The Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act requires the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to adopt the revised National Electrical Code (NEC) as the electrical code for the state of Texas. In 2023, TDLR will adopt the 2023 NEC as the electrical code for the state of Texas and establish it as the “minimum standard” for all electrical work in Texas covered by the Act. The proposed effective date will be September 1, 2023.
Chapter 1305.201 of the Act provides municipalities the authority to make local amendments to the 2023 NEC; however, any proposal to amend these standards should be done in accordance with NEC 90.4 which stipulates “the authority having jurisdiction may waive specific requirements in this Code or permit alternative methods where it is assured that equivalent objectives can be achieved by establishing and maintaining effective safety.”
Any non-exempt electrical work started on or after September 1, 2023, must be installed in accordance with the 2023 NEC. To clarify: the โstartโ of electrical work is the day the electrician begins installing electrical materials or equipment within the residential or commercial building structure.ย Inside the corporate limits of a municipality, electricians must abide by city permitting requirements and adhere to any local code amendments.
Questions? Contact TDLR at Jerry.Daniel@tdlr.texas.govor Larry.Reichle@tdlr.texas.gov