How many outlets does NSPIRE require per room?

At least two working outlets in each habitable room, or one working outlet plus one permanently installed light fixture. 'Working' means tested — inspectors carry outlet testers, so a dead outlet that looks fine still counts.

Does NSPIRE require GFCI outlets?

An unprotected outlet within six feet of a water source is a citable severe deficiency — which in practice means GFCI protection (outlet or breaker) for kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry areas. Inoperable GFCI test/reset buttons are also cited.

Which electrical problems carry the 24-hour repair clock?

The life-threatening electrical items include exposed electrical conductors, damaged outlets or switches, water in contact with a conductor, and a damaged overcurrent protection device in the panel. Severe items — like ungrounded three-prong outlets or dead GFCI buttons — carry the same 24-hour clock under NSPIRE's correction rules.

NSPIRE Room-by-Room

Electrical Under NSPIRE: Outlets, GFCI, and Panels

Electrical is the densest life-threatening cluster in the standard — 4 of the 17 electrical items carry a 24-hour clock — and the only category where inspectors actively test with instruments instead of just looking.

What inspectors actually check

Outlets — counted and tested

Two working outlets per habitable room (or one plus a permanent fixture). Testers catch dead outlets, open grounds, and reversed wiring that looked fine for years.

GFCI near water

Any outlet within six feet of a water source needs protection. Test and reset buttons get pressed — an inoperable button is a citation even if the outlet works.

The panel

Readily accessible, no damaged or contaminated overcurrent devices, no exposed conductors anywhere in the unit. Damaged breakers are a life-threatening cite.

The efficient prep move: one electrician visit with a punch list from your own walk — outlet tester in hand, every room, panel last — beats emergency call-outs against a 24-hour clock at citation time. Batch it across units.

Every citable electrical deficiency

Electrical standards — 17 citable deficiencies, 4 life-threatening. From the published HUD NSPIRE standards (v2026.07).

Electrical - Conductor, Outlet, and Switch

Outlet or switch is damaged.
Life-Threatening24-hr fix window
Testing indicates a three-pronged outlet is not properly wired or grounded.
Severe24-hr fix window
Outlet does not have visible damage and testing indicates it is not energized.
Severe24-hr fix window
Exposed electrical conductor.
Life-Threatening24-hr fix window
Water is currently in contact with an electrical conductor.
Life-Threatening24-hr fix window

Electrical - GFCI/AFCI

GFCI outlet or GFCI breaker is not visibly damaged and the test or reset button is inoperable.
Severe24-hr fix window
AFCI outlet or AFCI breaker is not visibly damaged and the test or reset button is inoperable.
Severe24-hr fix window
An unprotected outlet is present within six feet of a water source.*
Severe24-hr fix window

Electrical - Service Panel

Electrical service panel is not readily accessible.
Moderate
The overcurrent protection device is damaged.
Life-Threatening24-hr fix window
The overcurrent protection device is contaminated.
Severe24-hr fix window

Lighting - Auxiliary

Auxiliary lighting is damaged, missing, or fails to illuminate when tested.
Severe24-hr fix window

Lighting - Exterior

A permanently installed light fixture is damaged, inoperable, missing, or not secure.
Moderate

Lighting - Interior

A permanently installed light fixture is inoperable.
Moderate
A permanently installed light fixture is not secure.
Moderate
At least one (1) permanently installed light fixture is not present in the kitchen and bathroom.*
Moderate

Minimum Electrical and Lighting

At least two (2) working outlets are not present within each habitable room. OR At least one (1) working outlet and one (1) permanently installed light fixture is not present within each habitable room.*
Moderate

Items marked with an asterisk (*) carry additional conditions in the published HUD standard text.

See where these sit in NSPIRE scoring (a life-threatening unit deficiency deducts 60 points). Previous room: smoke & CO alarms. Next: bathrooms.

Walk the whole unit, not just the outlets

The free NSPIRE Self-Inspection Checklist covers all 204 deficiencies room by room — severity-tagged, 24-hour items flagged, printable.

Get the free checklist

Educational content based on published HUD NSPIRE standards; not affiliated with or endorsed by HUD; not a guarantee of inspection results. Electrical work may require a licensed electrician under state and local law.