NEC 90.14: rough-in checklist

Rough-in is where inspections get failed or passed before the first wire gets pulled tight. Plan wrong, and you are ripping drywall or cutting boxes out. This checklist covers what to verify on every rough-in, tied to the code sections that matter.

Plan Before You Drill

NEC 90.8 calls out wiring planning for a reason. Spare capacity, accessibility, and future loads save callbacks. Walk the print before you touch a drill. Mark box locations on studs, confirm panel location, and check service size against the load calc in NEC 220.

Verify the AHJ has approved the plan. Local amendments to the NEC are common, and some jurisdictions enforce earlier or later cycles. Check rough-in inspection requirements before cover.

Tip: Take a photo of every wall after rough-in, before insulation. When the drywaller misses a box or the HVAC tech drives a screw into Romex, you will have proof of where every cable ran.

Box Selection and Placement

Box fill under NEC 314.16 is the most common rough-in violation. Count every conductor, device, clamp, and ground properly. A single-gang nail-on will not take two 14/3 home runs plus a switch, no matter how hard you cram it.

Mounting depth matters. NEC 314.20 requires boxes in combustible walls to be flush or project out. Recessed past 1/4 inch in drywall needs an extension ring. Set box depth to the finished surface, not the stud face.

• Receptacles: standard height per plan, typically 12 to 18 inches to center
• Switches: 44 to 48 inches to center, adjust for ADA
• Countertop receptacles: NEC 210.52(C), no point more than 24 inches from an outlet
• Bath, kitchen, laundry, outdoor, garage, basement: GFCI required per NEC 210.8
• Bedroom, living areas, kitchens, laundry: AFCI per NEC 210.12

Cable Routing and Protection

NEC 300.4 covers physical protection. Bore holes at least 1-1/4 inch from the nearest edge of a stud, or install a 1/16 inch steel nail plate. Running boards and stack protectors are cheap. Callbacks are not.

Support NM cable within 12 inches of every box per NEC 334.30, and at intervals not exceeding 4.5 feet. Staples must not crush the jacket. Loose cable sags, and a sagging cable gets pinched when insulation goes in.

Holes through the top plate for cables feeding a smoke detector or ceiling fixture need to align clean. Do not chase cables sideways across joists without securing. NEC 334.15(C) allows running along the side of joists or studs in an unfinished basement, but in finished space, protect and secure per code.

Conductor Length and Box Dressing

NEC 300.14 requires at least 6 inches of free conductor at each outlet, junction, or switch point, measured from where the cable enters the box. If the box opening is less than 8 inches in any dimension, at least 3 inches must extend past the face.

Strip back the sheath inside the box, not before it enters. NEC 314.17(C) requires the jacket to extend at least 1/4 inch into the box. Clamps must be tight but not cutting into the jacket.

1. Leave 8 to 10 inches of free conductor for easier trim-out
2. Cap each conductor with a wire nut during rough-in to prevent damage
3. Fold conductors neatly into the back of the box, not jammed against the drywall line
4. Tag home runs and three-way travelers with labels before drywall

Panel and Service Rough

Panel location needs 30 inches of width and 36 inches of depth of working clearance per NEC 110.26(A). Headroom is 6.5 feet or the height of the equipment, whichever is greater. Do not set a panel where a washer or water heater will end up in front of it.

Leave slack at the panel. Home runs should reach the farthest breaker slot with room to dress cleanly. Bring the grounding electrode conductor in during rough, and confirm the ground rod or Ufer is accessible for inspection.

Tip: Sleeve every home run through the top or bottom of the panel with plastic bushings before the drywaller shows up. Sharp metal edges shred THHN and NM jackets, and you will not see the damage until the short trips.

Final Rough-In Walk

Before calling for inspection, walk every box with the print in hand. Confirm counts, GFCI and AFCI circuit groupings, and that nothing got missed behind insulation batts. Check that bath fans, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors per NEC 210.12(A) and local code have their rough cables landed.

Test mechanical integrity. Tug every cable at the box to confirm the staple is holding. Verify box mounting is rigid, not just hanging off a nail. A box that moves in rough-in will move under a plate.

• All boxes marked, plumb, and set to finish depth
• Cable secured within 12 inches of boxes, 4.5 feet max between supports
• Nail plates on any bore within 1-1/4 inch of stud edge
• Minimum 6 inches free conductor at every box
• Panel clearances clear of other trades
• Ground electrode accessible
• Photos taken of every wall

Rough-in done right means trim-out is fast and inspection is clean. Cut corners here and every problem compounds after the drywall goes up.