Electrical Solution

9 years ago

Hello Houzzers,
This question is part design-related, part code-related. I am remodeling my kitchen. Currently there is a breakfast bar with an electrical outlet down below. I am cutting down the breakfast bar and adding cabinets in front of where the outlet is, effectively turning it into one big island. My original thought was to move the outlet into the toe kick below the cabinets so it would be accessible, but I was informed this is not up to Chicago code (must be 12" from the floor).

Should I remove the outlet?
Should I build it into the inside of the cabinet?
Should I re-reroute it into the countertop as a pop-up outlet?

Photos attached of space before and space in progress.

Any thoughts are appreciated. Thank you!
Justin

Featured Answer

smitrovich

9 years ago

Maybe I'm not fully understanding, but why not just move the outlet to the side of the island?

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Comments (6)

Sammy
9 years ago
Inside the cabinet.
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User
9 years ago
First, many more specifics need to be known to answer your questions. You show a wall sticking up between the cabinets - does that stay, or get cut down so there is one continuous countertop? Is there a receptacle on the wall to the left of the blue cabinets within 6' of the cabinet?

Are you talking about the receptacle in the end of the wall, or the one down lower in the middle of the wall? What other receptacles are available to serve the countertop space and dining area?

There is no 12" height rule in the Chicago code for normal residential. The receptacle could even be in the floor, or integrated into an electric baseboard heater. There is a 15" minimum if you are in an apartment designated as ADA compliant, or an 18" minimum in a hazardous area that stores fuel, but nothing for residential in the written (legal) code. BUT, "IN" a toekick can be assumed to be in an area subject to physical damage (kicking) which the inspector may require a protective cage/cover, making it impractical at best, and would therefore not count as one of the "required" receptacles by most inspectors.
J. B.
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you all for the comments!

To answer Fred's questions, the wall will be cut just below counter height, making for one large countertop. There is currently an outlet on the wall (left side of photo) and another one at the far end of the island (toward the right in the photo).

Interesting to know the local code does not specify outlet height! I was informed by my homeowner association that it did.
User
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
http://library.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:chicago_il_m

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Part C 18-27-210.50
User
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
From what I can tell from the pictures, you need another receptacle on the wall above the countertop within 24" of the edge of the countertop, and one on the end that is not hidden by whatever you are intending to do. The receptacle on the right end has to be less than 12" below the countertop.