Do outdoor lights require GFCI?

Outdoor receptacles are usually required to have a GFCI or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. When asked if outdoor lights need GFCI, the simple answer is, “Yes.” Keep reading below to learn what you need to know about GFCI for outdoor lighting.Click to see full answer. Besides, do outdoor lights need to be GFCI protected?Receptacles that are used outdoors must have ground-fault circuit-interrupter, or GFCI, protection for safety. GFCI devices automatically trip if they sense an imbalance in the circuit that may indicate a fault to ground, which can occur when electrical equipment or anyone using it is in contact with water.One may also ask, do outdoor outlets need to be covered? Most outdoor outlets have a flip cover that protects the outlet when not in use. You can also add in a weatherproof cover that protects after you plug in an item too. Sometimes referred to as a “flip up” or “bubble cover,” the National Electric Code now makes them mandatory on all new construction. Keeping this in consideration, do lighting circuits require GFCI? The NEC now requires that virtually all branch circuits for lighting and receptacles in a home must have arc-fault circuit-interrupter (AFCI) protection. Note that the AFCI requirement is in addition to whatever GFCI protection is required—an AFCI does not replace or eliminate the need for GFCI protection.Do outdoor outlets need arc fault protection?Outdoor outlets are not required to have AFCI protection. However 2014 added “or devices” after “outlets” in 210.12(A), so if the outdoor outlet is controlled by a switch inside in a room mentioned in 210.12(A), then that switch requires AFCI protection and subsequently the outlet will have protection as well.