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Checked against primary sources 2026-09-07

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Wisconsin Electrical Code: The 2023 NEC From Sept 1

Wisconsin moved from the 2017 National Electrical Code to the 2023 edition on September 1, 2026. The adopting rule is CR 26-016, the chapter is SPS 316, and the codified chapter text online has not caught up with either of them.

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On this page
  1. What is in force today
  2. The rule and the paper trail
  3. The published chapter still reads 2017
  4. Two DSPS formulas for the effective date
  5. What the state said about it
  6. Where that puts Wisconsin against its neighbors
  7. City pages are slower than the code
  8. The exam is on a different clock
  9. Questions people ask
  10. What this page cites

What is in force today

Wisconsin's electrical code is Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 316, and it now adopts the 2023 National Electrical Code with Wisconsin amendments. The change took effect September 1, 2026.

EC&M reported it on June 30, 2026: "Starting September 1, Wisconsin's Department of Safety and Professional Services will enforce a new electrical safety code based on the 2023 NEC standards," adding that "The current Wisconsin electrical code is based on 2017 NEC standards."

DSPS confirmed it in a press release on September 3, 2026, giving the effective date as September 1, 2026 and the edition as the 2023 National Electric Code.

Wisconsin Independent Businesses put the plan review side plainly: from September 1, "any electrical or plumbing plans submitted for review to DSPS or its delegated agents must adhere to the new code requirements."

The rule and the paper trail

The adopting rule is CR 26-016, amending ch. SPS 316. DSPS's report to the legislature states both editions in one document: "Currently, ch. SPS 316 adopts by reference the 2017 edition of the NEC," and "The rule adopts by reference the 2023 edition of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, 2023) standard."

The amended line in the rule draft shows the strike and insert: "NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, (NEC) - 2017 2023, including all Temporary Interim Amendments and Errata prior to January 1, 2025."

The statement of scope gives the rule number as "SPS 302, 305, 316 and 324," so the same package touched the credential chapter as well as the code chapter, and it was approved for publication on 1/5/2024. It also records that Wisconsin has adopted the National Electrical Code by reference through SPS 316.007(1) since 1972.

Statutory authority cited in the rule report is Wis. Stat. 101.02(1), 101.82(1), 101.84(3), 101.84(5) and 227.11(2)(a). The two 101.84 subsections are the ones that let the department differentiate by rule what each electrician grade may install, repair or maintain, and recognize additional types of electrician. The agency contact given is Jake Pelegrin, Administrative Rules Coordinator, Office of Chief Legal Counsel.

The published chapter still reads 2017

This needs saying out loud on any page that links the code. The online codified text of SPS 316.007, Adoption of standards by reference, still lists "NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC) - 2017," and its history note ends with an amendment registered in June 2018, effective 8/1/2018.

The chapter table of contents on the Legislature's own site carries "Register Date: February 2019 No. 758."

So the published chapter says 2017 while DSPS's rule documents and DSPS's own press release say the 2023 edition is in force from September 1, 2026. Both are printed here, and neither is hidden.

What follows from that in practice: do not quote current SPS 316 subchapter IV text from the online chapter as though it were post-update text. Use it as a subject index, which is what our amendments page does.

Two DSPS formulas for the effective date

The rule draft says "The rules adopted in this order shall take effect on the first day of the month following publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register."

The DSPS Spring 2026 newsletter says the rules "will take effect on the first day of the third month following publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register."

One says first month, the other says third month, and both are DSPS documents. The date everyone reports in practice is September 1, 2026. We could not read the Administrative Register issue that published CR 26-016 to settle which formula produced that date.

What the state said about it

DSPS's press release of September 3, 2026 quotes Secretary Dan Hereth calling it the "Smoothest code project that I've experienced, and everyone we've spoken with has been complimentary of the finished product," and adding "When labor, industry, and state government work together, Wisconsin is safer."

John Jacobs, Local 494 Business Manager, is quoted saying "It is appreciated the state has gotten on board to adopt the 2023 standards." Kyle Krueger, the SPS 316 Electrical Code Advisory Committee chairperson, is quoted saying "I think we're going to have a much safer Wisconsin now."

The Spring 2026 newsletter records the earlier step: "The proposed Wisconsin Electrical Code (SPS 316) has been approved by the Governor and submitted to the Wisconsin State Legislature as of March 16, 2026."

Where that puts Wisconsin against its neighbors

DSPS's own rule report describes the neighboring states this way: Minnesota adopts the 2023 NEC, Michigan uses 2017, and Iowa uses 2020.

That is the department's own description in a public rulemaking document, not our comparison, and it was written for the rule rather than updated since.

City pages are slower than the code

West Bend published a citizen notice describing "the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) with Wisconsin-specific amendments" effective September 1, 2026, which is right.

Mequon published a staff memo describing the move "from the 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC) to the 2023 NEC" but saying "The effective date for the updated NEC has not yet be set." That memo is stale.

Milwaukee is the sharpest example. Its Electrical Inspection Section page says "Currently, the state has adopted the 2011 National Electrical code," which is wrong by two full cycles. The city ordinance itself, Chapter 222, adopts "chs. SPS 305, SPS 316 and SPS 318, Wis. Adm. Code, as amended," so the ordinance follows the state automatically and only the web copy is out of date.

The exam is on a different clock

The code in force and the code on the exam are two separate questions in Wisconsin right now, and they have two separate answers.

The field moved on September 1, 2026. The exam pages still named the 2017 edition on September 7, 2026, and DSPS expects exam updates to be completed by October 1.

Read the one month gap and which edition the exam uses.

Questions people ask

What NEC edition does Wisconsin use?

The 2023 National Electrical Code with Wisconsin amendments, in force from September 1, 2026 under rule CR 26-016 amending ch. SPS 316.

When did Wisconsin adopt the 2023 NEC?

The effective date reported by DSPS, the trade press and city notices is September 1, 2026. The Governor approved the proposed chapter and it went to the Legislature on March 16, 2026.

Why does SPS 316.007 still say 2017?

The codified chapter text online has not been restamped. SPS 316.007 still lists the 2017 edition and its history note ends in June 2018, while DSPS rule documents and its press release say the 2023 edition is in force.

Which errata and amendments are included?

The rule draft line reads NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, (NEC) - 2023, including all Temporary Interim Amendments and Errata prior to January 1, 2025.

Does the 2023 code apply to houses yet?

Every 2026 source we read names one date, September 1, 2026, with no split by occupancy. The previous cycle was staggered, so this is worth watching, and we will not publish a separate residential date without a source.

Do plans have to follow the new code?

From September 1, any electrical or plumbing plans submitted for review to DSPS or its delegated agents must adhere to the new code requirements.

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What this page cites

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NEC and National Electrical Code are registered trademarks of the National Fire Protection Association.

Trojan Digital Marketing is an independent company. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NFPA, the Department of Safety and Professional Services, Pearson VUE, or any licensing authority, school or union.

The Wisconsin examinations are open book, and the allowance is a generous one: the code book or handbook, one binder holding SPS 305, SPS 316 and printed notes, and up to two bound reference books. The DSPS exam pages still name the 2017 National Electrical Code, DSPS expects its exam updates to be completed by 1 October 2026, and the trade press reports the questions changing from that date. The field code, SPS 316, went to the 2023 edition on 1 September 2026, so for one month the book you work to and the book you test on are different.

All practice questions are original. They are not actual exam questions.

Built and maintained by Jeff Clerisier, Trojan Digital Marketing.

Every rule here is cited to the section it comes from, and corrections are logged in public with the date. This is study material rather than electrical advice, and it does not replace your own code book or your inspector.

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