Quick Hits

QUICK HIT 13

Service Disconnect — Location & Marking for Dwellings

2026 NEC References: 230.70(A)(1), 230.70(B)

🎯 What You'll Learn

Every service needs a means to disconnect the service.

One- and two-family dwellings have specific location and marking requirements.

🏠 DWELLING DISCONNECT LOCATION

For one- and two-family dwellings, the service disconnect is located in a:

Readily accessible outdoor location

either:

• On the dwelling, or

• Within sight of the dwelling

An emergency disconnect arrangement under the applicable requirements can provide an alternative.

🚨 MARKING

Every service disconnect gets marked:

SERVICE DISCONNECT

For one- and two-family dwellings, the enclosure also receives:

EMERGENCY DISCONNECT

The marking uses:

White lettering on a red background

with the required minimum letter height.

🧠 EXAM-STYLE QUESTION

What color scheme does the EMERGENCY DISCONNECT marking require?

Answer: White text on a red background.

📌 QUICK TAKEAWAY

For dwelling services, think:

LOCATION + ACCESSIBILITY + IDENTIFICATION

➡️ Next Quick Hit: Disconnect locations for everything else.

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