Last Updated: April 17, 2026
Answer Capsule: As of April 2026, no U.S. states have formally enacted NEC 2026 into law. NEC 2026 was published October 10, 2025, but most states are still enforcing NEC 2023 or NEC 2020. Solar labeling requirements under Article 690 vary between editions — knowing your state's current code before ordering labels is the difference between passing and failing your AHJ inspection.
Ordered the wrong labels for a job because you weren't sure which NEC edition your state enforces? You're not alone. With NEC 2026 published in late 2025, solar and electrical installers across the country are asking the same question: do I need to update my labels?
The short answer: probably not yet. As of April 2026, no states have formally adopted NEC 2026 — but the NEC 2026 adoption by state picture is shifting fast. And the differences between NEC 2020 and NEC 2023 are significant enough that ordering to the wrong edition is a real inspection risk. This tracker breaks down which NEC edition each state enforces today, what that means for your solar labels under Article 690, and how to confirm your local AHJ's actual requirements before your next install.
How Does NEC Adoption Work — and Who Actually Controls It?
The NEC (National Electrical Code) is not federal law. NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) publishes a new edition every three years — 2017, 2020, 2023, 2026 — but has no authority to enforce it. Each state, county, or municipality decides independently whether to adopt the code, which edition to use, and what local amendments to layer on top.
Here's why that matters for your labels:
- A solar label compliant with NEC 2023 may not meet NEC 2020 requirements, and vice versa
- Some states are still enforcing editions that are 6-9 years old
- Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Nevada, and New York leave adoption to local jurisdictions — the county or city decides, not the state
- "State adopted NEC 2023" does not mean every city in that state uses it
The AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) is the body that actually enforces whichever code applies at your job site. Before ordering labels for any installation, confirm with the local AHJ directly — not just what you read on a state-level adoption map.
Key Rule: State code = the baseline. Local AHJ amendments = what you actually get inspected against.
Which States Are Currently Enforcing NEC 2023?
As of mid-2025 (the most recently verified state adoption data), 20 states have adopted NEC 2023 as their enforced electrical code:
| State | NEC Edition | Adoption Type |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 2023 | State |
| Georgia | 2023 | State |
| Hawaii | 2023 | State |
| Idaho | 2023 | State |
| Iowa | 2023 | State |
| Kentucky | 2023 | State |
| Maine | 2023 | State |
| Massachusetts | 2023 | State |
| Michigan | 2023 | State |
| Minnesota | 2023 | State |
| Nebraska | 2023 | State |
| North Carolina | 2023 | State (with amendments) |
| North Dakota | 2023 | State |
| Ohio | 2023 | State |
| Oklahoma | 2023 | State |
| Oregon | 2023 | State (with amendments) |
| South Dakota | 2023 | State |
| Texas | 2023 | State |
| Washington | 2023 | State (with amendments) |
| Wyoming | 2023 | State |
What this means for your solar labels: NEC 2023 moved rapid shutdown label requirements from Section 690.56(C) to 690.12(D). If your state is on this list, your rapid shutdown placard must conform to the 2023 requirements — contrasting text colors are required, but the rigid black-and-yellow color format mandated in older editions no longer applies.
Which States Are Still on NEC 2020 or NEC 2017?
Many states haven't caught up to NEC 2023. Here's where they stand:
Enforcing NEC 2020 (~20 states):
| State | NEC Edition | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2020 | State |
| Alaska | 2020 | State |
| Arkansas | 2020 | State |
| California | 2020 | California Electrical Code — extensive state amendments |
| Connecticut | 2020 | State |
| Delaware | 2020 | State |
| Florida | 2020 | State |
| Louisiana | 2020 | State |
| Maryland | 2020 | State |
| Mississippi | 2020 | Local jurisdiction |
| Montana | 2020 | State |
| New Hampshire | 2020 | State |
| New Jersey | 2020 | State |
| New Mexico | 2020 | State |
| Rhode Island | 2020 | State (with amendments) |
| South Carolina | 2020 | State (with amendments) |
| Utah | 2020 | State (with amendments) |
| Vermont | 2020 | State (with amendments) |
| Virginia | 2020 | State |
| West Virginia | 2020 | State (with amendments) |
Still enforcing NEC 2017 (9 states):
| State | NEC Edition | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 2017 | Local jurisdiction decides |
| Indiana | 2017 | State |
| Kansas | 2017 | Local jurisdiction |
| Missouri | 2017 | Local jurisdiction |
| Nevada | 2017 | Local jurisdiction |
| New York | 2017 | Local jurisdiction (NYC uses 2008) |
| Pennsylvania | 2017 | State |
| Tennessee | 2017 | State (with amendments) |
| Wisconsin | 2017 | State |
If you're installing in Arizona, Kansas, Illinois, Nevada, or New York: Don't assume the state baseline applies at your job site. These states leave adoption to local jurisdictions. Call the AHJ for the specific city or county before you order NEC-edition-specific solar label packs.
Source: JadeLearning.com NEC Code Adoptions by State, last updated July 2025. Individual state pages should be verified for changes since that date.
Has Any State Adopted NEC 2026 Yet?
No. As of April 2026, no U.S. state has formally enacted NEC 2026 as their enforced electrical code.
NEC 2026 was published by NFPA on October 10, 2025. State adoption processes take time — typically 1 to 5 years after NFPA release. Here's what's known about the pipeline:
- Washington State is targeting December 31, 2026 as the effective date to replace its current NEC 2023 enforcement
- Oregon typically adopts within 12-18 months of a new NFPA release, putting a 2026-2027 window as realistic
- Minnesota has formed an NEC 2026 Adoption Review Committee — no official adoption date is set
- Federal facilities will apply NEC 2026 with an effective date of September 1, 2026 — relevant for federal government solar and electrical work
For label ordering purposes today: you are working under NEC 2023 or NEC 2020, depending on your state. NEC 2026-specific labels are not required anywhere in the U.S. as of this writing.
What Does NEC 2026 Change for Solar Labels Under Article 690?
When your state eventually adopts NEC 2026, these are the Article 690 changes that will affect your labels directly:
690.7(D) — DC Voltage Label (simplified): NEC 2026 allows the PV DC circuit maximum voltage on labels to be rounded up to the next higher value. Before, installers often had to field-apply multiple labels with very specific calculated voltages. Under NEC 2026, one label with a rounded, standardized voltage can serve the installation — fewer labels, less room for field error.
690.9(D) — OCPD Marking (new requirement): Overcurrent protection devices (OCPDs) used in PV system DC circuits must now be marked "Photovoltaic" or "PV." This applies to the device marking — verify your OCPD supplier's hardware meets this when your state adopts NEC 2026.
690.13 — Disconnect Means Reference: NEC 2026 redirects solar disconnecting means requirements to Article 705.20. This changes how the PV system disconnect label and placard requirements are cross-referenced in the code. Installers will need to reference both articles.
110.16 — Arc Flash Labeling (expanded scope): This is not an Article 690 change, but it affects commercial solar jobs directly. NEC 2026 expands arc flash label requirements to require: system voltage, arc flash boundary, incident energy or required PPE category, and assessment date. The 1,000-ampere threshold that previously limited these requirements was eliminated — more equipment now requires arc flash labels on commercial installs.
Article 706.16 Deleted: Section 706.16 (Energy Storage System labeling) was removed from Article 706 and relocated to Article 702. For solar-plus-storage installations, verify which article governs your labels after your state adopts NEC 2026.
Print Pro AZ will update all NEC 2026-specific label packs as states begin adopting. In the meantime, the solar electrical label collections are current for NEC 2023 and NEC 2020 requirements.
How Do State Amendments Change Label Requirements Beyond the Base Code?
Adopting "NEC 2023" doesn't mean every state enforces identical rules. States frequently add amendments that modify label requirements locally. This matters most in:
- California: The California Electrical Code is NEC 2020 with extensive California-specific amendments. Solar installers also work under Title 24 Energy Code requirements alongside CEC electrical rules.
- North Carolina: Adopted NEC 2023 with state-specific Article 690 amendments — do not assume full NEC 2023 solar labeling applies without confirming local modifications.
- Washington: Adopted NEC 2023 with Washington State amendments — verify with L&I before installing.
- Texas: State-level NEC 2023 adoption, but local jurisdictions have historically applied additional amendments in major cities.
Here's a scenario Print Pro AZ sees regularly: an installer calls after failing an Oregon inspection because they ordered NEC 2020 labels — Oregon adopted NEC 2023 years earlier. Their previous jobs were in a NEC 2020 state, and they assumed the same labels would work. Wrong edition, failed inspection, re-order delay.
Treat every new state — and every new jurisdiction — as a fresh code verification. Don't assume what worked on your last job applies here.
How to Verify Which NEC Edition Your AHJ Enforces
Don't rely on general state maps, including this one, as your final answer. Confirm directly before every commercial job or when entering a new jurisdiction for the first time.
Step-by-step verification:
- Check the NFPA enforcement map at nfpa.org/education-and-research/electrical/nec-enforcement-maps — this shows state-level adoption (not local amendments)
- Call the local building or electrical department — ask specifically: "What NEC edition is your jurisdiction currently enforcing for solar PV installations?"
- Confirm any local amendments — especially important in California, New York, and states that allow local jurisdiction adoption
- Ask your permit expeditor — if you use a permit service, they should know the local code edition automatically
- Review the permit application — many jurisdictions note the enforced code edition on the permit form itself
If you have a commercial job with unusual requirements or are entering a jurisdiction you haven't worked in before, send us your plan sets and Print Pro AZ will match your labels to the exact code edition your inspector will use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What version of the NEC are most states using in 2026?
As of April 2026, the U.S. is split roughly evenly between NEC 2023 (enforced in about 20 states) and NEC 2020 (enforced in about 20 states), with nine states still on NEC 2017. No states have adopted NEC 2026 yet. The NEC 2026 code map will look very different by 2028-2030 as state adoption accelerates.
When will my state adopt NEC 2026?
Adoption timelines vary significantly. Washington State is targeting December 31, 2026. Oregon typically follows within 12-18 months of NFPA release. Most states will likely adopt NEC 2026 between 2027 and 2030. Check your state's electrical licensing board or department of labor for official adoption announcements — these are the authoritative sources, not third-party trackers.
Does the NEC edition my state uses affect what solar labels I need?
Yes — significantly. Rapid shutdown label requirements moved from Section 690.56(C) to Section 690.12(D) between NEC 2020 and NEC 2023. Format requirements also changed. Using NEC 2023 labels in a NEC 2020 jurisdiction — or vice versa — can trigger a failed inspection. Always verify your state's current edition before ordering labels for a job.
How do I find out which NEC edition my local AHJ enforces?
NFPA publishes a state-level enforcement map at nfpa.org. For local AHJ specifics — especially in local-jurisdiction states like Arizona, Nevada, and Illinois — call the city or county electrical department directly. Most can confirm the enforced code edition in under a minute.
What changes in NEC 2026 affect solar installers specifically?
NEC 2026 simplifies DC voltage labeling under Section 690.7(D) (one rounded-voltage label replaces multiple specific labels), requires overcurrent protection devices to be marked "Photovoltaic" or "PV" per Section 690.9(D), expands arc flash label requirements under Section 110.16, and removes Article 706.16 — moving energy storage labeling to Article 702. None of these are currently enforceable, as no states have adopted NEC 2026 yet.
Know Your Code Edition. Order Accordingly.
The single biggest labeling mistake solar installers make isn't using the wrong label format — it's assuming they know which code their AHJ enforces. One wrong assumption costs you a re-inspection trip and a delayed job.
Here's what matters right now: NEC 2026 is not in effect anywhere in the U.S. Twenty states enforce NEC 2023. Twenty enforce NEC 2020. Nine are still on NEC 2017. Know your state. Confirm with your AHJ. Order accordingly.
Print Pro AZ ships NEC-compliant solar label packs matched to the specific NEC edition your AHJ enforces — 2017, 2020, or 2023. If you have a commercial project with multi-jurisdiction requirements, send us your plan sets and we'll match labels to the exact code edition your inspector uses.
Questions? Call Brent: (602) 649-5305
Brent Hanke | Print Pro AZ | (602) 649-5305 | b.hanke@printproaz.com Brent Hanke is the founder of Print Pro AZ, supplying NEC-compliant labels to contractors across the country.