Quick answer
Electrical working clearance is the open space that must be kept in front of electrical equipment such as panels, so a person can safely operate, inspect and service it and get away quickly if something goes wrong.
For a typical home panel, a 2023 NEC checklist from Saint Paul sums it up: at least 3 ft deep, at least 30 in wide, and from the floor to 6½ ft high or the panel height, whichever is greater 2.
Quick facts
The key facts about Electrical Working Clearance, with sources:
Key takeaways
- Keep a clear box in front of the panel: about 3 ft deep, 30 in wide, 6½ ft high in a typical home 2.
- No storage in that space: no shelves, boxes, freezers or bikes 3.
- The space above and behind the panel, up to 6 ft above it, is dedicated to electrical use 2.
- Panels need lighting in the working space 2.
- Bathrooms are not allowed for the service disconnect 2.
What working clearance is
Working clearance is a box of empty space in front of an electrical panel or other equipment. It gives an electrician room to stand, open the cover, use test tools, and step back fast. It gives you room to reach a breaker in the dark.
NEC 110.26 starts with the purpose: working space, and access to and egress from it, must be provided and maintained about all electrical equipment for ready and safe operation and maintenance 1. OSHA has matching rules for workplaces in 29 CFR 1910.303(g) 3.
How the clearance box is measured
Depth is measured straight out from the front of the live parts, or the enclosure front if parts are enclosed. In homes, most panels operate at 150 V or less to ground, which sets 3 ft as the usual depth 3.
Width is at least 30 in, or the width of the equipment if wider. The space must also let equipment doors open at least 90 degrees 3.
Height runs from the floor to 6½ ft, or to the top of the equipment if taller 2. OSHA uses 6.5 ft for workplace installations built on or after 13 August 2007, and 6.25 ft for those built before 3.
Separate from the working space, the dedicated equipment space runs from the floor to 6 ft above the panel, the width and depth of the panel. Pipes, ducts and other non-electrical equipment may not sit there 2.
Depth conditions for 600 V or less
| Voltage to ground | Condition A | Condition B | Condition C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 150 V (most homes) | 3 ft (0.9 m) | 3 ft (0.9 m) | 3 ft (0.9 m) |
| 151 to 600 V | 3 ft (0.9 m) | 3½ ft (1.0 m) | 4 ft (1.2 m) |
Worked example: checking a garage panel
A 120/240 V panel on a garage wall, 14 in wide. Applying the Saint Paul 2023 NEC checklist and OSHA Table S-1 values 2 3.
| Check | Requirement | What we found | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | 3 ft (150 V or less to ground) | Chest freezer 2 ft in front | Fails; move the freezer |
| Width | 30 in (panel is narrower) | Shelving 10 in to the left of the panel edge | Check that a 30-in span including the panel is clear |
| Height | Floor to 6½ ft | Clear | Passes |
| Dedicated space above | No pipes or ducts up to 6 ft above the panel, panel width | Water line runs above the panel | Flag for an electrician or inspector |
| Lighting | Illumination required | Garage light on a switch by the door | Passes |
This is an illustrative layout, not a ruling. Your inspector applies the edition and amendments your city has adopted.
Equipment that needs working clearance
Why the space matters
Electricians sometimes test inside a live panel. If an arc flash or shock happens, they need room to move back without hitting a shelf or tripping over boxes. Firefighters and owners need clear, fast access to shut power off.
The space also keeps everyday hazards away. A water heater or pipe above a panel can drip into it. Boxes stacked against it can block the cover and hide warning signs like heat or scorching.
Limits and exceptions
Clearance does not make live work safe. It gives room; de-energizing and verifying is still the main protection.
Existing buildings may differ. A panel installed under an older edition may not meet today's numbers. OSHA, for instance, keeps a 6.25 ft headroom for workplace installations built before 13 August 2007 3. Remodels that move or replace a panel usually must meet current rules.
The NEC also has exceptions, for example for some dwelling equipment and for equipment not likely to be worked on while energized. Your inspector decides how they apply.
What drives the cost of fixing clearance problems
We do not list prices. If clearance is blocked by storage, the fix is free: move it.
If a pipe, duct or shelf is built into the space, or the panel is in a closet or bathroom, the fix may mean moving fixtures or relocating the panel, which involves new wiring, permits and possibly a panel upgrade.
For service work pricing, see panel upgrade costs.
How clearance is checked at inspection
- The inspector confirms the panel is not in a bathroom; the service disconnect may not be there under 230.70(A)(2) 2.
- They check 3 ft of clear depth in front of the panel 2.
- They confirm the 30-in width and the floor-to-6½-ft height 2.
- They look for pipes, ducts or other equipment in the dedicated space above 2.
- They check that the working space is lit 2.
- They confirm doors and cabinets do not block access or egress 1.
Keeping clearance clear
- Mark the floor in front of the panel with tape as a no-storage zone.
- Do not build shelves, cabinets or closets around the panel without checking clearance.
- Keep the panel door able to open fully.
- Keep a working light or flashlight near the panel.
- Before a remodel near the panel, ask an electrician to review the plan.
Clearance problems that need a pro
- A panel inside a bathroom or a small clothes closet.
- Pipes, ducts or a water heater directly above the panel.
- Signs of water dripping into the panel.
- A panel boxed in by cabinets or drywall.
- No way to reach the panel without moving heavy items.
Water and panels
If water is dripping onto or into a panel, do not touch the panel or stand in water near it. Leave the area, call the utility or 911 if there is sparking or smoke, then call a licensed electrician.
Clearance rules: authority, section and date
NEC 110.26 (NFPA 70, 2023 edition). Working space and access to and egress from it must be provided and maintained about all electrical equipment. Open equipment doors may not cut access below 24 in (610 mm) wide and 6½ ft (2.0 m) high 1.
Depth, width, height, lighting and dedicated-space rules sit in 110.26(A), (D) and (E), as summarized in the Saint Paul 2023 NEC dwelling checklist 2. Applies to new installations where the 2023 edition is adopted.
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.303(g). For workplaces: minimum depth per Table S-1, width of 30 in or the equipment width, no storage in the working space, guarding when live parts are exposed in passageways, illumination indoors, and headroom of 6.5 ft for installations built on or after 13 August 2007 (6.25 ft before) 3.
Read in current eCFR text on osha.gov, 10 October 2026.
NEC 230.70(A)(2). The service disconnecting means may not be in a bathroom 2.
The NEC is a model code 5. States and cities adopt an edition and may amend it.
Working space vs dedicated space vs approach boundaries
| Term | What it is | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Working space | Clear area in front of equipment for people | NEC 110.26(A); OSHA 1910.303(g) |
| Dedicated equipment space | Footprint of the panel up to 6 ft above it, for electrical use only | NEC 110.26(E), per Saint Paul checklist |
| Arc flash boundary | Distance where incident energy drops to 1.2 cal/cm² | NFPA 70E, via OSHA 4 |
| Lockout/tagout | Keeping equipment off during service | OSHA 1910.147 |
Clearance myths
- Myth A little storage in front of the panel is fine if it is easy to move.
- Reality OSHA says the working space may not be used for storage 3.
- Myth Clearance only matters for commercial buildings.
- Reality NEC 110.26 applies to homes too; inspectors check it 2.
- Myth A panel in a closet is always OK.
- Reality Not in a clothes closet: breakers and fuses may not be located in bathrooms or clothes closets in dwellings 2. Any other closet must give the full working space.
- Myth Pipes above a panel are fine if they do not leak.
- Reality The dedicated space above the panel must be free of non-electrical equipment 2.
Your city's edition and checklist
Inspectors check clearance against the NEC edition and amendments your city enforces. Many publish checklists like Saint Paul's 2023 NEC dwelling list 2. Look up your state edition and ask your building department for its checklist before moving or replacing a panel.
What to do about your panel's clearance
Stand in front of your panel. If you cannot open its door fully and stand there with 3 ft behind you, clear the space. If something permanent is in the way, plan to fix it before you sell, remodel or upgrade.
Next step: find your service size, then book an electrical inspection if the panel location looks wrong.
Quick check
Clear 3 ft deep, 30 in wide, floor to 6½ ft, nothing piped above, lit, and not in a bathroom: you likely meet the basics. Anything else: ask an electrician.
Questions about Electrical Working Clearance
How much clearance is required in front of an electrical panel?
For a typical home panel at 150 volts or less to ground, at least 3 feet of clear depth, 30 inches of width or the panel width if wider, and height from the floor to 6½ feet or the panel height if taller. Your local code edition decides the final numbers.
Can I store things in front of my electrical panel?
No. OSHA says working space may not be used for storage, and inspectors apply the same idea under NEC 110.26. Keep the 3-foot area in front of the panel clear so it can be reached and worked on safely.
Can an electrical panel be in a closet?
Not in a clothes closet or a bathroom. The Saint Paul 2023 NEC checklist says breakers and fuses may not be located in bathrooms or clothes closets (NEC 240.24(D) and (E)). A non-clothes closet must still give the full working space and dedicated space above. Ask your inspector before building around a panel.
Can pipes run above an electrical panel?
Not in the dedicated space. The area the width and depth of the panel, from the floor to 6 feet above it, is reserved for electrical equipment. Pipes, ducts and other non-electrical equipment may not be located there.
What is NEC 110.26?
NEC 110.26 is the section of the National Electrical Code on spaces about electrical equipment. It requires working space and access and egress around equipment, and sets depth, width, height, lighting and dedicated-space rules.
How wide must the working space be, and must the door open?
The working space must be at least 30 inches wide or the width of the equipment, whichever is greater. OSHA also requires that equipment doors or hinged panels can open at least 90 degrees within it. Keep that whole area clear.
Is lighting required at an electrical panel?
Yes. NEC 110.26(D), as listed on the Saint Paul checklist, requires illumination for the working space. OSHA has a similar rule for indoor service equipment and panelboards in workplaces.
Do old panels have to meet current clearance rules?
Usually not until the panel is moved, replaced or the area is remodeled. Existing installations are generally judged by the rules when installed, but unsafe conditions can still be flagged. Replacing the panel normally brings current rules into play.
Why does a panel need working clearance?
So people can operate and service it safely, and get away fast if a shock or arc flash happens. Clear space also lets firefighters and owners reach breakers quickly in an emergency.
Can a door swing into the working space?
NEC 2023 110.26 says open equipment doors may not narrow access and egress below 24 inches wide and 6½ feet high. Room doors and cabinet doors that block the space can also fail inspection.
Sources
- Leviton Captain Code 2023, NEC 2023 110.26 spaces about electrical equipment (quotes NFPA 70, 2023 edition), retrieved .
- City of Saint Paul DSI, Residential Dwelling Checklist 2023 NEC (Electrical Service/Subpanel), retrieved .
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.303 General requirements (Subpart S), including Table S-1, retrieved .
- OSHA Fact Sheet FS-4474, Establishing Boundaries Around Arc Flash Hazards (November 2024), retrieved .
- NFPA, NFPA 70 National Electrical Code standard development page, retrieved .
Expert review
Written by the HyreElectrical Research team. Not yet reviewed by an outside expert. We say so rather than imply a review that has not happened; see our editorial policy.
How the numbers were checked: Dwelling clearance from the Saint Paul DSI 2023 NEC checklist; NEC 2023 110.26 opening text via Leviton; workplace depth table, width, storage, lighting and headroom from OSHA 1910.303 on osha.gov. Read 10 October 2026. The garage example is illustrative. Held for review by a qualified electrical reviewer before indexing.
Suggest a correction. We fix errors and say what changed.