Which Electrical Code Applies in DFW? NEC Editions by City (2026)

Texas adopted the 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC) as the state electrical code effective September 1, 2026. The edition your inspector enforces, though, is the one your city has adopted. As of September 2026, Fort Worth enforces the 2026 NEC, Grand Prairie and Mansfield list the 2023 NEC on their city websites, and Arlington's current edition should be confirmed with the city before a permit is pulled.

The state change came from the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation, which amended the electricians rule (16 TAC §73.100) to adopt the 2026 NEC with one Texas modification, covering GFCI protection for certain outdoor outlets (TDLR, Commission Adopts Rules).

Which NEC edition does each DFW city use?

Each row comes from that jurisdiction's own published source, checked on September 19, 2026. Fort Worth's building codes page says the city "has adopted the 2026 National Electrical Code effective September 1, 2026" (City of Fort Worth, Building & Energy Codes). Grand Prairie's council adopted the 2023 NEC on December 12, 2023 (City of Grand Prairie adoption notice). Mansfield's codes page says the city adopted the 2023 NEC in 2024 (City of Mansfield, Building Information & Codes).

For Arlington, the most recent source we could open was a September 2022 city release proposing the 2020 NEC. That is too old to rely on, so we have not guessed. Call Arlington's building inspections office, or ask your electrician which edition their permit will be inspected to. Cities update these pages when they adopt new codes, so check again before starting a project.

Why doesn't every city use the same edition as the state?

Texas law has two layers. The state adopts each new NEC as the electrical code for Texas after the NFPA publishes it every three years (Texas Occupations Code §1305.101). Cities may adopt local amendments to the NEC and handle administration and enforcement, and electrical work inside city limits "must be installed in accordance with all applicable local ordinances" (§1305.201).

Cities adopt by ordinance, on their own schedules. Texas moved to the 2023 edition on September 1, 2023, and Grand Prairie's council adopted it that December. That gap is why the same kind of job can be inspected under different editions in neighboring cities.

Outside city limits, in the unincorporated parts of Johnson, Ellis or Tarrant County, the statute says work must meet standards "at least as stringent as the requirements of the state electrical code" (§1305.201(e)).

What does the code edition mean for my permit?

• Permitted work is inspected against the edition your city enforces, plus any local amendments.
• The edition matters when work is done. Adopting a new code does not send an inspector to a house nobody is working on.
• Panel replacements, service upgrades, new circuits, generators and EV chargers are permitted jobs, and the inspector checks the new work against the current rules.
• Your contractor should be able to name the edition the job will be inspected to. If they can't, ask why. You can confirm any Texas electrical contractor's license on TDLR's license search. Ours is TECL #40628.
• For what the permit itself involves, see our Texas panel permit guide.

What changed for GFCI protection?

Kitchens changed in the 2023 NEC. GFCI protection used to cover only the receptacles serving countertops. It was expanded to all 125–250 V kitchen receptacles on circuits of 150 V to ground or less (Leviton, Captain Code 2023). In a Grand Prairie or Mansfield kitchen remodel, that includes receptacles away from the counter.

Outdoor outlets are the change most Texas homeowners will hear about. The 2026 NEC's Section 210.8(F) requires GFCI protection, with exceptions, for outdoor outlets at dwelling units on single-phase branch circuits rated 150 V or less to ground and 60 A or less (UL Solutions). The 2023 edition exempted listed HVAC equipment from the outdoor-outlet rule, but only until September 1, 2026 (Leviton, Captain Code 2023).

That is where Texas made its one change. In adopting the 2026 NEC, TDLR kept Exception No. 2 to 210.8(F), the exemption for listed heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, and removed its expiration date (Texas Register, TDLR proposed rules, March 2026). At the state level, a listed outdoor AC condenser does not need GFCI protection under this exception. Other outdoor outlets generally do. Your city's own amendments can still differ.

If a GFCI outlet keeps cutting power to other outlets in your house, this guide to dead outlets explains why.

What about AFCI protection?

Arc-fault protection is not new to any of these editions. The NEC requires AFCI protection on nearly all 120 V branch circuits in living spaces, including bedrooms, living and dining areas, kitchens, laundry areas, hallways and closets (Leviton, AFCI code requirements). What it means for your job depends on which circuits are being added or changed, so ask for it to be spelled out in the quote. If an AFCI breaker keeps tripping, our tripping-breaker guide covers the common causes.

Does the code edition affect generator permits?

Yes, like any permitted job. Since September 1, 2025, Texas has also allowed a qualified third party to do the plan review and inspection for home backup power. Our SB 1202 explainer covers what that law does and doesn't change.