1. North Carolina Department of Insurance Office of State Fire Marshal
Risk Management
State Electrical Division
2017 State Electrical Code
210.52(C)(3) - Dwelling Kitchen Peninsular Required Receptacle(s)

2. Notice:
The following illustrations are approved by the State Electrical Division of the North Carolina Department of Insurance, Office of State Fire Marshal. These illustrations are intended to demonstrate but not supersede the official written interpretations found at the following web address:
Joseph Starling
Chief State Electrical Engineer & Inspector
Illustrated by:
Danny Thomas
State Electrical Inspector

3. Date: June 12, 2018
2017 Electrical Code
Subject: Dwelling Kitchen Peninsular Required Receptacles
Section (C)(3)
Question 1:
Where must the required 125-volt, 20-amp receptacle for a dwelling kitchen peninsular countertop be located?

4. Date: June 12, 2018
2017 Electrical Code
Subject: Dwelling Kitchen Peninsular Required Receptacles
Section (C)(3)
Answer 1:
Any 125-volt, 20- amp receptacle that meets the criteria described in section (C)(5) with respect to the dwelling kitchen peninsular countertop has met the requirement for section (C)(3).

5. Kitchen & Similar Area SINK Peninsular Countertop
Wall receptacle not to exceed 5 ½ feet in height from floor. Countertop receptacle not to exceed 20 inches from countertop.
Question 1 Illustration (a)
Not to Scale
Kitchen & Similar Area
A receptacle must be within 2 ft. of counter edge or 4 ft. from another receptacle that only serves the countertop.
210.52(C)(1)
This wall countertop receptacle would meet the requirements of (C)(3)
210.52(C)(1)
Exception
210.52(C)(1)
210.52(C)(1)
Exception
210.52(C)(1)
210.52(C)(1)
210.52(C)(1)
Acme
Range
SINK
A receptacle must be located no further than 6 ft. from the countertop or 12 ft. from another receptacle that does not serve the kitchen countertop.
Acme
Refrigerator
Peninsular
Countertop

6. Kitchen & Similar Area SINK Peninsular Countertop
Question 1 Illustration (b)
Not to Scale
Wall receptacle not to exceed 5 ½ feet in height from floor. Countertop receptacle not to exceed 20 inches from countertop.
Kitchen & Similar Area
A receptacle must be within 2 ft. of counter edge or 4 ft. from another receptacle that only serves the countertop.
210.52(C)(1)
This receptacle would not meet the requirements of (C)(3)
210.52(C)(1)
Exception
210.52(C)(1)
Exception
210.52(C)(1)
210.52(C)(1)
210.52(C)(1)
Acme
Range
SINK
A receptacle must be located no further than 6 ft. from the countertop or 12 ft. from another receptacle that does not serve the kitchen countertop.
Acme
Refrigerator
The receptacle on the end of the peninsular would meet the requirements of (C)(3)
Peninsular
Countertop

7. Kitchen & Similar Area Question 1 Illustration (c) Not to Scale
Wall receptacle not to exceed 5 ½ feet in height from floor. Countertop receptacle not to exceed 20 inches from countertop.
Kitchen & Similar Area
The receptacle on the end of the peninsular can serve as the required receptacle.
A receptacle must be located no further than 6 ft. from the countertop or 12 ft. from another receptacle that does not serve the kitchen countertop.
Acme
Microwave
210.52(C)(1)
Wall Countertop
210.52(C)(5)
210.52(C)(1)
Wall Countertop
3 ft.
Acme
Range
210.52(A)
Wall Space
Peninsular
Countertop
210.52(A)
Wall Space
210.52(A)
Acme
Refrigerator

8. Wall receptacle not to exceed 5 ½ feet in height from floor
Wall receptacle not to exceed 5 ½ feet in height from floor. Countertop receptacle not to exceed 20 inches from countertop.
Question 1 Illustration (d)
Not to Scale
Kitchen & Similar Area
210.52(A)
Wall Space
210.52(C)(1)
Wall Countertop
Acme
Range
Microwave
Refrigerator
The receptacle on the wall above the peninsular can serve as the required receptacle.
A receptacle must be located no further than 6 ft. from the countertop or 12 ft. from another receptacle that does not serve the kitchen countertop.
210.52(C)(5)
210.52(C)(1)
Wall Countertop
210.52(A)
Wall Space
Peninsular
Countertop
210.52(A)

10. Peninsular 20 “ Date: June 12, 2018
Acme
Refrigerator
210.52(C)(1)
A peninsular countertop is measured from the connected perpendicular wall
20 “
Peninsular
A peninsular countertop is measured from the connected perpendicular wall
2017 Electrical Code
Subject: Dwelling Kitchen Peninsular Required Receptacles
Section (C)(3)
Question 2:
Considering that the peninsular countertop is measured from the connected perpendicular wall, is the area located above the peninsular countertop on the connected perpendicular wall and not more than 20 inches above the peninsular countertop required to meet the wall countertop requirements for section (C)(1)?

11. Date: June 12, 2018
2017 Electrical Code
Subject: Dwelling Kitchen Peninsular Required Receptacles
Section (C)(3)
Answer 2:
No. The area of wall not more than 20 inches above any countertop is either wall countertop space described in section (C)(1) or peninsular countertop space as described in section (C)(3). Therefore, the area located above the peninsular countertop on the connected perpendicular wall and not more than 20 inches above the countertop is not required to meet the wall countertop space requirements for section (C)(1).

12. Wall receptacle not to exceed 5 ½ feet in height from floor
Wall receptacle not to exceed 5 ½ feet in height from floor. Countertop receptacle not to exceed 20 inches from countertop.
Question 2 Illustration (a)
Not to Scale
Kitchen & Similar Area
A receptacle must be within 2 ft. of counter edge or 4 ft. from another receptacle that only serves the countertop (C)(1)
The peninsular countertop receptacle is not required to be located on the wall above the countertop therefore (C)(1) is not violated.
210.52(C)(1)
Exception
210.52(C)(1)
Exception
210.52(C)(1)
210.52(C)(1)
210.52(C)(1)
Acme
Range
SINK
Acme
Refrigerator
A receptacle must be installed within 6 feet of the counter wall, or 12 ft. from another receptacle that does not serve the kitchen countertop (A) & (A)(4)
Peninsular
Countertop
The receptacle on the end of the peninsular meets the requirements of (C)(3)

13. Wall receptacle not to exceed 5 ½ feet in height from floor
Wall receptacle not to exceed 5 ½ feet in height from floor. Countertop receptacle not to exceed 20 inches from countertop.
Question 2 Illustration (b)
Not to Scale
Kitchen & Similar Area
A receptacle must be within 2 ft. of counter edge or 4 ft. from another receptacle that only serves the countertop (C)(1)
Because the wall countertop between the sink and the peninsular countertop is less than 12 inches and the peninsular countertop receptacle is not required to be located on the wall above the countertop (C)(1) is not violated.
210.52(C)(1)
Exception
210.52(C)(1)
Exception
210.52(C)(1)
210.52(C)(1)
Acme
Range
11”
SINK
Acme
Refrigerator
A receptacle must be installed within 6 feet of the counter wall, or 12 ft. from another receptacle that does not serve the kitchen countertop (A) & (A)(4)
The receptacle on the end of the peninsular meets the requirements of (C)(3)
Peninsular
Countertop

14. Kitchen & Similar Area Question 2 Illustration (c) Not to Scale SINK
Exception
A receptacle must be within 2 ft. of counter edge or 4 ft. from another receptacle that only serves the countertop (C)(1)
Acme
Range
Refrigerator
SINK
Peninsular
Countertop
Wall receptacle not to exceed 5 ½ feet in height from floor. Countertop receptacle not to exceed 20 inches from countertop.
Even though the area above the peninsular countertop does not require a receptacle, the area above the wall countertop cannot have a wall line that has a point that exceeds 24 inches from a receptacle outlet.
Thus the (C)(1) requirement is not met.
VIOLATION
3 ft.
A receptacle must be installed within 6 feet of the counter wall, or 12 ft. from another receptacle that does not serve the kitchen countertop (A) & (A)(4)
The receptacle on the end of the peninsular meets the requirements of (C)(3)

15. 20 “ Date: June 12, 2018 2017 Electrical Code
Subject: Dwelling Kitchen Peninsular Required Receptacles
Section (C)(3)
210.52(C)(1)
210.52(C)(1)
20 “
Question 3:
If a 125-volt, 20-amp receptacle is located on the wall above where the peninsular connects and not more than 20 inches above the countertop, can that receptacle satisfy both requirements for sections (C)(1) and (C)(3)?
A peninsular countertop is measured from the connected perpendicular wall
Acme
Refrigerator

16. Date: June 12, 2018
2017 Electrical Code
Subject: Dwelling Kitchen Peninsular Required Receptacles
Section (C)(3)
Answer 3:
Yes. The area of wall above the kitchen wall countertop(s) and the area of wall above the kitchen peninsular countertop(s) are all “countertops” under section (C). Therefore, if a 125-volt, 20-amp receptacle meets the criteria described in section (C)(5) with respect to both section (C)(1) and section (C)(3) simultaneously, then the requirements of both section (C)(1) and section (C)(3) have been met.

17. Kitchen & Similar Area 1 ft.
Wall receptacle not to exceed 5 ½ feet in height from floor. Countertop receptacle not to exceed 20 inches from countertop.
Question 3
Not to Scale
Kitchen & Similar Area
Because the wall countertop space and the peninsular countertop share the same the same wall line, there is no point on the countertops wall line that exceeds 24 inches from a receptacle outlet. Thus (C)(1) is also satisfied.
A receptacle must be within 2 ft. of counter edge or 4 ft. from another receptacle that only serves the countertop (C)(1)
210.52(C)(1)
Exception
210.52(C)(1)
Exception
210.52(C)(1)
210.52(C)(1)
3 ft.
1 ft.
This receptacle is locatd at the peninsular countertop space and satisfies section (C)(3).
Acme
Range
SINK
A receptacle must be installed within 6 feet of the counter wall, or 12 ft. from another receptacle that does not serve the kitchen countertop (A) & (A)(4)
Acme
Refrigerator
Peninsular
Countertop

18. Date: June 12, 2018
2017 Electrical Code
Subject: Dwelling Kitchen Peninsular Required Receptacles
Section (C)(3)
Question 4:
How can a kitchen peninsular countertop be distinguished from a free standing bar-type countertop?

19. Date: June 12, 2018
2017 Electrical Code
Subject: Dwelling Kitchen Peninsular Required Receptacles
Section (C)(3)
Answer 4:
A peninsular countertop does not have a back splash.

20. Peninsular has no “backsplash)
Wall receptacle not to exceed 5 ½ feet in height from floor. Countertop receptacle not to exceed 20 inches from countertop.
Question 4 Illustration
Not to Scale
Kitchen & Similar Area
Acme
Range
Refrigerator
SINK
Peninsular
Countertop
Peninsular has no “backsplash)