Based on the 2020 NEC.
Illumination is required for outdoor entrances and exits at dwelling units, but the permitted location of the required lighting outlet may provide us with a few surprises.
Section 210.70 provides us with the information for the required lighting outlets. Dwelling unit lighting outlets are covered in Sec. 210.70(A)(1) through (3). Lighting outlets for habitable rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms are covered in Sec. 210.70(A)(1). Laundry rooms are not presently one of the areas specified in this section of the Code, and I don’t think a laundry room is considered a habitable room or a utility room. However, a lighting outlet should be installed there. Hopefully, this gets addressed in the 2023 NEC revision cycle.
My focus of this article, however, is the lighting outlets required for outdoor entrances and exits at dwelling units. Section 210.70(A)(2)(2) requires at least one lighting outlet controlled by a wall switch or some other listed wall-mounted control device to be installed to provide illumination on the exterior side of outdoor entrances or exits having grade-level access at dwelling units. This means the lighting outlet does not need to be installed right next to the entrance/exit if it provides illumination on the exterior side. For instance, it could be floodlights mounted high on the eaves of the house with the lights aimed so they’re shining a light on the door. Pole-mounted floodlights could also meet this requirement. But it could also mean the lighting outlet is not even installed outside.
For example, in the Photo, we can see the luminaire installed over my kitchen sink through the window on the right side. This light fixture shines light through my kitchen window and provides plenty of illumination on the exterior side of the sliding door entrance from my porch. This installation complies with the literal wording in Sec. 210.70(A)(2)(2), since it’s the illumination from the wall switch-controlled lighting outlet that must be provided on the exterior side rather than the lighting outlet itself. We could debate whether that was the intent or not, but for now, the Code does not require the lighting outlet to be installed on the exterior side of the entrance/exit. It only requires the illumination to be on the exterior side. This may also change for 2023.
In closing, it is always a good idea to have a professional and courteous discussion with your AHJ if you’re having trouble interpreting the Code.
