Where does Virginia code require GFCI outlets?

Virginia's residential code requires GFCI protection for receptacles in bathrooms, garages, outdoor locations, basements and laundry rooms, and in any other damp or wet location, and the CPSC lists kitchens among the locations the National Electrical Code requires. The state's 2021 Residential Code made three things broader: all basements, 240-volt outlets in GFCI areas, and other damp or wet spaces.

Your electrician or building official will confirm what applies to a specific house and permit, because the edition and the local amendments in force matter.

What Virginia's building codes office says

The State Building Codes Office of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development publishes a plain-language FAQ on the 2021 Virginia Residential Code, which covers one- and two-family homes. It says previous editions already required GFCI protection for receptacles in most wet and damp locations: outdoor locations, garages, basements, bathrooms and laundry rooms.^[1]

The 2021 code added three requirements.

Basements, finished or unfinished. The 2021 code requires GFCI protection of all outlets in basements, finished or unfinished.^[1] Fairfax County's finished-basement guide, based on the 2021 code, repeats it: all receptacles installed in basements must be provided with ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protection.^[2] The state's office adds that, in its opinion, bedrooms in finished basements should still have arc-fault protection, and that all other basement areas need GFCI-protected outlets.^[1]

240-volt outlets. The amperage limit of 15 and 20 amps was removed from the GFCI provisions, and the 125-volt designation expanded to receptacles up to 250 volts.^[1] The state's example is 240-volt, 30-amp dryer receptacles in laundry rooms, and 240-volt, 50-amp kitchen range receptacles if they are within 6 feet of a sink.^[1]

Other damp or wet locations. The 2021 code covers any other damp or wet location that might create similar shock hazards, such as an indoor grow room or a dog wash area with a sprayer hose.^[1]

Kitchens and the NEC

The CPSC recommends having GFCIs installed in locations required by the National Electrical Code, such as kitchens, bathrooms, garages, unfinished basements and near laundry tubs or wet bar sinks.^[3] Ask your building official for the exact kitchen wording that applies in your locality.

Existing homes

Whether an older house must be upgraded when you replace a failed outlet is a question for your building official. Virginia's building code lists replacement of 125 volt, 15 or 20 ampere receptacles in a single dwelling unit among the work that needs no permit, and the exemption does not exempt the work from other applicable requirements of the code.^[4] The CPSC suggests testing each GFCI once a month^[3] and considering GFCIs in the locations the National Electrical Code requires.^[3]

When to call a licensed pro

For adding GFCI protection, changing a circuit or finding out why an existing GFCI is not working. Under the Code of Virginia, no individual shall engage in, or offer to engage in, work as a tradesman unless licensed under that article, apart from individuals working under the supervision of a licensed tradesman in that specialty.^[5] The tradesman definition covers the electrical trade.^[6] Check the licence with how to check if a contractor is licensed in Virginia.

A licensed electrician can walk through the house and tell you which outlets need protection, which are protected by an upstream GFCI and which are not. Read what a GFCI outlet does and what replacement costs, and browse electrical repair answers or electrical services.

To have your outlets checked or protection added, describe the job once and licensed local electricians quote it.