Weekly digest #32: inspector trends

What inspectors are flagging in Q2 2026

Inspector rejection patterns shift with code cycles, weather, and regional enforcement bulletins. The 2023 NEC is now the baseline in 38 states, and field callbacks reflect where installers still run old habits against new rules.

This digest pulls from 400+ inspection reports shared by electricians in the BONBON field network between February and April 2026. The trends below are the failures showing up more than once per week across residential, light commercial, and service upgrades.

GFCI and AFCI: still the top rejection

NEC 210.8(A) expansions keep catching crews who wired to 2017 or 2020 rules. Dishwasher circuits, basement receptacles within 6 feet of a sink, and laundry areas are the three most-cited misses. Inspectors are also writing up the 210.8(F) outdoor outlet rule, which requires GFCI protection for all outdoor outlets 50 amps or less, including HVAC disconnects.

AFCI gaps follow close behind. 210.12(A) covers most dwelling unit branch circuits now, and inspectors are calling out the lack of protection on bedroom smoke alarm circuits and garage receptacles where local amendments apply.

• Dishwasher 125V, 1-phase, 150V-to-ground: GFCI required per 210.8(D)
• Outdoor HVAC disconnect under 50A: GFCI required per 210.8(F)
• Garage receptacles: GFCI and, in many jurisdictions, AFCI
• Laundry areas: GFCI required per 210.8(A)(10)

If the panel is on a service change, expect the inspector to check every circuit against current code, not the install date of the original wiring.

Working space and clearances

110.26 violations are climbing, especially in finished basements and converted garages. Inspectors are measuring the 30-inch width and 36-inch depth from the energized equipment, and they are rejecting panels tucked behind water heaters, furnaces, and shelving.

The dedicated equipment space above panels (110.26(E)) is catching more rejections as homeowners finish spaces around older service equipment. A drop ceiling tile can pass, but anything structural or piping within the 6-foot zone above the panel fails.

Field tip: before you mount a panel, tape out the 30x36 clear floor zone and the 6-foot vertical. If anything encroaches, move the panel now. Relocating after rough-in costs a day and a permit amendment.

EV charging installs

Level 2 charger installs are the fastest growing inspection category in 2026, and they are generating proportional rejections. The common flags:

1. Load calculation not submitted or incomplete for 625.42 and 220.87
2. No GFCI protection where the receptacle outlet is used (625.54)
3. Disconnect requirement for chargers over 60 amps or over 150V to ground, per 625.43
4. Continuous load sizing missed, 125 percent of charger rating per 625.41

Inspectors are also checking the listing of the EVSE itself. Direct-import units without UL or equivalent NRTL listing are being red-tagged even when the install is clean.

On service panels at capacity, energy management systems under 750.30 are showing up as the solution, but the EMS documentation needs to be on site at inspection.

Grounding and bonding on service upgrades

250.50 and 250.53 are generating callbacks on almost every service upgrade where the original ground was a single driven rod. Two rods, 6 feet apart minimum, with measured resistance under 25 ohms or a second electrode regardless. Inspectors want the second rod visible or documented.

Intersystem bonding termination (250.94) is the other regular miss. If you upgrade a service and there is any communication or CATV coming into the building, the IBT has to be there, accessible, and listed. A split bolt on the grounding electrode conductor is not compliant.

• Two rods minimum unless single rod tested under 25 ohms
• IBT with at least three termination points, listed per 250.94
• Bonding jumper to metal water piping within 5 feet of entry, 250.52(A)(1)
• CSST gas line bonding per manufacturer and 250.104(B)

Labeling, torque, and documentation

110.14(D) torque requirements are now being enforced with inspectors asking to see the torque tool on site. Some jurisdictions require a signed torque verification form. If you do not have one, bring the manufacturer spec sheet and torque each lug in front of the inspector when asked.

Arc flash and available fault current labels under 110.16 and 110.24 are getting more attention on commercial and multifamily services. The label must show the date and the calculated value, not a generic warning sticker.

Field tip: keep a laminated torque chart, a calibrated torque screwdriver, and your available fault current calculation in the truck. Three items solve 80 percent of final-inspection paperwork questions.

Panel directories (408.4) round out the paperwork failures. Handwritten and legible is fine. Blank, pencil-smudged, or "spare" on every breaker is not. Spend the 10 minutes before you call for inspection.

What to pre-check before calling for inspection

Based on the last 90 days of reports, a five-minute self-audit catches most rejections before the inspector shows up. Walk the job with this list:

1. Every receptacle within code-defined GFCI/AFCI zones is protected and tested
2. Working space at every panel, disconnect, and piece of equipment is clear
3. Grounding electrode system has two electrodes or documented resistance
4. IBT is installed and accessible at the service
5. Panel directory is filled out, torque is verified, labels are current
6. EV and solar installs have load calcs and listing documentation on site

The inspectors writing the most rejections are not changing the code. They are enforcing what has been in print since 2023. The crews passing first time are the ones who treat the 2023 cycle as the default, not the upgrade.