Code Change Summary: Revisions were made to the previous language for the required garage branch circuit.

A brief history: The 2017 NEC^® added language (for dwelling units) to require at least one 20-ampere, 120-volt branch circuit to supply receptacle outlets installed in attached garages, and in detached garages supplied with electric power. This required circuit was not permitted to supply other outlets besides those permitted in the exception (readily accessible outdoor receptacle outlets).

Not all dwelling units have a garage, but if one does, whether attached or detached and supplied with electricity, at least one 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuit was required to be installed to supply garage receptacle outlets.

The intent of the 2017 code language was to provide for the use of cord and plug connected garage appliances and many portable tools that commonly draw 12 to 16 amps. This is just too much for a typical 15-amp garage branch circuit that often supplies the garage lighting outlet as well.

During the 2020 code cycle, there were 11 public inputs requesting clarification of Section 210.11(C)(4). Many code readers felt that this section required any 120-volt receptacle installed in a dwelling unit garage to be supplied by a 20-amp branch circuit and that a 120-volt, 15-amp branch circuit, installed to supply receptacles in a garage, was not allowed.

This resulted in a 2020 code change attempting to make it clear that as long as there was at least one receptacle outlet installed in each vehicle bay to satisfy Section 210.52(G)(1), and supplied from a 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuit, any other receptacles installed in the garage could be supplied by other than a 120-volt, 20-amp branch circuit.

The 2023 changes: In the 2023 NEC^®, section 210.11(C)(4) was revisited once again which resulted in several clarifications:

First, the words “including those” was added to the beginning sentence making it clear that the 20-ampere branch circuit required by 210.52(G)(1) for each vehicle bay, does not need to be exclusively for the vehicle bay, it can also supply other “receptacle” outlets within the garage, but aside from that, the second sentence in this section makes it clear that this circuit cannot supply any other “outlets” such as lighting outlets (see exception 1). The committee statement from Code Panel 2 at the first revision says it best: “The text is revised to clarify that the required receptacle outlets from 210.52(G)(1) must be served from at least one 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuit, and that this 20-ampere branch circuit is also permitted to serve other receptacle outlets within the garage.”

Second, a new sentence was added in this section making it clear that receptacle outlets, other than those required by 210.52(G)(1), can be supplied by additional 120-volt branch circuits rated 15-amps or more. Basically, as long as there is at least one 20-amp branch circuit supplying the receptacle required in 210.52(G)(1) for the vehicle bay, then additional 15-amp or larger branch circuits are permitted to be installed to supply other garage receptacles.

Also noteworthy in the 2023 NEC^®, the words “readily accessible” were removed from exception 1 and now, even though the general rule in 210.11(C)(4) intends for the required 20-amp branch circuit to supply no other outlets, the branch circuit is actually permitted to supply outdoor receptacle outlets with no limitation on how accessible they are.

Third, a new exception #2 was added which allows a single vehicle bay garage to have all outlets (both lighting and receptacle outlets) within the garage to be supplied by the required 120-volt, 20-amp branch circuit in accordance with 210.23(B)(1) or (B)(2).

Below is a preview of the NEC^®. See the actual NEC^® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the 2023 NEC^® edition of NFPA 70.