WA State 2026 NEC Adoption Timeline

Proposal (CR-102) – Electrical Rule Updates

Brief Description: The purpose of this rulemaking is to amend Chapter 296-46B WAC, Electrical safety standards, administration, and installation, to adopt the 2026 edition of the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 70, the National Electrical Code (NEC), to ensure the rules align with the latest national safety standards. The 2026 NEC would replace the current 2023 edition.

The NEC sets the standard for safe electrical installations in homes, businesses, and institutions to protect people and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity. The 2026 edition of the NEC will be published in the fall of 2025. L&I is proposing adopting the 2026 NEC in its entirety by reference under this rulemaking with a delayed effective of December 31, 2026, to give stakeholders advance notice of its adoption and more opportunity for review and comment, prior to its publication and L&I’s formal rule review process.

Additional amendments under this rulemaking are also necessary to eliminate an unnecessary temperature restriction for certain cable types and to provide better clarity for reporting trainee hours of experience.

Public hearing date: October 7, 2025 (Tumwater/virtual/phone)Written comments due: October 7, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. Intended adoption date: November 18, 2025

Additional information about this rulemaking:

CR-102 Proposal

Proposal Language

Preliminary Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA)