Dwelling service disconnects go outdoors
For one- and two-family dwellings, the service disconnect itself now has to be in a readily accessible outdoor location, on the house or within sight of it. The separate emergency disconnect section is gone from Article 230.
2023 vs. 2026
2023 NEC
230.85
The service disconnect could be outdoors or indoors nearest the point where the service conductors enter (230.70(A)(1)). Separately, 230.85 required an outdoor emergency disconnect on or within sight of one- and two-family dwellings. It could be the service disconnect, a meter disconnect built into the meter mounting equipment, or another listed disconnect suitable for service equipment, on the supply side of each service disconnect. It had to be marked for emergency use. 230.85 did not apply when the dwelling had an emergency disconnect under 225.41, which already covered dwellings supplied by a feeder.
2026 NEC
230.70(A)(1)
The service disconnect must be outdoors, on the dwelling or within sight of it. There's an exception when an emergency disconnect is installed under 225.41.
What it means on the job
- Plan the service disconnect outside on new homes. An indoor main panel with an outdoor emergency switch may no longer meet the rule.
- Ask the AHJ how they handle service changes on existing homes with indoor mains.
- Inspectors: check the location, and check the 225.41 exception when the disconnect is remote.
Why it changed
To add: the code-making panel’s statement from NFPA’s public Second Draft Report, in our words, with a link to the source.
Section numbers only. Read 230.85 in the 2023 NEC and 230.70(A)(1) in the 2026 NEC in your own code books, and check which edition your AHJ enforces.