National Electrical Code (NFPA 70)
Ohio enforces the 2023 NEC
The 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) has been in force in Ohio since Mar 1, 2024. It applies statewide. Adopted by Ohio Board of Building Standards. The legal citation is OAC 4101:1-27-01 and 4101:1-35-01 (commercial); OAC 4101:8-34-01 and 4101:8-44-01 (residential).
Record of adoption
Edition in force
2023 NEC
NFPA 70 as adopted in the 2024 Ohio Building Code and Residential Code of Ohio
Partial
- In force since
- Legal citation
- OAC 4101:1-27-01 and 4101:1-35-01 (commercial); OAC 4101:8-34-01 and 4101:8-44-01 (residential)
- Adopted by
- Ohio Board of Building Standards
- Applies
- Statewide
- State amendments
- Minor
- Also called
- OBC Chapter 27, RCO Chapter 34
Commercial (OBC) 2023 NEC effective Mar 1, 2024; residential (RCO) rules carry effective date Apr 15, 2024. OBC keeps 210.8(F) Exception No. 2 from expiring. RCO chapter 44 entry reads ‘70-1723’, read as updated to 2023, and the BBS amendment summary and a NEMA alert agree.
How Ohio adopts the NEC
The Board of Building Standards amends the Ohio Building Code and the Residential Code of Ohio by administrative rule, updating the referenced-standards chapters (OAC 4101:1-35-01 and 4101:8-44-01) to name the NFPA 70 edition. Rules go through public hearing and are filed with JCARR, a legislative committee that can recommend invalidating a proposed rule by concurrent resolution; the General Assembly does not name editions in statute.
Cycle. Irregular; the board updates OBC roughly every 3-6 years after the model code cycle, with five-year rule reviews (OBC/OPC/RCO review in progress 2026).
How it was checked
Partial
Researched in the state’s own record. The seal stays broken until the passage is on file word for word.
The state’s record was last read on , from five source pages.
Evidence 5 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.
“70-23 National Electrical Code (except that section 210.8(F) Exception No. 2 does not expire)”
“IFC - 21 International Fire Code except Chapter 12”
OAC 4101:1-35-01 Referenced standardsOhio Legislative Service Commission, codes.ohio.govcodes.ohio.gov (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved “Effective: March 1, 2024”
Rule 4101:1-27-01 ElectricalOhio Legislative Service Commission, codes.ohio.govcodes.ohio.gov (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved “National Electrical Code (as modified in Chapter 34)”
“International Energy Conservation Code”
OAC 4101:8-44-01 Referenced standards (Residential Code of Ohio)Ohio Legislative Service Commission, codes.ohio.govcodes.ohio.gov (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved “Updates standard 70 to the 2023 edition with Ch 34 amendments”
RCO Amendments summaryOhio Department of Commerce, Board of Building Standardsdam.assets.ohio.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved About the note
“April 15, 2024”
“Prior Effective Dates: 1/1/2013, 1/1/2016, 7/1/2019”
Rule 4101:8-34-01 Electrical (Residential Code of Ohio)Ohio Legislative Service Commission, codes.ohio.govcodes.ohio.gov (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved
Tracker cross-checks
Code adoption trackers are a cross-check. They are not Ohio’s own record.
NFPA’s enforcement mapCross-checkAgrees with the record
Ohio 2023 Commercial (3/1/2024) Residential with OH amendments (4/15/2024) (NEC enforcement table as of Aug 3, 2026)