Are GFCI Outlets Required in a Garage?
What this costs
| Option | Job | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace | Outlet Replacement | $100 | $330 |
When each location was added
CPSC's fact sheet, Pub. 099 from September 2010, lists these National Electrical Code dates. Its list stops at 2005, and later code editions may add locations. Your home may have been built before them.
- Outdoors: 1973.
- Bathrooms: 1975.
- Garages: 1978.
- Kitchens: 1987.
- Crawl spaces and unfinished basements: 1990.
- Wet bar sinks: 1993.
- Laundry and utility sinks: 2005.
What it means for your house
CPSC says the code typically applies only to new construction and major renovations, so we read that as generally not forcing you to update an older garage on its own. Still, NFPA's safety checklist says your home should have GFCIs in the garage. Local adoption varies, and we didn't read later code editions, so your electrician or building department can tell you what applies.
How to tell if you have them
NC State Extension says to look for test and reset buttons on the outlet face, and that GFCI breakers are labeled at the panel. CPSC says a GFCI breaker protects every outlet on the circuit it supplies, so a plain outlet may be protected too. CPSC says to test at least monthly.
Adding one
A qualified electrician can add GFCI protection, says CPSC. If you'll be running a freezer or a garage door opener, we recommend asking about it, because we expect an unexpected trip could leave you with a spoiled freezer. We didn't find an official rule on that for every code edition.
GFCI Won't Reset? Why It Happens and What to Do
Common questions
Do I need GFCI outlets in my kitchen or bathroom?
Does a garage door opener outlet need a GFCI?
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Last verified 2026-11-04
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: What is a GFCI? fact sheet (Pub. 099, September 2010) — NEC requirement dates, including garages since 1978; NEC typically applies only to new construction or major renovations; test schedule.
- National Fire Protection Association: Electrical safety checklist (2017) — Your home should have GFCIs in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry, basement, garage and outdoor areas.
- NC State Extension: Inspecting a house (revised Aug. 31, 2022) — Check GFCI protection in kitchen, bathroom, garage and outdoor circuits; GFCI breakers are labeled at the panel.
General information, not professional advice. Conditions, codes and prices vary. Turn off power, gas or water before any work, and hire a licensed professional when in doubt. Cost figures are our estimates, not quotes.