It's not about 'damp rated' it's about the likelihood of you standing up in the tub, slipping and grabbing out for the first thing your hand hits to stabilize you. If it's the fixture-- YOU DIE. Look for a flush mounted sparkly chandy you can't reach when standing in the tub, and it should be ok, but remember it needs to be swapped back if ever you go to sell.

You can get some really pretty crystal ceiling flush mount fixtures and they are to code Jusr becuase you see it in a design mag does not make it right .I think you can do a semi flush in a 9' ceiling and still be okay for code since this is just a tup no shower and I do not think it will need to be replaced when you sell / I think if the bottom of the fixture is 8' from the floor it should be fine .

If you are thinking of softer lighting, it might be better to think⚡️ of alternatives

agree with @arcy_gw about the code issue... swapping a can/recessed for a canopy electric fixture requires an electrician, it's not a DIY project, unless you use an adapted cover.

They haven't perfected that transitional look yet (unless I have missed it).

I think the code I read is from the top of the tub deck to the bottom of the fixture should be > 8' so even a flush mount would not meet that criteria. At 5'3", I'd never be able to reach the fixture while standing and getting out of the tub. Thanks everyone for your help!

We will never use our tub, so I'll enjoy the pretty pendant over the tub while we live here for the next 10 - 20 years! If we want a good soak, we have a large jetted heated spa as part of our pool, but also don't use that often.

10 ft ceilings.

Rachel -

There are SO MANY people who never consider code issues when changing electrical components - very happy that you have.

It is very confusing to people because there are so many photos of bathrooms with chandeliers over the tubs (probably thousands of them on Houzz).

There also are many people who are confused about what the actual code requirements are - as pointed out by you (with actual language added by ci_lantro). You cannot have a fixture over the tub unless your ceiling is 8 ft higher than the top of the edge of your tub. Many people are also ignore (or don’t understand) the three foot requirement - so, they will simply move the light fixture over and CENTER it in the aisle between the tub and the vanity - even if there is less than six feet between the two.

I actually had a disagreement with the first electrician I hired regarding this very issue (and this is an electrician who has a few hundred 4.8 star Google reviews posted + is licensed and pulled permits from the city to work on the electrical components for my master bathroom renovation).

He made a comment about how relieved he was when he saw that my ceiling vaulted from a little over 9’ to 11’ + the tub was under the 11’ area. He said that so many homeowners are upset when they are told that he can’t install the chandelier (that can’t be returned because it was purchased well ahead of time) directly over the tub because they only have 9’ ceilings.

I told him that I carefully measured the space between the top of my tub and the ceiling in order to determine exactly which light fixtures I could look at when making my decision on what to order. He made a comment that I had “a lot of options” since the fixture just had to be less than three feet long (including any chain). I told him that I had to subtract the height of the tub - he actually told me that I was wrong.

I wound up having a second electrician come out to install my light fixture + paid him to double check other work completed by the first electrician (maybe overkill - but my confidence in the first one was very low after our argument).

I know someone who used some type of screw in component that changes a recessed light into one that can be used for a hardwired one - and added a chandelier after inspections were finished. She said that she will simply unscrew it and replace the recessed bulb whenever they sell their home. She wasn’t worried about grabbing it - and pulling it into the tub.

I told her that I recently plugged in an antique lamp that had been my nana’s - and received a pretty large shock. Obviously, it wasn’t anything like what would happen if a chandelier was pulled from the ceiling into a tub of water - but it scared the crap out of me!!

I’ve always been careful re: electricity - but I am extra careful now. I had to go down to the basement myself in order to double check that the breaker had been flipped + use my tester before changing an outlet. MY daughter was a little offended when I did that - but it was right after the shock incident!

Very pretty!

I would suggest placing the pendant or chandelier in the center of the bathroom instead of over the tub.

What she said: )

Center the sparkly glam fixture in the bath, leave the recessed alone! It is a recessed for a REASON

OR? Do two matching small sparkly dangles and kill the electrical for the one over the tub at the circuit box , add a small 3" recess at each of tub ends, far left and right ( gimbal pointed at the sparkle light )

Safety, to code and glam sparkle.

" Far more likely to be injured as a result of leaning off the side of a ladder trying to clean it than being electrocuted." I find if I go over my light fixtures with a feather duster, each time I clean the bathroom, I don't need a ladder etc. My duster has an retractable arm.

For heavens sake......you spray it and walk away!

Blinding sparkle, no ladder no duster