Monday, June 23, 2025
By Kamal Swami
USA NEC 2026 to Restrict DIY EV Charger Installations
A major decision by the National Electric Code (NEC) can impact millions of electric vehicle (EV) owners in the United States. According to reports, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has officially approved changes to the 2026 edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC), effectively banning most homeowners from installing their EV chargers. The updated mandate of NEC states that “permanently installed electric vehicle power transfer system equipment shall be installed by qualified persons.” However, the mandate fails to clarify its concept of “qualified persons” and it is expected that it would be considered as a licensed electrician by most jurisdictions. The decision regarding this was ratified at the NFPA’s annual technical meeting held on Friday, June 20, 2025, where a last-minute motion to remove the requirement failed to gain sufficient support.
The decision has received huge criticism, it is said, that the rule change will not prevent unpermitted do-it-yourself (DIY) installations but will instead drive them underground. Without proper permits and inspections, these installations could pose significant safety risks. Commenting on the decision, industry experts including the Electric Vehicle Charging Association and charger manufacturer Emporia said, “To ensure safety, the goal should be that homeowners get a local building permit and have their work inspected,”.
The letter also warned that taking advantage of the new rule, the homeowners will apply to install charging outlets for non-EV purposes, such as welding equipment, and then later use for charging EVs. Moreover, as an outlet of 240 volts doesn't fall under the same restrictions, this will result in improper and potentially hazardous installations. Rivian, another signatory of the letter, raised concerns about the potential rise in plug-in charger use due to the restriction. Experts generally recommend hard-wired EV chargers for their improved safety profile. The letter also warns about overheating and risks of fire hazards due to the misuse of charging outlets.
Commenting on the requirement of a qualified installer, NFPA members rejected the recommendation of NEC 2026, for all EV charging circuits to include ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) with a five-milliamp trip threshold. The proposal drew criticism from Tesla, Rivian, ChargePoint, EVgo, and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. According to these groups, the low threshold will result in frequent and unnecessary “nuisance trips,” especially under normal wet-weather charging conditions, potentially leaving public EV chargers unusable without manual resets. While states retain the authority to adopt, modify, or reject provisions of the NEC, most adopt new editions with minimal changes, suggesting the new restrictions could become the standard nationwide in the near future. With the U.S. shifting more towards electric mobility, the debate over how to safely and effectively regulate home EV charger installations is not yet over.
