Skip to content
ChatProjectCodes

Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY

Section 1142A

California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2022 edition · updated 2026-09-12 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE, SWITCH AND CONTROL HEIGHTS

1142A.1 Receptacle heights.

Electrical receptacle outlets on branch circuits of 30 amperes or less and communication system receptacles shall be located no more than 48 inches (1219 mm) measured from the top of the receptacle outlet box nor less than 15 inches (381 mm) measured from the bottom of the receptacle outlet box to the level of the finished floor or working platform. If the reach is over a physical barrier or an obstruction (for example, a kitchen base cabinet), recepta- cles shall be located within the reach ranges specified in Sec- tion 1138A.3. Physical barriers and obstructions shall not extend more than 25 inches (635 mm) from the wall beneath the receptacle.

Receptacle outlets that do not satisfy these specifications are acceptable provided that comparable receptacle outlets, that perform the same functions, are provided within the same area and are accessible.

Exceptions:

1. Receptacle outlets installed as part of permanently installed baseboard heaters are exempt.

2. Required receptacle outlets shall be permitted in floors when adjacent to sliding panels or walls.

3. Baseboard electrical outlets used in relocatable partitions, window walls or other electrical conve- nience floor outlets are not subject to the minimum height requirements.

4. This section shall not apply to existing buildings when the enforcing agency determines that compli- ance with these standards would create an unrea- sonable hardship.

1142A.2 Switch and control heights.

Controls or switches intended to be used by the occupant of the room or area to control lighting and receptacle outlets, appliances, alarms or cooling, heating and ventilating equipment shall be located no more than 48 inches (1219 mm) measured from the top of the outlet box nor less than 15 inches (381 mm) measured from the bottom of the outlet box to the level of the finished floor or working platform. If the reach is over a physical bar- rier or an obstruction (for example, a kitchen base cabinet), switches and controls shall be located within the reach ranges specified in Section 1138A.3. Physical barriers or obstructions shall not extend more than 25 inches (635 mm) from the wall beneath a switch or control.

Switches and controls that do not satisfy these specifica- tions are acceptable provided that comparable controls or outlets, that perform the same functions, are provided within the same area and are accessible.

Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.

Ask AI about this code
Export this section
▸Contents — California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
  1. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
  2. Appendix G — FLOOD-RESISTANT
  3. Appendix L — EARTHQUAKE RECORDING
  4. Appendix M — TSUNAMI-GENERATED
  5. Appendix N — REPLICABLE
  6. Appendix O — PERFORMANCE-BASED
  7. Chapter 1 — SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION
  8. Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
  9. Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY A…
  10. Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
  11. Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
  12. Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
  13. Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION
  14. Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISHES
  15. Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
  16. Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
  17. ▸Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
    Overview
    1. Section 1101A
    2. Section 1102A
    3. Section 1103A
    4. Section 1104A
    5. Section 1105A
    6. Section 1106A
    7. Section 1107A
    8. Section 1108A
    9. Section 1109A
    10. Section 1110A
    11. Section 1111A
    12. Section 1112A
    13. Section 1113A
    14. Section 1114A
    15. Section 1115A
    16. Section 1116A
    17. Section 1117A
    18. Section 1118A
    19. Section 1119A
    20. Section 1120A
    21. Section 1121A
    22. Section 1122A
    23. Section 1123A
    24. Section 1124A
    25. Section 1125A
    26. Section 1126A
    27. Section 1127A
    28. Section 1128A
    29. Section 1129A
    30. Section 1130A
    31. Section 1131A
    32. Section 1132A
    33. Section 1133A
    34. Section 1134A
    35. Section 1135A
    36. Section 1136A
    37. Section 1137A
    38. Section 1138A
    39. Section 1139A
    40. Section 1140A
    41. Section 1141A
    42. Section 1142A
    43. Section 1143A
    44. Section 1144A
    45. Section 1145A
    46. Section 1146A
    47. Section 1147A
    48. Section 1148A
    49. Section 1149A
    50. Section 1150A
  18. Chapter 11B — ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMM…
  19. Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
  20. Chapter 14 — EXTERIOR WALLS
  21. Chapter 15 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
  22. Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  23. Chapter 16A — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  24. Chapter 17 — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  25. Chapter 18 — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  26. Chapter 19 — CONCRETE
  27. Chapter 20 — ALUMINUM
  28. Chapter 21 — MASONRY
  29. Chapter 22 — STEEL
  30. Chapter 23 — WOOD
  31. Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
  32. Chapter 25 — GYPSUM BOARD, GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
  33. Chapter 26 — PLASTIC
  34. Chapter 27 — ELECTRICAL
  35. Chapter 28 — MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
  36. Chapter 30 — ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
  37. Chapter 31 — SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
  38. Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS
  39. Chapter 31C — RADIATION
  40. Chapter 31D — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
  41. Chapter 31F — MARINE OIL TERMINALS
  42. Chapter 32 — ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
  43. Chapter 33 — SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
  44. Chapter 35 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  45. Appendix A — EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS
  46. Appendix B — BOARD OF APPEALS
  47. Appendix C — GROUP U – AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
  48. Appendix D — FIRE DISTRICTS
  49. Appendix F — RODENTPROOFING
  50. Appendix H — SIGNS
  51. Appendix I — PATIO COVERS
  52. Appendix J — GRADING
  53. Appendix K — GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES
  54. Appendix P — EMERGENCY HOUSING

GoCodebook provides public access, search, citation, multilingual explanation, and practical interpretation of legally adopted building regulations. It is not a substitute for the official ICC or California code publications.