What is the code for outlet spacing in a kitchen?
What is the code for outlet spacing in a kitchen?
In Ontario kitchens, the Electrical Safety Code requires outlets to be spaced no more than 1.2 meters (4 feet) apart along countertop areas, with additional specific requirements for island and peninsula countertops.
The Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC) Rule 26-722 governs kitchen outlet spacing and placement. For standard countertop areas, you need an outlet within 600mm (2 feet) of each end of the counter, and then additional outlets spaced no more than 1.2 meters apart along the counter length. This ensures you're never more than 600mm from an outlet while working at your counters.
Kitchen islands and peninsulas have their own requirements - any island or peninsula countertop 600mm or longer needs at least one outlet. If the island is longer than 1.8 meters, you'll need additional outlets following the same 1.2-meter spacing rule. These outlets must be located within the countertop area, not underneath or on the sides where they'd be less accessible.
GFCI protection is mandatory for all kitchen outlets within 1.5 meters of a sink, which typically covers most kitchen counter outlets. The outlets must also be on dedicated 20-amp circuits - you can't just tap into lighting circuits. Most kitchens require at least two separate 20-amp circuits for counter outlets to handle modern appliance loads.
ESA permits are required when adding new kitchen outlets or circuits, even during renovations. The inspector will verify proper spacing, GFCI protection, and circuit capacity. Many homeowners discover during kitchen renovations that their existing outlet spacing doesn't meet current code - while you're not required to upgrade unless you're doing electrical work, it's often worth bringing everything up to current standards for safety and convenience.
For kitchen electrical work in Ottawa, always use an ESA-licensed electrician who understands these specific requirements and can ensure your installation passes inspection on the first visit.
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