Washington electrical permits move to 2026 NEC on Dec. 31, unless transition exceptions apply

What changed

Washington’s electrical code transition is now on the calendar. WAC 296-46B-010 says the state currently adopts the 2023 National Electrical Code, but effective Dec. 31, 2026, the 2026 NFPA 70, including Annex A, B and C, is adopted by reference and replaces the 2023 edition.

The change is reflected in adopted WAC language, not just in contractor marketing. The WAC page lists agency filings affecting the section, including WSR 25-23-069, filed Nov. 18, 2025, effective Dec. 19, 2025. Labor & Industries also says on its electrical laws, rules and policies page that the 2026 NEC will replace the current 2023 NEC on Dec. 31, 2026.

A separate L&I rulemaking for Washington-specific 2026 NEC amendments is still in process in the supplied records. L&I says it filed a proposed rulemaking order, CR-102, on Aug. 4, 2026. If adopted, L&I says final rules are expected to be filed Nov. 17, 2026, and the changes are expected to take effect Dec. 31, 2026.

What it means for the shop

For Washington electrical contractors, the practical trigger to watch is the permit date. WAC 296-46B-010 says adopted standards apply to installations when electrical permit issue dates are on and after the adoption dates of the standards, subject to listed exceptions.

The WAC lists transition exceptions for new one- and two-family dwellings or multifamily dwellings with building permits issued before the adoption date. It also lists an exception for new installations requiring plan review when the plans were received and accepted before the adoption date.

Existing work is not automatically pulled into replacement. WAC 296-46B-010 says lawfully installed existing electrical installations may continue without change if they remain compliant with the code that applied at the time of installation. But additions, alterations, modifications and repairs must conform to current chapter 296-46B WAC requirements.

For bidding and scheduling, that means shops should separate projects by likely electrical permit issue date, building-permit status, and plan-review status before promising which code edition applies. The authoritative starting points are WAC 296-46B-010 and L&I’s electrical rule-development page.

What remains unknown

The supplied official pages do not verify the final Washington amendment package. L&I says the 2026 rulemaking is meant to consider changes to chapter 296-46B WAC for new safety codes, updates, clarifications, housekeeping and other changes, but the supplied text does not verify the specific amendment language.

L&I noticed a public hearing for Sept. 14, 2026, at 9 a.m. at its Tumwater headquarters with Zoom and phone access, and set written comments due by 5 p.m. that day. The supplied pages prove the hearing was scheduled and noticed; they do not include minutes, a recording or a comment log proving what happened at the hearing.

It is also not yet verified from the supplied records whether L&I will adopt the proposed amendment package as written, revise it, delay it or reject parts of it before the expected Nov. 17, 2026 final-rule filing. Contractors should monitor L&I’s page before relying on vendor summaries for customer advice: https://www.lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/electrical/laws-rules-policies