I am building a new kitchen and am doing the electrical work myself - running new outlets and lights off existing circuits. Is this legal in the city / state of NY given that I am not licensed?
What are the (potential) consequences of doing this?
And how do I find a simple copy of the code requirements - e.g. what is the minimum distance that an outlet can be from a sink?
Can’t speak for NY, since I’m in California, but when I had a similar project, I went to the city building department, and explained what I wanted to do. The inspector asked me enough questions to decide I knew what I was doing and let me pull a permit. The previous owner had added 110 amps of load to a 60 amp main service without a single fuse or circuit breaker on the added load (a range top, dryer and electric water heater). The main service box was almost ready to burn the house down. I had to install a whole new, upgraded 125 amp service. The inspector told me what he would be looking for, gave me some pointers, and it turned out fine. I was a little insulted when the guy from the electric company stood at arms length out of the way when he popped in the new meter, but he said it isn’t uncomon for people to wire a dead short that will blast the new meter all the way across the back yard when it is energized.
All that being said, I wouldn’t be surprised if the codes are more restrictive in New York, and DIY electrical is forbidden.
Good luck!
Often the places where you buy your supplies (Menards, Loews, Home Depot, etc.) will have books on how to do home wiring projects. Quite simplified, really, but these generally mention the code requirements for each project.
Otherwise you can buy a copy of the NEC Handbook (online, even). But this is rather expensive, and written in a very technical and not really user-friendly manner.
An alternate plan: hire an electrician to inspect your work. Arrange to have him come once at the start of your project, and ask him these code-related questions. Then have him come again at the end of the project to do a full inspection (which may be required anyway by the city and/or your electric company).
You seem to have the right approach. Most cities, counties, or states have building and electrical codes which must be satisfied for you to avoid trouble.
Some items to consider:
Check you project out with the electrical inspector for your jurisdiction, get a permit, do it right, and avoid problems later.
As a home owner most jurisdictions allow you to do the work yourself.
Good luck.
Kitchens are to be supplied with not less than two (2) twenty amp small appliance branch circuits.
All receptacles serving a countertop are to be protected with GFCI devices. These can be in breaker form, or receptacle form. You can protect up to six (6) downstream receptacles from one GFCI receptacle, which is how most electricians wire a kitchen.
I pull a separate feed for kitchen lighting so if a receptacle breaker is tripped, the homeowner isn’t left in the dark. I also run separate branches for the refrigerator and dishwasher. Putting a few low draw appliances on one circuit is ok, such as range hood, microwave, and disposal.
Individual texts are fine, just make sure they are based upon the version of the NEC that the municipal inspector or independent underwriter will use when inspecting the work. The NEC is revised every three years, so a book based on the 1996 code isn’t much good when your town has adopted the 1999 or 2002 version.
My half-assed understanding of New York City Building Code requirements is that to add or move an electrical outlet, you need a building permit and a licensed contractor.
For the New York City Electrical Code and more detailed answers to your questions, you may want to check out this NYC Buildings Department Website.
Good luck with with your renovation.