NEC Article for Services: Article 230 Explained for the 2026 Code
The NEC article for services is Article 230. It covers the conductors and equipment that carry utility power from the service point to the service disconnect, so it sits behind every meter, main panel and service upgrade. This guide explains what Article 230 requires, how it connects to panel height, working clearance and labeling rules, and what changed in the 2026 NEC.
I have spent more than 15 years around electrical installations, and the same three questions keep coming back: where the disconnect goes, how high the meter and panel can be, and how much clear space a panel needs. You will find those answers below, with links to our calculators and deeper guides.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Quick answer: Article 230 covers services. Part III covers underground service conductors and Part IV covers service-entrance conductors. The rules people use most are the service disconnect (230.70), the six-disconnect limit (230.71) and surge protection (230.67).
What Is the NEC Article for Services?
The NEC article for services is titled “Services” and starts at the service point, the place where the utility’s system ends and your premises wiring begins. Utility-owned equipment on the other side of that point is outside the code. From the service point inward, Article 230 governs the service conductors, the meter and disconnect arrangement, and the service overcurrent protection.
It never works alone. Article 110 sets working space, Article 240 covers overcurrent protection, Article 250 covers grounding and bonding, Article 300 sets burial depth, Article 310 sizes conductors and Article 408 covers panelboards. Our NEC articles list shows where each one sits in the code.
NEC Article 230 Parts: What Part III and Part IV Cover
The NEC article for services is split into parts, and exam questions often ask which part covers a given topic. Part names below follow the 2023 structure.
| Part | Title | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| I | General | Number of services (230.2), special conditions, conductors outside the building |
| II | Overhead Service Conductors | Clearances, point of attachment, service masts |
| III | Underground Service Conductors | Installation and protection of service laterals |
| IV | Service-Entrance Conductors | Number of sets, size and rating, wiring methods, splices |
| V | Service Equipment, General | Enclosures, marking, surge protection (230.62 to 230.67) |
| VI | Service Equipment, Disconnecting Means | Location, marking, grouping, ratings (230.70 to 230.82) |
| VII | Service Equipment, Overcurrent Protection | Where required, location, ground-fault protection (230.90 to 230.95) |
Older editions also had a Part VIII for services over 1,000 V. That content now lives in the over-1,000 V articles.
NEC Article for Service Disconnect
Section 230.70 requires a disconnecting means that opens all ungrounded service conductors. It must be readily accessible, either outside the building or inside nearest the point where the conductors enter. Section 230.71 allows up to six disconnects, and 230.72 requires them to be grouped. The neutral-to-ground bond is made here and nowhere downstream, which is why a bonded subpanel neutral is a classic violation (see sub panel neutral and ground on the same bus bar).
The 2026 edition goes further. According to a 2023-to-2026 code comparison, one- and two-family dwellings now need the disconnect on the exterior, marked SERVICE DISCONNECT in red letters. Full guide: NEC article for service disconnect.
NEC Code for Underground Service
An underground service lateral falls under Part III. The NEC article for services does not repeat the depth table; instead 230.32 sends you to 300.5, and Table 300.5 sets minimum cover. In the general case that is 24 in. for direct-buried cable, 18 in. for PVC conduit and 6 in. for rigid metal conduit, with reductions for driveways, concrete and some residential circuits. Our guides on NEC code for underground conduit depth and buried electrical wires cover the full table, and the conduit fill calculator checks the raceway. Full guide: NEC code for underground service.
NEC Code for Meter Height
Nothing in the NEC article for services sets a meter height. The serving utility sets it in its service requirements manual, and a range such as 44 to 66 inches is common, though it varies by utility. Ask the utility before you mount the enclosure. What the NEC does control is the equipment around the meter: the meter socket enclosure must be suitable for service use, and the disconnect handle height and working space rules still apply. Full guide: NEC code for meter height.
NEC Code for Panel Height
There is no minimum mounting height for a panel in the NEC. The limit that matters is the handle: the center of the grip of the highest breaker or switch cannot be more than 6 ft 7 in. above the floor or working platform (240.24(A) and 404.8(A)). Headroom in the working space is at least 6.5 ft, or the height of the equipment if it is taller (110.26(A)(3)). In dwellings, 240.24 also keeps panels out of bathrooms and clothes closets. Full guide: NEC code for panel height.
NEC Code for Working Clearance
Working space comes from 110.26(A): at least 30 in. wide (or the equipment width), 6.5 ft of headroom, and a depth from Table 110.26(A)(1) of 3 ft, 3 ft 6 in. or 4 ft depending on what faces the panel. That space must stay clear of storage, and 110.26(E) protects the dedicated space above and below. Our guides to NEC article 110.26 A and clearance in front of panels cover the exceptions. The 2026 edition adds a 90-degree door qualifier and a suspended-ceiling provision. Full guide: NEC code for working clearance.
NEC Article for Panelboards
Panelboards are covered by Article 408, and service equipment is where the NEC article for services meets Article 408. A panelboard used as service equipment must be listed as suitable for that use (230.66), while a downstream panel is a subpanel fed by its own protected feeder. Section 408.36 requires each panelboard to be protected by an overcurrent device rated no higher than the panelboard, which ties back to the NEC article for overcurrent protection. Use the busbar size calculator when you check bus ratings. Full guide: NEC article for panelboards.
NEC Code for Labeling Electrical Panels
Panel labels come from several sections. Section 408.4(A) requires a legible circuit directory that does not depend on who occupies the space today, and 408.4(B) requires feeder-fed panelboards outside one- and two-family dwellings to show their source of supply. Section 110.24 requires available fault current marking on service equipment other than in dwelling units, and 230.70 requires the service disconnect itself to be marked. A durable label maker helps here, so see our label makers reviews. Full guide: NEC code for labeling electrical panels.
What Changed in the 2026 NEC Article for Services
The 2026 edition reshuffled several parts of the NEC article for services. Based on Lightwave Learning’s 2023 to 2026 code comparison, the main changes are:
- 230.2(A): a new consolidated listed-equipment section, including permanently mounted absence-of-voltage testers on the line side.
- 230.23(A): a simpler conductor ampacity rule, with load calculations now pointing to Article 120 (moved from Article 220).
- 230.62(C): barriers over energized service busbars and terminals must be identified.
- 230.70: exterior disconnect for one- and two-family dwellings, red SERVICE DISCONNECT marking, and a new (D) plaque for other energy sources such as solar, generators and batteries.
- 230.82: the supply-side equipment list is reorganized and absence-of-voltage testers are added.
Adoption dates vary by state, so confirm the edition your jurisdiction enforces before you design to any of these.
2023 NEC Service Entrance Requirements
If your state still enforces the 2023 edition, the NEC article for services requires the following at the service entrance:
- Service-entrance conductors are sized under 230.42, with the load calculated per Article 220 (see NEC article for demand factors).
- Single-phase dwelling services can be sized at 83 percent of the service rating under 310.12.
- Surge protection under 230.67 applies to services supplying dwelling units, and the 2023 edition extended it to dormitories, hotel and motel guest rooms and some care facilities.
- A one-family dwelling needs a service rated at least 100 A (230.79(C)).
- An outdoor emergency disconnect is required for one- and two-family dwellings (230.85).
Check conductor sizes with the cable size calculator.
NEC Article for Services PDF and Article 230 PDF
People search for a free NEC article for services PDF, an NEC article 230 PDF or an NEC service entrance requirements PDF. NFPA holds the copyright, so there is no legal free download of the full code. NFPA does offer free read-only online access to NFPA 70 after registration, and it sells print and PDF copies. Random NEC standards PDF files are often out of date or from the wrong edition, which matters because Article 230 changed in 2023 and again in 2026.
For a free overview, our list of NEC articles explains the National Electrical Code articles by chapter, so you can find the article number before you open the official text.
FAQ About the NEC Article for Services
What NEC article covers services?
Article 230. Part IV covers service-entrance conductors and Part III covers underground service conductors.
What is Article 700 in the NEC?
Article 700 covers emergency systems, such as exit lighting and egress power that must work when normal power fails. Section 230.2(B) allows a separate service for these systems. For backup supply, see the NEC article for generators.
What is Article 300.5 of the NEC code?
Section 300.5 covers underground installations and holds Table 300.5, the minimum cover table. See NEC code for underground conduit depth.
What is Article 310 in the NEC?
Article 310 covers conductors for general wiring: ampacity tables such as 310.16, insulation types and the dwelling service sizing in 310.12. Size yours with the cable size calculator.
Is there a free copy of the NEC article for services?
Only as read-only online access from NFPA. There is no legal free PDF of Article 230.
What is the latest National Electrical Code?
The 2026 NEC (NFPA 70). States adopt editions on their own schedules, so check your local edition in our NEC articles list.
NEC Article for Services: Key Takeaways
The NEC article for services is Article 230. Use Part III for underground laterals, Part IV for service-entrance conductors, 230.70 for the disconnect, 240.24(A) for the 6 ft 7 in. handle limit and 110.26 for working space. Bookmark this NEC article for services guide, then open the spoke for the job in front of you.
Before you open any service panel, verify that it is dead with a rated tester. Our picks for the best non-contact voltage tester and best multimeter for electricians are a good start. Planning a larger load? Run the EV charger load calculation tool to see whether your service can take it, and browse all electrical calculators and the Electrical Standards hub.
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