2005 NEC©®210.52 Dwelling Unit Receptacle Outlets.

(3) Peninsular Counter Spaces. At least one receptacle outlet shall be installed at each peninsular counter space with a long dimension of 600 mm (24 in.) or greater and a short dimension of 300 mm (12 in.) or greater. A peninsular countertop is measured from the connecting edge.

(5) Receptacle Outlet Location. Receptacle outlets shall be located above, but not more than 500 mm (20 in.) above, the countertop. Receptacle outlets rendered not readily accessible by appliances fastened in place, appliance garages, sinks, or rangetops as covered in 210.52(C)(1), Exception, or appliances occupying dedicated space shall not be considered as these required outlets.
Exception to (5): To comply with the conditions specified in (1) or (2), receptacle outlets shall be permitted to be mounted not more than 300 mm (12 in.) below the countertop. Receptacles mounted below a countertop in accordance with this exception shall not be located where the countertop extends more than 150 mm (6 in.) beyond its support base.
(1) Construction for the physically impaired
(2) On island and peninsular countertops where the countertop is flat across its entire surface (no backsplashes, dividers, etc.) and there are no means to mount a receptacle within 500 mm (20 in.) above the countertop, such as an overhead cabinet

What this says is that if you have a wall above the peninsula that allows receptacles to be mounted within 20" of the counter top, that is where they are to be mounted. With no wall above you may mount the SINGLE required receptacle under the countertop as long as there isn't more than a 6" overhang.

Installing a receptacle where opening a drawer could possibly damage or pull out a cord cap (plug) is NEVER a good idea,

itsunclebill -

Thanks. As I read the above, even though my peninsula extends 7.5 feet from the wall, an outlet on the wall is all that is required. That certainly isn't what I hear others being required to provide. Is this something local inspectors commonly one-plus?

In any case, practically speaking I *want* an outlet available near the other end.

Also, if I understand the above, having my power strip very close to the edge under the granite would be to code, and the presence of drawers isn't raised as an issue so should be ok?

I agree that having the strip there where there could be collision of drawers and plugs is not ideal. OTOH this would not be used for things permanently plugged in. For transient use this would be tolerable to me if its tolerable to the inspector.

Is this something I should run by the inspector before making final plans to do it?

In some earlier editions of the NEC, requirements for receptacles in peninsular counters were even more stringent. The use of countertop receptacles in "tombstone" housings was the only way to comply in some cases. The link is to a not-so-good picture of such a receptacle housing. They are also available for horizontal mounting. This is sometimes the only workable code-compliant solution. Judgments about the esthetics are left to the individual(s) involved.

Here is a link that might be useful:

I didn't read the same thing in both posts. In the first post I got the impression there was a wall above the peninsula from your wording. In the second it is implied there is no wall over the peninsula. If that is the case there would only be one receptacle required on the peninsula, unless divided by a cooktop or range. If there is a wall over the pensinula the receptacles may be located there if they meet the height requirements.

Local inspectors do lots of things. If you don't like what they require ask for a code reference or local rule that details the requirements. I've found that going to the building department and city council in some of these feifdoms and threatening to bring big city lawyers down on their butt for arbitrary rules will often get the result of a written rule. Then I then request the name of the electrical engineer who reviewed them and the intent of the rule other than "the inspector thinks...." so my lawyer may review it. YMMV. It's amazing how many of these guys don't even know what's in a recent code book other than real common issues. This is a bit less of a problem where there is statewide licensing and adoption of the NEC

Sorry if I haven't been clear. Its hard without a picture, but I will use more words to describe:

Peninsula countertop is 46" x 7.5'. One short end abuts a wall. The other three sides are exposed. In the middle of one long side is a gas range, 30"w x 24"d. The counter wraps around it and is flush with the range top. Its all one continuous piece of granite. So there is roughly 30" to left of range, 30" to right of range, and those spaces are 46" deep. There is a 20" deep area behind the range. Looked at another way, on the back side, opposite the range there is a continuous span of counter 20"d by 7.5' long.

(In reality the range will be a little bit off center, but that shouldn't matter for this discussion.)

My son's in-laws have the EXACT same situation as you do, only they have a sink instead of a range, and they also have their dishwasher under the peninsula. I would say their peninsula is the same size as yours too. They have electrical outlets under the sink counter for the disposal and dishwasher. They have an outlet on the main wall where the peninsula attaches to the wall and the rest of the kitchen counter. The side of the peninsula that does not face the kitchen area faces the dining room. On that portion of the peninsula wall, there are two outlets facing the dining room. I don't recall seeing an outlet on the end of the peninsula...but there could be. I just don't remember seeing it.

I also have a peninsula with a rangetop in the middle. Behind the rangetop is 20" of counter space. In other words, does the rangetop have to "entirely" bisect the peninsula for NEC code to come into effect?

I am doing a remodel, and understand that I must add at least one GFI outlet at the end of the peninsula. However, the NEC code seems to say I need a second outlet between the rangetop and where the peninsula joins the wall counter (even though a single piece of granite actually connects the peninsula to the wall).

Unrelated to the original question, but legally-relevant anyway, I'm curious what you mean by "power strip"

If you're meaning one'a them plug-in six-socket strips you frequently buy at the hardware store, you can't use it for "permanent" wiring.

>Exception to (5): To comply with the conditions specified in (1) or (2), receptacle outlets shall be permitted to be mounted not more than 300 mm (12 in.) below the countertop. Receptacles mounted below a countertop in accordance with this exception shall not be located where the countertop extends more than 150 mm (6 in.) beyond its support base.

So, then, this is illegal?

When did this exception become code? The receptacle was installed by a licensed electrician around 12/99 in order to MEET code, as the peninsula didn't have one and it was a new build.

{{!gwi}}

looks like more than six inches to me

I don't keep code books older than 1999, but the 6" rule was in the 99 NEC, and that shows no change to the distance requirement. It is possible that the installation was legal when it was done because of the code in use in your area at the time. It definitely wouldn't pass now, at least where I am.

The important thing behind the distance rules is to make sure a short cord can be plugged in without awkward positioning that would leave it easily snagged when people move around.

If you measure to the right in that picture, it is too far. But if you measure toward the camera, then it is fine. So it depends on the inspector's interpretation of whether one suitable cord route is good enough or if all possible routes have to be ok.

It's confusing wording - you could interpret it to mean it's ok where it is in the photo, but not ok if you put it near the edge of the counter.

I can't imagine why it's prohibited, and you could mount it on the cupboard, and still be in violation.

I suppose it's the snagging or us hitting our heads trying to reach under that deep counter.