National Electrical Code (NFPA 70)
Massachusetts enforces the 2026 NEC
The 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC) has been in force in Massachusetts since Apr 24, 2026. It applies statewide. Adopted by Board of Fire Prevention Regulations (BFPR), Department of Fire Services. The legal citation is 527 CMR 12.00.
Record of adoption
Edition in force
2026 NEC
Massachusetts Electrical Code (527 CMR 12.00), 2026 edition
Verified
- In force since
- Legal citation
- 527 CMR 12.00
- Adopted by
- Board of Fire Prevention Regulations (BFPR), Department of Fire Services
- Second reading
- Applies
- Statewide
- Also called
- 527 CMR 12.00, State Electrical Code, Massachusetts amendments to NFPA 70
Some trackers still list the 2023 NEC, but the 2026 NEC is in force. Rule 7 applies it to installations for which a permit is granted after Apr 24, 2026. The NFPA 70 text is the version released by NFPA Standards Council vote on Aug 20, 2025.
How Massachusetts adopts the NEC
The Board of Fire Prevention Regulations makes and amends the electrical wiring rules by regulation under G.L. c. 143, s. 3L, after a public hearing; the statute has no legislative approval step and the rules become effective when deposited with the state secretary. For the 2026 edition the BFPR noticed a public hearing for Mar 30, 2026, and the code took effect Apr 24, 2026, about eight months after NFPA’s Aug 20, 2025, release.
Cycle. Follows the NFPA 70 three-year cycle: the previous Massachusetts code was based on the 2023 NEC and the 2026 NEC took effect Apr 24, 2026.
How it was checked
Verified
Two separate readings of the state’s own record agree, and the passage is on file word for word.
Read twice: a second, blind reading of the state’s record agreed with the first on .
The state’s record was last read on , from three source pages.
Evidence 4 sources
Sources for the record itself come first, the state’s own records ahead of others. A label marks a source about something else, such as an exception. A source marked secondary is not the state’s own record.
“the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70, 2026 Edition)”
“on Monday, March 30, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.”
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, Board of Fire Prevention Regulations, Massachusetts Electrical Code, 527 CMR 12.00Secretary of the Commonwealth, State Publications and Regulations Division (Massachusetts Register notice)sec.state.ma.us (opens in a new tab)State registerRetrieved “shall be the 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC), as published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)”
527 CMR 12.00: Massachusetts Electrical Code (Amendments), effective 4/24/26Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Mass.gov), Board of Fire Prevention Regulationsmass.gov (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved “527 CMR 12.00 shall be effective on all installations for which a permit has been granted subsequent to April 24, 2026.”
527 CMR 12.00: Massachusetts Electrical Code (Amendments), effective 4/24/26Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Mass.gov), Board of Fire Prevention Regulationsmass.gov (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved “The Electrical Code is effective as of April 24, 2026.”
“The current State Electrical Code currently in effect is based upon NFPA 70, 2026 edition.”
Massachusetts Electrical CodeCommonwealth of Massachusetts (Mass.gov), Department of Fire Servicesmass.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved
Tracker cross-checks
Code adoption trackers are a cross-check. They are not Massachusetts’s own record.
Mike Holt’s NEC adoption listCross-checkAgrees with the record
Massachusetts: NEC 2026, effective 4/24/26
NFPA’s enforcement mapCross-checkAgrees with the record
Massachusetts 2026 with MA amendments (4/24/2026)
Read Oct 18, 2026; NFPA page as of Aug 3, 2026.