Code Change Summary: Overhead clearance is now required for festoon lighting above a pool.

SME commentary: In the 2026 NEC^®, Section 680.22(B) was expanded to ensure that the overhead clearances required above a pool for luminaires, lighting outlets, and fans also applies to festoon lighting.

The revised language in 680.22(B)(1) pertains to outdoor pool areas and requires luminaires, lighting outlets, festoon lighting, and ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans installed above the pool or the area extending 5 feet horizontally from the inside walls of the pool to be installed so that all parts are at a height not less than 12 feet above the maximum water level of the pool.

Festoon lighting, defined in Article 100 as a string of outdoor lights suspended between two points, is commonly installed around residential and commercial pool decks for decorative and ambient lighting. Prior editions of the NEC^® did not clearly place festoon lighting within the same clearance provisions as luminaires, lighting outlets, and paddle fans, which created uncertainty for installers and inspectors evaluating these installations in aquatic settings.

The revised 680.22(B) title explicitly incorporates festoon lighting and clarifies that this lighting type is subject to the same 12-foot minimum height measured above the maximum water level of the pool. The text also emphasizes that all parts of the festoon lighting must comply with the required height. This prevents a common field condition where installers secure each end of the festoon string at a compliant height, but the natural sag of the cord places the midpoint below the minimum clearance. By requiring all parts of the assembly to meet the 12-foot height threshold, the NEC^® ensures that decorative lighting does not introduce a shock hazard within the pool environment.

The revision also removes the term “New” and “Installation” from the subsection title. These terms are implied and were unnecessary, since 680.22(B)(3) already separates the provisions that address clearances for existing installations from the requirements in 680.22(B)(1) that are assumed to be “new”. Removing them aligns the structure of 680.22(B)(1) with the overall formatting used throughout Article 680 and eliminates unnecessary wording without altering the intent. Installers examining the 2026 NEC^® will now see a streamlined heading that by default applies to new installations, consistent with the organization of most requirements throughout the article.

The updated language better communicates the intended installation practices for overhead lighting in outdoor pool areas. Because festoon lighting rarely follows a rigid mounting method and often involves flexible cords with natural sag, it is particularly important that the minimum height requirement applies to every point along the string. Installers may need to provide additional support or adjust the mounting spans to ensure that a 12-foot clearance is preserved. This reinforces the safety objective of the section by preventing any energized portion of the festoon cord from encroaching into the pool’s defined clearance zone.

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 2026 NEC^® edition of NFPA 70.

2023 Code Language:

680.22(B) Luminaires, Lighting Outlets, and Ceiling-Suspended (Paddle) Fans.

(1) New Outdoor Installation Clearances. In outdoor pool areas, luminaires, lighting outlets, and ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans installed above the pool or the area extending 5 feet horizontally from the inside walls of the pool shall be installed at a height not less than 12 feet above the maximum water level of the pool.

2026 Code Language:

680.22(B) Luminaires, Lighting Outlets, Festoon Lighting, and Ceiling-Suspended (Paddle) Fans.

(1) Outdoor Clearances. In outdoor pool areas, luminaires, lighting outlets, festoon lighting, and ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans installed above the pool or the area extending 5 feet horizontally from the inside walls of the pool shall be installed such that all parts are at a height not less than 12 feet above the maximum water level of the pool.