Electrical code (NEC) edition by state, for EV charger installs
Short answer: 36 of 50 states have an edition we could verify from NFPA's adoption table or a state agency; 14 are marked unverified. 8 verified states are on the 2026 NEC (Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Wyoming) and 15 on the 2023 NEC. The 2023 NEC requires an individual branch circuit for chargers over 16 A or 120 V and GFCI on charger receptacles, and it lets an energy management system cap the charger load used for service and feeder sizing.
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What does each NEC edition mean for an EV charger circuit?
| Rule | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 625.40 Individual branch circuit | Charging equipment rated over 16 A or 120 V must be on an individual branch circuit (one that supplies only that equipment). Exception: one branch circuit may supply more than one charger when an energy management system manages the load under 625.42(A) or (B). | 2023 NEC text as restated by Mike Holt; code: NFPA 70 |
| 625.41 / 625.42 Continuous load | Overcurrent protection must be at least 125% of the charger's current rating; EV charging is treated as a continuous load. Holt's worked example: a 40 A charger needs conductors rated at least 50 A. | Mike Holt (2023 NEC) |
| 625.42(A) Energy management (2023) | Where an energy management system controls the charger, the charger load is not included when sizing feeders and service conductors, per 750.30(C)(1)(1). This is how load management can avoid a service upgrade. | Mike Holt (2023 NEC) |
| 625.42(B) Adjustable settings (2023) | If a charger has an adjustable amp setting, the setting must appear on its rating label, durable enough for the environment. | Mike Holt (2023 NEC) |
| 625.54 GFCI | Receptacles installed to connect charging equipment must have GFCI protection. A hardwired charger is not on a receptacle. | Mike Holt (2023 NEC) |
| 2026 edition, 625.54 | A proposal to add special-purpose GFCI protection for hardwired chargers was appealed. NFPA's Standards Council upheld the appeal, so the expansion did not go into the 2026 NEC. | NFPA D#25-2 |
We could not open the NEC text itself: NFPA's free read-only access requires creating an account, which we did not do. The 2023 rules above come from Mike Holt's published restatement of the 2023 Article 625 text. We didn't find an equally detailed public source for 2017 or 2020 wording, so we don't claim edition-by-edition differences beyond the 2023 load-management rules and the 2026 GFCI decision. Your local inspector has the final say and may enforce local amendments.
Which NEC edition does each state enforce?
"Verified" means the edition comes from NFPA's state-by-state table (as of Aug 3, 2026) or from a state agency page we opened on Oct 25, 2026. "Unverified" means either there's no statewide edition, or NFPA showed an update underway with no effective date and we didn't check a state source.
| State | Edition | Status | NFPA entry (Aug 3, 2026) | Notes and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2020 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2020 (7/1/2022), Alabama Division of Construction Management | [NFPA] |
| Alaska | 2020 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2020 (4/16/2020) | [NFPA] |
| Arizona | No statewide edition | Unverified | Local adoption only | No statewide edition; each city or county adopts its own. We did not verify local editions. [NFPA] |
| Arkansas | 2020 NEC | Unverified | 2020 with AR amendments (8/1/2022) | NFPA listed this edition on Aug 3, 2026, but an update was underway (2026 update process underway (effective date not established)). We did not check a state source, so the current edition is unverified. [NFPA] |
| California | 2023 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2023 with CA amendments (1/1/2026) | [NFPA] |
| Colorado | 2026 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2026 (8/1/2026) | [NFPA] |
| Connecticut | 2020 NEC | Unverified | 2020 with CT amendments (10/1/2022) | NFPA listed this edition on Aug 3, 2026, but an update was underway (2023 update process underway (effective date not established)). We did not check a state source, so the current edition is unverified. [NFPA] |
| Delaware | 2023 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2023 (1/1/2026) | [NFPA] |
| Florida | 2020 NEC | Unverified | 2020 (12/31/2023) | NFPA listed this edition on Aug 3, 2026, but an update was underway (2023 update process underway (effective date not established)). We did not check a state source, so the current edition is unverified. [NFPA] |
| Georgia | 2023 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2023 (1/1/2025) | [NFPA] |
| Hawaii | 2020 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2020 (3/14/2023) | [NFPA] |
| Idaho | 2023 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2023 (7/1/2023) with ID amendments (temporary rules permit use of 2017 NEC w/ID amendments) | [NFPA] |
| Illinois | 2008 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2008 (7/1/11, commercial occupancies outside local jurisdictions that have adoption authority) | [NFPA] |
| Indiana | 2008 / 2017 NEC | Unverified | 2008 commercial with IN amendments (8/26/2009); 2017 (2018 IRC) one- and two-family dwellings with IN amendments (12/26/2019) | NFPA listed this edition on Aug 3, 2026, but an update was underway (2023 update process underway (effective date not established)). We did not check a state source, so the current edition is unverified. [NFPA] |
| Iowa | 2023 NEC | Unverified | 2023 with IA amendments (7/1/2025) | NFPA listed this edition on Aug 3, 2026, but an update was underway (2026 update process underway (effective date not established)). We did not check a state source, so the current edition is unverified. [NFPA] |
| Kansas | 2008 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2008 (2/4/11, State Fire Marshal) | [NFPA] |
| Kentucky | 2023 NEC | Unverified | 2023 (1/1/2025) | NFPA listed this edition on Aug 3, 2026, but an update was underway (2026 update process underway (effective date not established)). We did not check a state source, so the current edition is unverified. [NFPA] |
| Louisiana | 2020 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2020 (1/1/2023) | [NFPA] |
| Maine | 2026 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2026 with ME amendments (7/1/2026) | [NFPA] |
| Maryland | 2020 NEC | Unverified | 2020 (7/1/2025) with MD amendments | NFPA listed this edition on Aug 3, 2026, but an update was underway (2023 update process underway (effective date not established)). We did not check a state source, so the current edition is unverified. [NFPA] |
| Massachusetts | 2026 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2026 with MA amendments (4/24/2026) | [NFPA] |
| Michigan | 2023 / 2014 NEC | Unverified | 2023 commercial (3/12/2024); 2014 one- and two-family dwellings (2/8/2016) | NFPA listed this edition on Aug 3, 2026, but an update was underway (2026 update process underway (commercial effective date not established)). We did not check a state source, so the current edition is unverified. [NFPA] |
| Minnesota | 2026 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2026 (8/17/2026) | [NFPA] |
| Mississippi | No statewide edition | Unverified | Local incorporation by reference only | No statewide edition; each city or county adopts its own. We did not verify local editions. [NFPA] |
| Missouri | No statewide edition | Unverified | Local incorporation by reference only | No statewide edition; each city or county adopts its own. We did not verify local editions. [NFPA] |
| Montana | 2023 NEC | Verified (state source) | 2020 with MT amendments (6/10/2022) | Montana DLI lists the National Electrical Code, 2023 edition, effective Sept 26, 2026. [state] |
| Nebraska | 2023 NEC | Unverified | 2023 (8/1/2024) | NFPA listed this edition on Aug 3, 2026, but an update was underway (2026 update process underway (effective date not established)). We did not check a state source, so the current edition is unverified. [NFPA] |
| Nevada | 2017 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2017 (7/1/18, Nevada State Public Works Division) | [NFPA] |
| New Hampshire | 2023 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2023 with NH amendments (7/1/2025, 6-month grace period for the prior edition) | [NFPA] |
| New Jersey | 2023 NEC | Verified (state source) | 2020 with NJ amendments (9/6/2022) | Electrical subcode N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.16 adopts the 2023 NEC effective Aug 17, 2026 (NFPA's Aug 3 table still showed 2020). Applications may use the 2020 NEC through Feb 17, 2027. [state] |
| New Mexico | 2020 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2020 (3/28/2023) | [NFPA] |
| New York | 2023 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2023 (12/31/2025) | [NFPA] |
| North Carolina | 2020 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2020 with NC amendments for other than one- and two-family dwellings (11/1/21) | [NFPA] |
| North Dakota | 2026 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2026 (7/1/2026) | [NFPA] |
| Ohio | 2023 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2023 commercial (3/1/2024); residential with OH amendments (4/15/2024) | [NFPA] |
| Oklahoma | 2023 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2023 (9/14/2024) | [NFPA] |
| Oregon | 2026 NEC | Verified (state source) | 2023 with OR amendments (10/1/2023) | 2026 Oregon Electrical Specialty Code, based on the 2026 NEC, effective Oct 1, 2026. [state] |
| Pennsylvania | 2020 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2020 (1/1/2026) | [NFPA] |
| Rhode Island | 2023 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2023 (12/1/2025) | [NFPA] |
| South Carolina | 2020 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2020 with SC amendments (1/1/2023) | NFPA: 2023 update complete (effective 1/1/2027). [NFPA] |
| South Dakota | 2023 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2023 (11/12/2024) with SD amendments | [NFPA] |
| Tennessee | 2017 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2017 (10/1/2018) with TN amendments | [NFPA] |
| Texas | 2026 NEC | Verified (state source) | 2023 (9/1/2023) | TDLR adopted the 2026 NEC (16 TAC §73.100), effective Sept 1, 2026, with a GFCI exception for listed outdoor HVAC equipment. [state] |
| Utah | 2023 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2023 (1/1/2025) | [NFPA] |
| Vermont | 2020 NEC | Unverified | 2020 (1/1/2023) | NFPA listed this edition on Aug 3, 2026, but an update was underway (2023 update process underway). We did not check a state source, so the current edition is unverified. [NFPA] |
| Virginia | 2020 NEC | Unverified | 2020 (1/18/2024) | NFPA listed this edition on Aug 3, 2026, but an update was underway (2023 update process underway (effective date not established)). We did not check a state source, so the current edition is unverified. [NFPA] |
| Washington | 2023 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2023 (4/1/2024) | NFPA: 2026 update process underway (projected 12/31/2026). [NFPA] |
| West Virginia | 2020 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2020 with WV amendments (8/1/2022) | [NFPA] |
| Wisconsin | 2023 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2017 commercial (8/1/2018), residential (1/1/2020) | NFPA lists the 2023 update as complete, effective 9/1/2026. [NFPA] |
| Wyoming | 2026 NEC | Verified (NFPA) | 2026 (7/1/2026) | [NFPA] |
NFPA also lists city editions: Chicago enforces the 2017 NEC with Chicago amendments (3/1/2018), and New York City the 2020 NEC with NYC amendments (12/21/2025). Both differ from their states.
Related: what inspectors check · build an electrician bid request · permit fee index
Sources
- NFPA – Learn where the NEC is enforced (state-by-state table, as of Aug 3, 2026; accessed 2026-10-25)
- Montana DLI Building Codes – Current Codes (accessed 2026-10-25)
- NJ DCA – Current Construction Codes (accessed 2026-10-25)
- Oregon Building Codes Division – OESC adoption (accessed 2026-10-25)
- TDLR – Commission Adopts Rules (Electricians, posted Sept 1, 2026) (accessed 2026-10-25)
- Mike Holt, "Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System" – Article 625 text, 2023 NEC (PDF) (accessed 2026-10-25)
- NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (2023) – NFPA product page
- NFPA Standards Council decision D#25-2 on NFPA 70 (2026 edition), Sept 4, 2025 (PDF)
Does my state's NEC edition change what I pay?
Not directly, and we have no sourced cost difference between editions. What the edition changes is the rules: for example, under the 2023 NEC an energy management system can keep the charger out of the service-size calculation.
Do I need GFCI for a plug-in charger?
Yes. NEC 625.54 requires GFCI protection for receptacles installed to connect EV charging equipment. A 2026 proposal to extend special-purpose GFCI protection to hardwired chargers was rejected on appeal (NFPA D#25-2).
Can two chargers share one circuit?
Under the 2023 NEC 625.40 exception, yes, but only when an energy management system manages the load under 625.42. Otherwise each charger over 16 A or 120 V needs its own branch circuit.
Why is my state unverified?
Either the state has no statewide edition, so cities and counties adopt their own (Arizona, Mississippi, Missouri), or NFPA showed an update underway with no effective date and we didn't confirm the result with a state source.