Arkansas — electrical code & licensing
Verified
The code
| Edition in force | 2026 NEC (NFPA 70) with Arkansas modifications (17 CAR Sec. 210-601) |
| Edition structure | One statewide edition |
| Effective date | 2026-09-03 |
| Date as recorded | 2026-09-03 (Ark. R. 2026-108) |
| Adopted by | Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas (Ark. Code Sec. 17-28-202; Sec. 20-31-104) |
| Adoption source | https://codeofarrules.arkansas.gov/Rules/Rule?chapterID=289&levelType=section&partID=1299§ionID=54198&subChapterID=409&subPartID=8221&titleID=17 |
| State amendments | Amendments ride in the adoption document itself — https://codeofarrules.arkansas.gov/Rules/Rule?chapterID=289&levelType=section&partID=1299§ionID=54198&subChapterID=409&subPartID=8221&titleID=17 |
Licensing
| Model | Statewide state licensing of individual electricians by the same board that adopts the code (Board of Electrical Examiners, Ark. Code Sec. 17-28-201 et seq.). Classes in 17 CAR pt. 210: Master Electrician, Journeyman Electrician, Residential Master Electrician, Residential Journeyman Electrician, Industrial Maintenance Electrician, Specialist Sign Electrician, and registered Apprentice Electrician. |
| Authority | Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas (Dept. of Labor and Licensing, Electrical Section) |
| Licensing source | https://codeofarrules.arkansas.gov/Rules/Rule?levelType=part&titleID=17&chapterID=289&subChapterID=409&partID=1299&subPartID§ionID |
| License classes | https://labor.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/17CARpt-210-Final.pdf |
Permits & inspections
17 CAR Sec. 210-102: the Secretary of Labor and Licensing or designated employees (Electrical Section) conduct inspections and administer/enforce the licensing act and the Arkansas Electrical Code Authority Act. The adopted standard is a uniform statewide minimum (Sec. 210-601(d)).
How this record was verified
| Adoption | Verified |
| Amendments | Verified |
| Licensing | Verified |
| Permits & inspections | Verified |
Working notes
Arkansas is one of two 2026-NEC states in this tranche: the Board's rule (Ark. R. 2026-108, eff. 2026-09-03) replaced the 2023 NEC with the 2026 edition. Arkansas modifications live inside the adoption section itself rather than a separate amendments document (dwelling-unit AFCI/GFCI carve-outs and island/peninsula receptacle standards, Sec. 210-601(b)), so adoption and amendments share one URL. Caution: NFPA's adoption map still showed Arkansas's 2026 update as 'process underway' at retrieval - superseded by the filed rule; do not cite it for AR. 2026 NEC 230.70(A)(1) emergency disconnect: STANDS AS WRITTEN for AR - the Board of Electrical Examiners amendment packet amends 220.83, 230.71, 406.4(D) and others but carries no (A)(1) amendment (per hunt-18 (files/journeyman/electrical/documents/hunt-18-230-70-a1-adoption-map.md), retrieved 2026-10-25).
Reference only. Compiled from the cited official sources as of the date shown; adoptions and rules change. Confirm with the authority having jurisdiction before designing or permitting work.