How do I know if my outlet placement is up to code?

The single most important thing is to check your local building code, because requirements vary wildly depending on where you live - what passes in one jurisdiction might fail inspection in another. You can usually find this through your city or county building department's website, or by calling them directly. They'll tell you the specific spacing requirements, height minimums, and any special rules for kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor areas. If you're in the US, the National Electrical Code (NEC) sets general standards that most places follow, but local amendments are common, so don't rely solely on that.

For general guidelines if you're in the States, the NEC typically requires outlets in bedrooms and living areas to be spaced so that no point on the floor is more than six feet from an outlet, outlets in kitchens need to be within six feet of countertop edges with spacing every four feet, and bathrooms need at least one outlet within three feet of sinks. Standard outlet height is 12 to 18 inches from the floor, though this can change for accessibility requirements or specific room types. Kitchens and bathrooms also need GFCI protection, and outdoor outlets need GFCI as well.

If you're planning renovations or adding outlets, honestly just contact your local building department before you start work. Some areas require permits for electrical work, and an inspector will verify everything meets code. I've seen folks do beautiful remodels only to hit snags during inspection because they didn't check local rules first. It's a lot easier to get it right from the start than to tear out walls and redo work later.

Your local code is absolutely the starting point since requirements really do differ between places - what works in one county might get flagged in another. That said, there are some pretty universal rules most areas follow. Outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry areas typically need to be within 6 feet of a sink, and you'll usually need them every 12 feet or so along a wall in regular rooms. Bathrooms almost always require GFCI protection, and kitchens usually do too. The height thing matters - most codes want outlets between 15 and 48 inches from the floor, though there's often flexibility depending on the wall space and what the outlet's for.

Here's a practical move that actually saves time: snap a photo of your outlet placement and send it to your local building department or a licensed electrician with a quick question. Most folks will give you a straight answer without charging anything, or at least tell you exactly what document to look up online. You could also find your jurisdiction's code book (often available free on the municipal website) and search for the outlet section - it's usually way clearer than you'd think. If you're doing renovation work or selling, get an inspection done anyway; catching issues early beats dealing with them later.

One thing that trips people up: just because an outlet "looks" like it's in the right spot doesn't mean it satisfies the rule. The measurement is usually the shortest path along the wall surface, not a straight line through air, so an outlet around a corner might not count toward your coverage even if it's geometrically close.

Get photos of your current setup and email them to your local building inspector before calling for an official inspection - they can usually give you a quick unofficial thumbs-up or heads-up about what needs moving, and it saves you the embarrassment of a failed inspection. Seriously, most inspectors are chill about this if you're being proactive.

Beyond that, the spacing rules are what trip people up most. Kitchen counters need outlets within 24 inches of any point along the countertop (think about it - you shouldn't have to run an extension cord across your whole kitchen). Bathrooms and laundry areas have their own stricter requirements. And if you've got outlets near water sources, they usually need GFCI protection - either the outlet itself or the breaker it's on. Hallways and bedrooms have their own spacing minimums too, which varies by code.

One thing nobody mentions: take a rough sketch of your rooms with measurements and ask about it while you're already talking to the inspector about something else. Or if you're calling just for outlet placement, ask if they can walk you through the whole thing at once instead of making multiple visits. Saves a ton of time and frustration later, trust me on that one.