectancy of electrical wiring in a house? 

• What is an "open junction box"? 

• How dangerous is old electrical wiring? 

• What is a ground wire? 

• I heard that aluminum wiring is bad. How do you check for aluminum wiring?  

• What is "knob and tube" wiring?  

• What is the code requirement for receptacle outlets in a closet?

   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.