# Washington — Which National Electrical Code edition each US state enforces: adoption status, effective dates and amendments, from the state boards themselves

For Washington, nec edition in force is The 2023 edition of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70 - 2023); state amendments is adopted with state rules taking precedence — 'This chapter will be followed where there is any conflict between this chapter and the above adopted standards.'; announced transition is Effective December 31, 2026, the 2026 edition of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70-2026) including Annex A, B, and C is adopted in this chapter by reference and replaces the 2023 edition of the NFPA 70; statute / rule citation is WAC 296-46B-010, recorded from its source on 2026-08-11.

- **State:** Washington
- **NEC edition in force:** The 2023 edition of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70 - 2023) _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **State amendments:** adopted with state rules taking precedence — 'This chapter will be followed where there is any conflict between this chapter and the above adopted standards.'
- **Announced transition:** Effective December 31, 2026, the 2026 edition of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70-2026) including Annex A, B, and C is adopted in this chapter by reference and replaces the 2023 edition of the NFPA 70 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Statute / rule citation:** WAC 296-46B-010

## What the source says

> The 2023 edition of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70 - 2023) including Annex A, B, C, and subsequent Errata and Tentative Interim Amendments issued by the National Fire Protection Association; the latest published versions of Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard (ANSI/TIA-568); Commercial Building Standard for Telecommunications Pathway and Spaces (ANSI/TIA-569); Commercial Building Grounding and Bonding Requirements for Telecommunications (ANSI/TIA-607); Residential Telecommunications Cable Standard (ANSI/TIA-570); and the latest published version of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC excluding Appendixes A and B) are hereby adopted by reference as part of this chapter. Effective December 31, 2026, the 2026 edition of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70-2026) including Annex A, B, and C is adopted in this chapter by reference and replaces the 2023 edition of the NFPA 70.

## Source

- https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=296-46B-010

Last verified: 2026-08-11. Review by: 2026-12-09.
Part of [Which National Electrical Code edition each US state enforces: adoption status, effective dates and amendments, from the state boards themselves](https://referencesource.org/nec-edition-adoption-by-state/).