I believe a receptacle would be required above the cabinets only if the shelf immediately above the cabinets can be considered a "countertop". Receptacles inside the cabinets will not count.

It also depends on how they interpret linear wall space. In any case I would want one in each bookcase. You don't have to use it and it's easily enough concealed.

The rule is difficult to paraphrase without getting into double negatives.

A "wall space" (that must have receptacles) can be considered interrupted by "fixed cabinets" but not if they contain a "countertop". In other words, a fixed cabinet with a countertop or work surface is treated as "wall space" and receptacles are required.

If you can't get the opinion of the electrical inspector you should consider the lowest open shelf a "countertop" and install a receptacle(s) in the back wall.

But these days, with Sonos and other kinds of powered WI FI equipment, it might be a good idea to put a receptacle at a higher shelf as well.

I'd always have a receptacle in a bookshelf. I have a lighted base for some crystal, or you never know where electronics will go.

I suspect you'd get a pass on NEEDING one there, I suspect.

I put an outlet in any base cabinet, in any open shelving in any closet or pantry or whatever that I am allowed to. You will never notice if you have some that you rarely or never use. You will always notice if you don't have one where you would want one.

I look at a lot of real estate and more often than not I see extension cords running to shelves or mantels to plug in electronics, in older houses (older being older than 20 odd now).

The NEC doesn't even consider extension cords to be a wiring method. They're for temporary use with portable equipment.

If you do not have an outlet there, you will most likely want one there sometime in the future.

@pam we are putting outlets inside the cabinets for cable boxes etc. I am unclear about whether the shelving above the cabinets needs outlets. I don’t want to put outlets on the shelves but was told we have to. Our previous home had a Reno by a big well known remodeling company and had almost identical built ins. We did not have outlets on the shelves just in the cabinets. But the GC says we have to put them in. No pictures I ever see of built ins have outlets above the cabinets. I’m trying to understand if we need them.

If a building permit was required, only the local electrical inspector can determine if receptacles are required. That decision will depend on whether or not the inspector considers the top of the enclosed cabinets to be a "countertop".

In my experience, electrical inspectors tend to favor more rather than less, so your GC's assumption might be correct.

A possible reason you haven't seen photos of receptacles in bookshelves is that the issue of receptacles at a countertop (in a location other than a kitchen) was add to the NEC in 2017 whch may not have been adopted in many jurisdictions until recently.

The GC should call the inspector but perhaps he already has.

It would help to see the actual design; if the cabinets are less than 6 ft wide, receptacles may not be required. If the cabinets are deeper than the shelves, receptacles are more likely to be required. Don't design in the abstract.

I don't understand why you are so against it though: budget?

Put it on the side wall / inset area and not smack dab in the back of the shelving area. You'll eventually be glad you did.

@palimpsest it’s bc I don’t want to be paying for things we don’t want by claiming we need it. Were dealing with various issues with our builders and each situation is revealing more reason to question their credibility.

Inspectors and builders often have a bit if a contentious relationship.

SOMETIMES

Builders view inspectors as busybodies on power trips who have never built a house in his/her life. They are often the one thing standing between the builder and their payment / closing. It can be contentious. To be fair - some inspectors can have chips on their shoulders. This is exacerbated by....

Inspectors view builders are doing the bare minimum they can to get bare and often less, in the hopes that the inspector won't catch things. (Sound familiar?) So when the inspectors does catch things - sometimes it's a fight over who knows best.

So - in this instance - and based on your other posts - it's quite possible your builder got dinged by an inspector for no outlets in the shelving and doens't want to end up there again, so he puts them in all the bookcases / shelves. In that sense, the process works. It's also possible that the inspector has some hot button issues s/he checks for and this is one.

Either way - it's easier to be done now, it should be pretty cost effective, might be useful later and you won't have to worry about it stopping progress later or failing an inpsection for that.

I am not clear what kind of project this is, new construction or a permitted project in an existing house, and what you have contract wise.

However, it would be very rare (but not unheard of) to have an electrical contract, even in a remodel, where you were paying for every individual outlet. In new construction there is usually an allowance that covers all the electrical for the entire house, and in remodeling, even it it's time and material, it's still not like paying for each individual outlet.

So unless you are at the top of your "outlet allowance" for new build, and you want to put outlets somewhere else instead, or your contract is that you are literally paying a fee for every single box that goes in . . . I don't see how leaving these outlets out is going to be saving you any money (?)

I am using an espensive electrician and a time and materials contract, and even they are not charging me literally by the outlet.

So is this really a matter of saving money or are you just in a power struggle with your contractor?

^^^ and to be fair - if your contractor says it's a code requirement, probably should have been both in his bid and caught in the electrical plan as to not be an additional cost.