How To Look At A House

McGarry and Madsen's home inspection blog for buyers of  

site-built, mobile/manufactured and modular homes

Which rooms in a house require switched lights per code?

Sunday, February 9, 2020

The basic requirement is at least one wall switched light should be installed in every habitable room, kitchen, and bathroom, according to the National Electrical Code [NEC 210.70(A)(1)]. In rooms other than kitchens and bathrooms, one or more receptacles controlled by a wall switch can substitute for a switched light

    But there are also several additional required locations for switched light fixtures (not switched receptacles), per NEC 210.70(A)(2):

** At least one switched light required in hallways, stairways, attached garages, and also detached garages that have electrical power.

•• At least one swtiched light must be installed at the exterior side of outdoor entrances to a dwelling unit, attached garage, and detached garage that has electric power. A vehicle door is not considered an outdoor entrance.

•• Interior stairways with six or more risers require lighting switched at the top and bottom landings (three-way switch). 

•• Any attic, underfloor space, utility room or basement that is used for storage or contains equipment that requires servicing, must have a minimum of one wall switched light.

•• Lights must not be controlled by a dimmer switches unless they provide a full range of dimming control at each location.

    And there are, of course, exceptions:

•• Lights are allowed to be controlled by occupancy sensors if they are either in addition to wall switches or equipped with a manual override switch.

•• At hallways, stairways, and outdoor entrances, remote, central, or automatic controll of lighting shall be permitted.

    Also, see our blog posts How can I figure out what a mystery wall switch does? and Why does the bedroom have a light switch but there is no light in the ceiling? 

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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

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.

Water Heaters

Water Heater Age

"What Are The

Signs Of..."

Septic Tank Systems

Structure and Rooms

Plumbing Pipes

Termites, Wood Rot

& Pests

Sinkholes

Stairs

When It First

Became Code

"Should I Buy A..."

Park Model Homes

Site

Shingle Roofs

Safety

Stucco

Remodeling

Wind Mitigation

Roof and Attic

"Does A Home

Inspector...?"

Pool and Spa

"What Is The Difference Between..."

Radon

Brick

Plumbing

Concrete and

Concrete Block

Metal Roofs

Foundations

Modular Homes

Rain Gutters

Mold, Lead & Other Contaminants

Condominiums

Older and

Historic Houses

Crawl Spaces

Mobile-Manufactured Homes

Building Permits

Life Expectancy

Clay Soil

Insurance

Floors

Insulation

Toilets

Exterior Walls

& Structures

Generators

Common Problems

HUD-Code for

Mobile Homes

Garages and Carports

Flat (Low Slope) Roofs

Electrical Panels

Sprinkler Systems

Electrical Receptacle Outlets

4-Point Inspections

Hurricane Resistance

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Home Inspection

Heating and Air Conditioning

Building Codes

Fireplaces and Chimneys

Inspector Licensing

& Standards

Energy Efficiency

Washers and Dryers

Electrical

Kitchens

Doors and Windows

(placeholder)

Cracks

Electrical Wiring

Click Below  

for Links

to Collections

of Blog Posts

by Subject

Plumbing Drains

and Traps

Appliances

Smoke & CO Alarms

Aging in Place

Top 5 results given instantly.

Click on magnifying glass

for all search results.

Bathrooms

Lighting

AFCI, CAFCI,

DFCI, & GFCI

Sinks

Air Conditioner & Furnace Age/Size

Attics

Electrical Switches

Siding

Search

This

Site

Water Intrusion

Electrical - Old

and Obsolete

(placeholder)

Foundation Certifications

Tiny Houses

About McGarry and Madsen

(placeholder)

Wells

Buying a home in North/Central Florida? Check our price for a  team inspection by two FL-licensed contractors and inspectors. Over 8,500 inspections completed in 20+ years. In a hurry? We will get it done for you.

Moisture Problems

Crawl Spaces

Bedrooms

Closets