Yes, he's correct. Code does not allow boxes to be concealed. Get a blank plate and paint it the color of the ceiling. You won't notice it after the first week.

Ok, good to know. Could you explain why he would have put this box here when there hasn’t been one before ? Could it be wired differently to remove the box? Thank you

Can you show more context? A pic from further back?

I showed this to my DH last night (pro electrician) and he explained how this could have possibly been done better … but no way to tell for sure just based on this photo. He recently did a similar sounding job and was able to accomplish it without a box like this in the ceiling.

I would not want that there myself, if it can be helped.

You said you moved the ceiling fixture a foot over - is this the old location? You would have to run new homeruns of wire from the source of another box or the panel to avoid splicing in a junction box. It appears here it was difficult, expensive, or both, but I would expect an electrician would have alerted you to options of either doing or not doing this.

If you relocated the fixture after the wiring was done, there were two choices: 1) the one you have, or 2) one without that box which would have involved running new wires to the new location from wherever they originated. If he did the latter, the electrician would have had to spend time fishing wires through walls and ceilings, and probably cutting holes in sheetrock in various places that you would have to patch and repaint. You could still do this, but it hardly seems worth the cost and effort. My ceilings in every room all have one or more blanking plates that conceal the sprinkler heads for my fire control system: I never notice them.

“ … and probably cutting holes in sheetrock in various places that you would have to patch and repaint.“

Not necessarily. DH explained it to me last night, sorry I can’t relate it, too technical and I’d probably explain wrong. :)

He does everything in his power to avoid this, and it’s a lot more work. I’ve been on jobs with him.

Anyway, this can definitely be done without all that in some situations. Just not enough info here to say for sure. You might be correct in your assessment.

Thank you everyone. Your input has been helpful.
After talking to another electrician, he is saying that code wise this is correct but if we aren’t concerned with access to the box, it can be moved back but he would have to do something to address the loose wires to ensure that it isn’t a fire hazard.
So I guess that would be a third option to the ones mentioned here?
Here is a better pic showing the whole job.

Arrow shows where old ceiling fan was. Light was installed in new location to place it center of kitchen table. You see the box in question. The other two holes he made for access I guess. I was kind of surprised when I returned after the work was complete!

The reason code doesn't allow you to conceal boxes is that it makes troubleshooting of the wiring almost impossible if there is ever an issue, especially for future owners who would have no knowledge of this location. As for concealed splices, it is true that some localities allow use of a special device for this, but not everyone thinks this is good practice. Whatever the vague something is that the new electrician is offering to do, you need to ask: Will it meet code?

Thanks kudzu9. I will make sure to ask that.

Ok this is what I was told. he will cover the box and that makes it code as far as fire safety. He will put it up in the ceiling and that is safe but does not meet code as far as access. If we’re ok with not having access and the possibility of later not remembering or future owners not knowing.

How does that sound ? I’m ok with the access. I would like some other opinion on safety.

"How does that sound ?"

Does not sound like a licensed electrician, nor a good idea.

Is this something you're planning to hide from the permit inspector?

Well no permit was needed so, no.

Thanks to all. I very much appreciate your input. I’m cancelling the idea of hiding it. If it’s at all unsafe, it’s not worth it.

Em Eff-

1) Good decision.

2) You're not going to notice the plate on the ceiling after the first week.

Did you ever ask why he did it that way? And investigate what it would take for new homeruns? I personally wouldn't want a coverplate over the Kitchen table.

The electrician we hired offered no other solution. He said it would have to be that way. My painter was going to have a friend who he said is a certified electrician come and do as described above. After this discussion and another discussion over the same thing here on Houzz, I decided to just go with it. I don’t like it but we have a lot of updating to do with limited resources so I’m just gonna let this one go. I agree, it looks stupid 😒 thanks for your input 3onthetree.

What's above that ceiling please? If you can access the box in an attic, you can probably move it and cover the hole.

There is a second floor over it