Residential Electrical Inspection Checklist

Use this Residential Electrical Inspection Checklist to audit service panels, wiring, GFCI/AFCI protection, and code compliance across rental properties and homes.

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Residential Electrical Inspection Checklist



Documentation Review

1. A valid electrical permit is on file for any recent electrical work completed at the property


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2. The date of the last electrical inspection is recorded


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3. Any open electrical permits or outstanding violations from previous inspections are documented


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4. Electrical panel schedule is available and matches the current installation


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Service Panel And Main Disconnect

1. The service panel is readily accessible with at least 3 feet of clear working space in front


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2. The panel is not located in a bathroom, clothes closet, or area with easily ignitable materials


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3. The panel enclosure is free of physical damage, corrosion, rust, and water intrusion


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4. All breakers and fuses are labeled clearly and accurately on the panel directory


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5. No breakers are in a tripped or partial-trip position


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6. Breaker and fuse sizes are appropriate for their circuits and are not oversized


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7. No double-tapped breakers are present unless the breaker is rated for multiple conductors


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8. All knockouts are sealed and no open spaces are present in the panel enclosure


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9. The main disconnect is functional and can be operated without obstruction


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10. The service panel capacity is adequate for the current electrical load of the property


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Wiring And Conductors

1. All visible wiring is in good condition with no fraying, cracking, or damaged insulation


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2. No exposed or unprotected wiring is present in living areas, attics, crawlspaces, or basements


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3. All junction boxes have secure covers and are accessible


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4. No open junction boxes with exposed splices are present


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5. Wiring is secured and not hanging loosely or under mechanical strain


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6. Knob-and-tube or aluminum branch circuit wiring, if present, is documented and assessed for condition


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7. No wiring is routed through areas where it is exposed to physical damage without protection


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Receptacles And Outlets

1. All receptacles are grounded and have correct polarity


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2. All receptacle cover plates are present and undamaged


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3. No receptacles show signs of scorch marks, discoloration, or heat damage


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4. GFCI-protected receptacles are installed in all kitchens within 6 feet of a sink


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5. GFCI-protected receptacles are installed in all bathrooms


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6. GFCI-protected receptacles are installed in the garage


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7. GFCI-protected receptacles are installed at all outdoor locations


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8. GFCI-protected receptacles are installed in unfinished basements and crawlspaces


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9. GFCI-protected receptacles are installed within 6 feet of laundry and utility sinks


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10. All GFCI receptacles test and reset correctly using the built-in test button


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11. Receptacle spacing in habitable rooms meets applicable requirements (no point more than 6 feet from an outlet)


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AFCI Protection

1. All bedroom branch circuits are protected by arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs)


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2. AFCI protection is present on branch circuits in living rooms, family rooms, dining rooms, and hallways


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3. All AFCI breakers test correctly using the built-in test button


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Dedicated Circuits

1. The kitchen has at least two 20-amp small appliance branch circuits serving countertop receptacles


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2. The refrigerator is on a dedicated circuit


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3. The laundry area has a dedicated 20-amp circuit for the washing machine


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4. The electric dryer, if present, is on a dedicated 240-volt circuit


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5. The dishwasher is on a dedicated circuit


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6. The HVAC system or furnace is on a dedicated circuit


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7. The water heater, if electric, is on a dedicated circuit


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Lighting

1. All light fixtures are securely mounted and free of damage


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2. Bulb wattage in fixtures does not exceed the maximum rated wattage labeled on the fixture


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3. Recessed lighting fixtures installed near insulation are rated for insulation contact (Type IC)


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4. All ceiling fan mounting boxes are rated for fan support


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5. Exterior light fixtures are rated for outdoor use and sealed against moisture


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Smoke And CO Detectors

1. Smoke detectors are installed on every level of the home, including the basement


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2. Smoke detectors are installed inside and immediately outside each sleeping area


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3. Smoke detectors are hardwired or have a sealed 10-year battery where required


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4. All smoke detectors respond correctly when tested


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5. Carbon monoxide detectors are installed on every level and outside each sleeping area


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6. All CO detectors respond correctly when tested


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7. No smoke or CO detector is past its manufacturer-recommended replacement date


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Outdoor And Exterior Electrical

1. All outdoor receptacles have weatherproof in-use covers


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2. The service entrance conductors are in good condition with no visible damage or deterioration


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3. The service mast and weatherhead are securely supported and free of corrosion


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4. Outdoor wiring and conduit are rated for exterior use and free of physical damage


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5. Any EV charger circuit is on a dedicated breaker of the correct amperage for the installed equipment


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6. EV charger installation is permitted and inspected where required by local authority


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Garage And Basement

1. All garage receptacles are GFCI-protected


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2. Garage lighting is functional and fixtures are in good condition


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3. A subpanel, if present, has a working main disconnect and all circuits are labeled


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4. The subpanel enclosure is free of damage, moisture, and open knockouts


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5. Basement receptacles in unfinished areas are GFCI-protected


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6. All basement lighting is functional with no exposed lamp holders without bulb covers


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Documentation And Pre-inspection Checks

1. The circuit schedule or distribution board chart is available on site for reference during the inspection


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2. Records from the previous DB inspection are available and have been reviewed


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3. Any defects identified during the previous inspection have been actioned and closed out


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4. All test equipment to be used during the inspection is within its current calibration period


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5. A valid permit to work or isolation certificate is in place where required before any de-energized testing


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6. The inspector has confirmed appropriate PPE is available and in use, including insulated gloves and safety glasses


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7. The DB location and reference number are recorded for this inspection report


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Enclosure And Physical Condition

1. The distribution board enclosure is free of physical damage, dents, cracks, or corrosion


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2. The DB is securely mounted to the wall or structure with no movement when tested


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3. The area in front of the DB provides adequate clear working space for safe access


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4. The DB is not located in an area that exposes it to excessive moisture, heat, or mechanical damage without appropriate IP-rated protection


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5. The enclosure door opens and closes fully and the locking mechanism operates correctly


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6. All unused cable entry knockouts are blanked off with appropriate fittings — no open apertures are present


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7. Ventilation slots or grilles on the enclosure are clear and unobstructed


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8. A hazard warning label is present and legible on the DB enclosure


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9. No combustible materials are stored adjacent to or in contact with the distribution board


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Busbars And Internal Components

1. The busbar assembly is free of signs of overheating, discoloration, arcing, or physical damage


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2. Phase barriers between busbars are present, intact, and correctly positioned


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3. All busbar connections are tight with no visible signs of looseness or corrosion


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4. No unauthorized modifications or improvised connections are present within the DB


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5. Insulating sleeves or shrouding on live busbars are in good condition with no cracks or missing sections


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6. The DB interior is clean and free of debris, dust buildup, or moisture ingress


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Circuit Breakers And Protective Devices

1. All MCBs and MCCBs are correctly rated for the circuits they protect and match the circuit schedule


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2. No MCB or MCCB shows signs of physical damage, heat discoloration, or burning at the terminals


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3. Each MCB and MCCB operates correctly — the handle moves freely between on, off, and tripped positions


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4. Each MCB and MCCB can be manually tripped and reset without mechanical resistance or failure


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5. No circuit breakers have been bridged, bypassed, or otherwise defeated


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6. Where fuse carriers or fuse bases are fitted, fuses are of the correct type and rating for each circuit


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7. All spare ways within the DB are fitted with blanking plates or isolating covers


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RCD And RCBO Testing

1. All RCDs and RCBOs are present as required by the circuit schedule and applicable wiring regulations


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2. Each RCD and RCBO is correctly rated for its circuit — confirm type (Type AC, Type A, or Type B) and sensitivity (mA rating)


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3. Each RCD is tested using the integral test button and trips correctly on operation


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4. Each RCBO is tested using the integral test button and trips correctly on operation


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5. All RCDs and RCBOs reset successfully following the test button operation


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6. Where portable RCD test equipment is available, trip times are measured and recorded against acceptable limits


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7. The date of the last periodic RCD test is recorded on the DB or in the inspection records


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Earthing And Bonding

1. The earth busbar or terminal block is present, correctly connected, and free of corrosion


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2. All protective conductors (CPCs) terminating at the earth busbar are securely connected and correctly identified


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3. The main earthing conductor connection to the earth busbar is tight and in good condition


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4. Main equipotential bonding conductors for incoming services (gas, water, structural steel where applicable) are connected and in good condition


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5. Where a supplementary bonding conductor is required, it is present and correctly terminated


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6. No earth conductor terminals show signs of corrosion, discoloration, or loose connections


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7. The earth busbar is correctly bonded to the DB enclosure


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Cable Entries And Terminations

1. All cables enter the DB through correct cable glands or conduit fittings that provide mechanical support and IP protection at the entry point


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2. Cable glands and conduit entries are tight with no cables subject to mechanical strain at the entry point


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3. All cable insulation is in good condition at entry points with no cracking, abrasion, or damage to the outer sheath


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4. Core identification (colour coding or ferrule marking) is correct and consistent throughout the DB


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5. All conductor terminations at MCB, MCCB, RCD, RCBO, and busbar connections are tight with no exposed live conductors beyond the terminal


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6. No cables are routed in a way that places them in contact with sharp edges, hot surfaces, or moving parts inside the enclosure


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7. Cable and conductor sizes are appropriate for the protective device rating of each circuit


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Circuit Schedule And Labeling

1. A legible, up-to-date circuit schedule is fitted inside the DB door or adjacent to the board


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2. The circuit schedule accurately reflects the current circuit configuration — no unlabeled or incorrectly labeled ways


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3. Each MCB, MCCB, RCD, and RCBO way is individually labeled with the circuit it serves


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4. Phase identification is clearly marked on all three-phase circuits within the DB


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5. The DB reference number or designation label is present and matches the building's electrical documentation


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6. The DB incoming supply voltage and maximum demand rating are recorded on the schedule or enclosure label


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Thermal And Operational Checks

1. No unusual heat is detectable at the DB enclosure surface during normal operation


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2. No smell of burning, hot insulation, or overheated plastic is detected in the vicinity of the DB


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3. No audible abnormalities such as buzzing, crackling, or humming are present during energized operation


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4. No visible signs of smoke staining, soot, or heat damage are present on the enclosure interior or exterior


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5. Measured ambient temperature in the DB room or enclosure is within acceptable operating limits for the installed equipment


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Checklist by GoAudits.com – Please note that this checklist is intended as an example. We do not guarantee compliance with the laws applicable to your territory or industry. You should seek professional advice to determine how this checklist should be adapted to your workplace or jurisdiction.

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