are not forbidden in bedrooms because they are bedrooms but because of other code requirements.
Many people have heard that it is illegal to place breaker boxes (also called main load centers) in bedrooms. However, when they search though the National Electrical Code (NEC) they cannot find the applicable code, which leads to confusion.
National Electrical Code
The NEC does not directly address placing breaker boxes in bedrooms. The adoption of article 210.12 of the NEC in 1999 requires arc fault circuit interrupt (AFCI) outlets in all bedrooms. Amendments to this article in 2002 requires all "other" electrical circuits in bedrooms to be AFCI-protected. Since breaker boxes cannot be AFCI-protected, placing them in bedrooms is a code violation.
Local Electrical Codes
Many state and city authorities have added requirements to their local electrical codes that are not in the NEC. Some of these local codes do specifically forbid the placement of breaker boxes in bedrooms. These codes vary widely from location to location. Inform yourself about the local electrical codes that affect you.
Bedroom Closets
In the past, installing breaker boxes in closets instead of rooms, such as bedrooms, was common. However, article 240.24 of the NEC no longer allows breaker boxes to be located in a closet because of the combustible materials stored in them such as boxes and clothing.
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