Pool area receptacles and lighting
Receptacles rated 125 V through 250 V and 60 A or less within 20 ft of a pool need GFCI or SPGFCI protection. Outdoor lights and fans over the pool or within 5 ft of it must be at least 12 ft above the water.
What the code requires
Every receptacle rated 125 V through 250 V and 60 A or less within 20 ft (6.0 m) of a pool's inside walls needs ground-fault protection: a GFCI under 680.5(B), or a special-purpose GFCI (SPGFCI) under 680.5(C) for circuits above 150 V to ground.
Receptacle distances are measured along the shortest path a cord would follow without passing through a floor, wall, ceiling, door, window or other permanent barrier, not in a straight line.
Outdoors, luminaires, lighting outlets and paddle fans over the pool, or within 5 ft horizontally of it, must be at least 12 ft above the maximum water level. Indoors, totally enclosed luminaires and identified paddle fans may be installed at 7 ft 6 in. if they have GFCI protection. Existing luminaires and lighting outlets within 5 ft horizontally must be at least 5 ft above the water, rigidly attached and GFCI-protected. Between 5 ft and 10 ft horizontally, luminaires, lighting outlets and paddle fans need GFCI or SPGFCI protection unless they are at least 5 ft above the maximum water level and rigidly attached.
Section 680.22 also sets locations. At least one 125-V, 15- or 20-A general-purpose receptacle must be 6 ft to 20 ft from the pool's inside walls and no more than 6 ft 6 in. above the floor, platform or grade. Pump receptacles and other receptacles must be at least 6 ft from the inside walls, and switches at least 5 ft unless a permanent barrier intervenes or the switch is listed for closer use.
On the job
- A 240-V receptacle within 20 ft of the pool, for a heater or pump, now needs GFCI protection, or SPGFCI if it is over 150 V to ground.
- Measure receptacle distances along the cord path. A wall or other permanent barrier can make the measured distance longer than the straight-line distance.
- The 12-ft height rule for outdoor lights and fans over or within 5 ft of the pool matters when planning a patio cover or pergola at the pool edge.
What changed in 2023
The 2023 edition expanded the GFCI rule from 15- and 20-A, 125-V receptacles to all receptacles of 125 V through 250 V and 60 A or less within 20 ft, with SPGFCI above 150 V to ground.
Related sections
- NEC 680.5
- NEC 680.9
- NEC 680.12
- NEC 680.21: GFCI protection for pool pump motors
- NEC 680.23
- NEC 680.26: Equipotential bonding for pools
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