Texas 2026 NEC Changes: What Electricians Need to Know

Key Takeaways

• The 2026 National Electrical Code became the Texas state electrical code on September 1, 2026, through an amended 16 TAC §73.100.
• The TDLR Commission voted unanimously to adopt it on July 28, 2026.
• Texas kept a GFCI exception for listed HVAC equipment. The national code set it to expire on September 1, 2026, and Texas extended it with no end date.
• State electrical exams cover the 2026 NEC starting September 1, 2026.
• Cities can amend the code only to make it as strict or stricter. They can't make a licensed contractor install work below the 2026 NEC.

Texas now runs on the 2026 National Electrical Code. TDLR adopted the 2026 NEC as the state electrical code effective September 1, 2026, and all non-exempt electrical work in the state must meet it, inside city limits or out in the county. The one Texas-specific twist is a GFCI exception for outdoor HVAC equipment at homes. Below is what changed, who it affects, and what to do about it this year.

What TDLR Adopted and When

Texas law requires TDLR to adopt the most recent edition of the NEC as the state electrical code. NFPA publishes a new edition every three years, according to the adopted rule in the Texas Register. The 2026 cycle followed four dates.

• March 20, 2026. TDLR published the proposed rule in the Texas Register.
• July 28, 2026. The Commission voted unanimously to adopt the 2026 NEC, per the TDLR Texas Circuit bulletin.
• August 28, 2026. The adopted rule ran in the Texas Register.
• September 1, 2026. The amended 16 TAC §73.100 took effect.

The rule passed with no changes to the proposed text, and TDLR heard from 42 people during the comment period. Of those, 28 supported the rule, seven supported it with requested changes, and three opposed it, per the Texas Register notice. Three more shared information without taking a position, and one comment was off topic.

The Texas GFCI Exception for HVAC Outlets

The 2026 NEC requires GFCI protection for certain outdoor outlets at dwellings. Section 210.8(F) carries an exception, called Exception No. 2, that says GFCI protection is not required for listed HVAC equipment. In the national code, that exception expires on September 1, 2026.

Texas dropped the expiration date. The Texas Register adoption notice says new subsection (b) of §73.100 extends Exception No. 2 without expiration. The TDLR bulletin puts it in plain terms, saying Texas does not require GFCI protection on outdoor dwelling HVAC outlets.

TDLR gave three reasons for the change in the notice.

• Nuisance tripping. Commenters and TDLR both pointed to nuisance tripping. Supporters said outages from nuisance tripping pose a health and safety risk, and TDLR cited the risk of widespread air conditioning outages.
• Parts supply. TDLR said compatible high-frequency GFCI outlets are not yet widely available.
• Open question. Opponents, including the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, argued the exemption is no longer needed. TDLR said it will keep watching the issue.

TDLR calls this a limited exception that covers listed HVAC equipment only. Every other outdoor dwelling outlet still follows the 2026 NEC GFCI rules as written.

Other 2026 NEC Changes Texas Electricians Will See

The City of McKinney's summary of significant 2026 NEC changes lists dozens of updates. These are the ones most likely to show up on a Texas job.

The code moved some material around too. Load calculations now live in Article 120 (previously in Article 220), and "overcurrent protective device" is abbreviated as OCPD throughout. Look up section numbers in the new book before you quote them to an inspector.

Some items on the McKinney list are local and come from North Central Texas Council of Governments amendments, such as a continuous, unobstructed working space path of at least 25 feet under 110.26(C)(1). Those apply only where a city adopts them, so check each city's amendments before you bid.

What It Means for Licensing Exams

The TDLR bulletin says Texas state electrical exams are on the 2026 NEC beginning September 1, 2026. Anyone testing now needs the 2026 code book, not the previous edition.

If you plan to pass the TDLR journeyman electrician exam this year, rebuild your tabs around the new article layout. Start with Article 120, since load calculations moved there. A good plan to study for an electrician licensing exam still works when you swap in 2026 practice questions.

What It Means for Cities and Inspections

The new code sets a floor for the whole state, and the bulletin lays out what cities can and can't do.

• Cities can amend. A municipality has the right to amend the state adopted code.
• Amendments must be as strict or stricter. Local changes must be as stringent as the NEC requirements or more so.
• No lower local code. A municipality may not adopt its own code below the state minimum standard.
• No substandard installs. A city can't make a state licensed electrical contractor perform an installation that violates the 2026 NEC or falls below it.

Permits matter for work already in motion. In McKinney, for example, the city says all permits applied for on or after September 1, 2026, must comply with the 2026 NEC. Ask each building department how it treats permits pulled before that date.

Continuing Education and the 2026 NEC

Licensed Texas electricians need 4 hours of continuing education before each renewal, per TDLR, and the coursework covers four areas.

• The NEC as adopted under Texas Occupations Code §1305.101.
• Texas Electrician Law in Occupations Code Chapter 1305.
• Texas Electrician Administrative Rules in 16 TAC Chapter 73.
• Electrical safety as defined in NFPA 70E.

The hours must be done within the term of the license you're renewing, and the CE provider reports completed hours to TDLR. Apprentices take the 4 hours too, or they can enroll in a department-registered apprenticeship training course. Electrical contractors and residential appliance installers are exempt from the continuing education requirements for Texas electricians.

Buildforce offers a TDLR-approved CE course for $5.00. It covers all 4 hours, self-paced and online in the Buildforce app, with 3 hours of NEC updates, 30 minutes of NFPA 70E safety, and 30 minutes of Texas laws and rules. Buildforce reports your completion to TDLR, and you submit your renewal on TDLR.

If you just got your TDLR electrician license, your first CE deadline falls inside your first license term, so plan for it early.

What Contractors Should Do Now

The 2026 NEC changes parts lists, labor time, and inspection results. The work isn't slowing down either, since the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects 9% job growth for electricians from 2025 to 2035, with about 72,700 openings a year. Crews will grow, and new hires need to know the new code on day one.

• Update bids. GFCI, arc-flash marking, and EV receptacle changes can add parts and labor, so price them into current estimates.
• Train the crew. Walk through the table above in a toolbox talk, focusing on the sections your shop installs most.
• Check local amendments. Pull each city's amendment list before bidding, starting with cities that use NCTCOG amendments.
• Track licenses. Your electricians need CE before renewal, but your contractor license does not. Anyone working toward the master level and an electrical contractor license with TDLR will test on the 2026 code.

Where Buildforce Fits In

Buildforce is a labor marketplace that connects electrical contractors with pre-vetted electricians in Texas metros like Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. Electricians work as W-2 employees through Buildforce, so Buildforce handles payroll taxes and workers' comp. Every electrician is vetted before they take a job.

• Skills assessment. A 15-question skills assessment.
• Recruiter interview. A 30-minute interview with a Buildforce recruiter.
• Background check. Every electrician gets one.
• TDLR license verification. The TDLR license is verified.
• I-9 verification. Work eligibility is verified.

Contractors pick the electricians they want from worker profiles.

Texas electricians can renew with the $5.00 Buildforce CE course, which more than 1,000 Texas electricians have trusted.