National Electrical Code (NFPA 70)
Wisconsin enforces the 2023 NEC
The 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) has been in force in Wisconsin since Sep 1, 2026. It applies statewide. Adopted by Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), with its Electrical Code Council. The legal citation is Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 316 (NEC edition listed in s. SPS 316.007(1)(a)); Clearinghouse Rule CR 26-016 (Register June 2026 No. 846).
Record of adoption
Edition in force
2023 NEC
Wisconsin electrical code (ch. SPS 316)
Verified
- In force since
- Legal citation
- Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 316 (NEC edition listed in s. SPS 316.007(1)(a)); Clearinghouse Rule CR 26-016 (Register June 2026 No. 846)
- Adopted by
- Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), with its Electrical Code Council
- Second reading
- Applies
- Statewide
- Also called
- SPS 316, State Electrical Code, Wisconsin Electrical Code
How Wisconsin adopts the NEC
DSPS updates the electrical code by amending ch. SPS 316 through agency rulemaking: scope statement SS 019-24 (preliminary hearing Feb 26, 2024), Electrical Code Council drafting, an economic-impact comment period ending Jan 15, 2026, then legislative rule review and publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register. The proposed order’s default clause was effect on the first day of the month after publication, but DSPS announced publication on June 29 with a September 1 effective date; DSPS says rule updates need approval by both the Governor’s Office and the Legislature. No statute naming an NEC edition was found, no JCRAR objection to the 2023 NEC order was found, and rules costing $10 million or more over two years need an enacted bill under 2017 Wisconsin Act 57.
Cycle. Irregular: DSPS moved from the 2017 NEC to the 2023 NEC in 2026, and no adoption of the 2020 NEC was found.
Laws, rulings, and other actions
- Legislation2025 Enrolled Joint Resolution 13 (introduced as 2025 Assembly Joint Resolution 133)
Proposed constitutional amendment (new art. IV, s. 35) letting the full Legislature suspend agency rules, in whole or part, by a joint resolution adopted by a majority of all members elected to each house.
Pending: first consideration passed the Assembly Feb 12, 2026, and the Senate Feb 18, 2026; second consideration by the 2027 Legislature and a statewide vote would follow, and no ballot date is set
legis.wisconsin.gov (opens in a new tab) - Court rulingEvers v. Marklein, 2025 WI 36 (Wisconsin Supreme Court)
Held the statutes letting JCRAR indefinitely object to proposed rules and suspend promulgated rules facially unconstitutional because they lack bicameralism and presentment, which cleared the stalled commercial building code update.
- Legislation2017 Senate Bill 15 / 2017 Wisconsin Act 57 (rulemaking reforms, REINS-type provisions)
Requires an economic impact analysis for proposed rules and makes an agency stop work on a rule with $10,000,000 or more in implementation and compliance costs over any two-year period unless a bill authorizing it is enacted.
Enacted Aug 9, 2017, published Aug 10, 2017
docs.legis.wisconsin.gov (opens in a new tab)
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 one source page.
Evidence 2 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.
“NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, (NEC) – 2023, including all Temporary Interim Amendments and Errata prior to January 1, 2025.”
Wisconsin Legislature: SPS 316.007 (Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 316)Wisconsin Legislaturedocs.legis.wisconsin.gov (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved “CR 26-016: r. (2), am. (3), (4) Register June 2026 No. 846, eff. 9-1-26.”
“Section 101.86, Stats., prohibits municipalities from enacting rules that are more restrictive than this chapter.”
Wisconsin Legislature: SPS 316.007 (Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 316)Wisconsin Legislaturedocs.legis.wisconsin.gov (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved
Tracker cross-checks
Code adoption trackers are a cross-check. They are not Wisconsin’s own record.
Mike Holt’s NEC adoption listCross-checkAgrees with the record
Wisconsin: 2023 NEC, effective 9/1/2026
NFPA’s enforcement mapCross-checkAgrees with the record
Wisconsin 2017 Commercial (8/1/2018) Residential (1/1/2020) 2023 update process complete (Effective 9/1/2026)
Read Oct 18, 2026; NFPA page as of Aug 3, 2026, before the 2023 edition’s 9/1/2026 effective date.