This is especially true for the kitchen counters where several high power small appliances may be plugged in and in use at one time.
Kitchen outlet distance. This applies even if there isn t a nearby sink such as on. Nowadays the distance from the sink to the outlet is actually less important than whether or not it has a ground fault circuit interrupter gfci. The nec requires that any kitchen countertop that s at least 12 inches wide and 24 inches deep must be equipped with electrical outlets. When constructing a building the electrical code requirements won t be met if the structure doesn t have this type of outlet at certain receptacle locations.
If you have not done electrical work for a few years you may be surprised by this requirement. In the kitchen countertop outlets should be no. Electrical code specifies how electrical outlets should be spaced and which types of outlets to use in general areas bathrooms and kitchens. Gfci as of 1993 electric companies started requiring that all outlets have ground fault circuit interrupters or gfci.
One prime example of this is with outlet spacing. Small appliance circuit countertop space wall and hallway space. In homes and buildings that are 20 years or older. Electrical codes require more outlets per foot in the kitchen one for every 4 feet of counter space and for every 12 feet of wall space than anywhere else in the home.