NEC® Changes · 2020 NEC®

404.10 Mounting switches and dimmers

RevisedChanged in the 2020 NEC® (from the 2017 NEC®)· Updated October 24, 2026

What changed in 404.10

The mounting rules for snap switches now also cover dimmers and control switches.

Point by point

  • The section now covers dimmers and control switches, not just general-use snap switches.

The full lesson is in the Pro Version

Get the whole breakdown

  • 2 more points on exactly what changed
  • The 2017 rule next to the 2020 rule, side by side
  • Why it changed
  • What to do and check on the job

One membership unlocks every NEC® change lesson for 2020, 2023 and 2026, plus every video, quiz, flashcard and the Testing Center.

Checking your membership…

This section across NEC® editions

2020 NEC®RevisedYou're here

The mounting rules for snap switches now also cover dimmers and control switches.

2023 NEC®No change

This section did not change from 2020 to 2023.

2026 NEC®Revised

Moved from 404.8 and split into titled parts. Switch handle height can now be measured from finished grade too, not just floors and working platforms.

Open the 2026 page →

More 2020 changes in Article 404

This is a plain-English summary, not the NEC®'s exact wording. Always check the full section in the NEC® edition your area has adopted, plus any local amendments.

NEC® and National Electrical Code® are registered trademarks of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Electrical Exam Coach is not affiliated with or endorsed by NFPA.

Find it faster on test day

Get a code book that's already tabbed and highlighted.