Why the City of Seattle Electrical Code is different—and what it means for your home.
Most cities follow the National Electrical Code. Seattle rewrote it.
The City of Seattle Electrical Code adds extra layers of protection, complexity, and requirements that surprise a lot of homeowners. If you’re planning electrical work in your home—or even just adding an outlet. Here’s what you need to know.
What Makes Seattle’s Code Different?
Seattle doesn’t just adopt the NEC and call it a day.
The Seattle Electrical Code includes dozens of amendments. These reflect the city’s dense housing, aging infrastructure, and climate risks. It’s updated regularly, and it’s enforced strictly.
That means work considered safe and legal in Kirkland or Everett might fail inspection in Seattle.
Why It Matters for Homeowners
This isn’t just about your electrician. These codes affect:
- Whether or not you need a permit
- What materials are allowed
- What your job costs
- Whether your home passes inspection
- And in some cases, your insurance coverage
The city of Seattle’s code is about safety, but it’s also about doing the job right the first time.
Common Seattle Electrical Code Requirements
Arc-Fault Protection
Required on nearly all 15- and 20-amp circuits in living areas, not just bedrooms.
Tamper-Resistant Outlets
Required in most finished areas of the home, not just for childproofing but for overall safety.
Metal Conduit in Older Homes
PVC isn’t always allowed. Many remodels require EMT or other rigid metallic conduit types.
EV-Ready & Solar-Ready Panels
New panels often must leave room for future clean energy loads, even if you’re not adding them now.
Permits for Small Jobs
Installing a ceiling fan? Moving an outlet? These might need permits and inspections in Seattle, even if they wouldn’t elsewhere.
What Happens If You Skip It?
Unpermitted work or non-compliant installs can:
- Cause failed inspections
- Trigger insurance denials
- Lead to costly tear-outs or rework
- Put your home at risk of fire or overload
The Seattle Electrical Code isn’t just red tape. It’s designed to prevent those risks. But you need someone who understands how to follow it without dragging out your project.
What Product Air Does Differently
At Product Air, we stay up to date on every Seattle code revision. We know what inspectors look for, and we build for it.
We handle permitting, inspections, materials, and sizing to meet the code before it becomes a problem.
We work clean. We work fast. And we follow the City of Seattle Electrical Code like our name depends on it.