During a recent conversation in an online Code discussion group, an electrician asked if switch-controlled receptacles in dwelling unit bedrooms need to be wired so only ½ of the duplex receptacle can be switched for the installation to comply with the requirements of Sec. 210.52(2) and Sec. 210.52(A)(1). It is a fairly common practice to remove the connecting tab (as shown in the Photo) and wire one receptacle with constant power while the other receptacle is controlled by a switch. I responded by saying, “Section 210.52(2) only applies to switched receptacles installed in lieu of lighting outlets required for habitable rooms. So, if the room has a lighting outlet in addition to receptacle outlets, all of the receptacles can be switched.”
My comments were panned by many of the group members who told me to “re-read” the Code. So, of course, I did. Section 210.70(A)(1) Exception No. 1 states “in other than kitchens and bathrooms, one or more receptacles controlled by a listed wall-mounted control device shall be permitted in lieu of lighting outlets.” After reading it again, I doubled down on my stance that switched receptacles installed “in addition to” lighting outlets are permitted. Section 210.52(2) excludes receptacles controlled by a wall switch or other listed wall-mounted control devices per Sec. 210.70(A)(1) Exception No. 1. The key wording here is “in accordance with 210.70(A)(1) Exception No. 1”. If Sec. 210.52(2) did not refer to Sec. 210.70(A)(1) Exception No. 1, and instead was simply worded “Controlled by a listed wall-mounted control device,” my interpretation would be completely different.
As it stands now, every receptacle could be controlled by a switch provided those receptacles are not installed in lieu of lighting outlets, and lighting outlets are installed per the requirements of Sec. 210.70. Some members of that Code discussion group were so fired up by this discussion that a few of them even mentioned they planned on submitting a Public Input for 2026 to revise the wording in Sec. 210.52(2) to clarify the intent of these rules. I am looking forward to reading those Public Input submissions. Is the intent of the wording to exclude all switch-controlled receptacles as being the receptacles required by Sec. 210.52(A)? Or, is the intent only to exclude switch-controlled receptacles installed in lieu of lighting outlets? You now know where I stand on this matter as far as the literal wording is concerned. You may want to discuss this with your AHJ to get his or her interpretation.
