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Know Your Wire Burial Depth Codes
National Electric Code (NEC) Requirements for Burial of Low Voltage Wiring
According to article 300.5 of the 2005 NEC Code, low voltage landscape lighting wire needs to be buried to the following depths:
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Location of Wire
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Minimum Burial Depth*
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All locations not specified below
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6 inches |
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In trench below minimum 2" thick concrete
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6 inches |
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Under a building
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In raceway only |
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Under roads, alleys, public driveways and parking lots
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24 inches |
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Under one- and two-family dwelling driveways and outdoor parking areas and used only for dwelling-related purposes
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18 inches |
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In or under airport runways, including adjacent areas where trespassing is prohibited
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18 inches |
| *Note – depth is measured from the top surface of wire to top surface of finished grade or surface material. Where solid rock prevents compliance with these depths, a direct burial raceway can be used, encased in concrete at least 2" thick on top and extending down to the rock. | |
