In short
- A duplex outlet for each car space, an outlet within 1 m of each cord-connected door opener, and a circuit reserved for garage outlets.
- An attached garage follows the dwelling rules (arc-fault, tamper-resistant); for a detached garage, the RBQ recommends them.
- A new house with a garage must be ready for a charger: a cable or conduit to an outlet box, for level 2 charging of at least 7.68 kW at 240 V.
- A charger outlet carries a label; at 120 V outdoors and within 2.5 m of the ground, it is protected by a Class A GFCI.
- Charger, heating, workshop: the load calculation tells whether the panel can keep up, and a sub-panel often solves the lack of space.
In this guide
Required outlets in a garage
| Requirement | What the rules call for |
|---|---|
| Outlets | A duplex outlet for each space intended for a car, in the garage or carport |
| Door opener | An outlet within 1 m of each ceiling-mounted, cord-connected garage door opener |
| Circuit | Garage outlets on a circuit that feeds nothing else, except the lighting and the door opener |
| GFCI | Ordinary outlets within 1.5 m of a sink; outdoors, those within 2.5 m of the ground |
| Arc-fault and tamper-resistant | Attached garage: as in the dwelling; detached garage: recommended by the RBQ |
The garage, from above
A duplex outlet for each car space, and an outlet within 1 m of the cord-connected door opener, on the ceiling.
Garage outlets are on a reserved circuit, with only the lighting and the door opener. New house: an outlet box ready for the charger.
Simplified diagram, not exactly to scale: the full rules and their exceptions are in the text.
Attached or detached garage
The attached garage
The RBQ considers that a garage attached to a house follows the dwelling rules: arc-fault protection and tamper-resistant outlets apply where the Code requires them. Its outlets stay on a circuit reserved for them.
The detached garage
A detached garage, a shed or a fence isn’t covered by the current wording for arc-fault and tamper-resistant outlets, but the RBQ recommends installing them. It is usually fed from the house panel; a buried cable must be at the depth the Code requires. If it gets a charger, a workshop and heating, capacity comes first.
The EV charger in the garage
Level 1 or level 2
Level 1 is the charger that comes with the vehicle, in an ordinary 120 V outlet: slow, it can do in a pinch. Level 2 is a 240 V charger on a dedicated circuit: much faster, it is the most common option at home.
32 A or 48 A
| Charger | Circuit | Power | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 A | 40 A | About 7.7 kW | The vast majority of drivers: a full charge overnight |
| 48 A | 60 A | About 11.5 kW | Two vehicles in turn or long daily trips; needs more capacity |
The vehicle has its own limit too: if it accepts less than the charger, it charges at its own speed, and its spec sheet says so. Our comparator gives the power of eligible chargers.
Hardwired or plug-in
A hardwired charger is connected directly to its circuit; a plug-in charger plugs into a 240 V outlet installed for it. According to the RBQ, a charging outlet carries a permanent label stating its purpose, and a 50 A outlet can be supplied by a 40 A circuit if the maximum continuous load doesn’t exceed 80% of the circuit and this is marked on the outlet. At 120 V, the charging outlet is a single 5-20R outlet on a circuit of at least 20 A; outdoors and within 2.5 m of the ground, it is protected by a Class A GFCI, unless the charger has its own built-in protection.
When the service is tight
The 2026 Code recognizes three ways to supply a charger without necessarily upgrading the electrical service:
- an energy management system (EVEMS), which keeps charging within the allowed capacity;
- a switching device that feeds the charger from a large appliance’s circuit, such as the range, only when that appliance uses little or no power;
- a load controller installed upstream of the panel.
With the range, the circuit must suit the range and be at least 40 A, and charging pauses while meals are being cooked: that’s the trade-off.
New houses
Since October 1, 2018, a new house with a garage, carport or parking space must be ready for a charger: a cable or conduit from the panel to an outlet box near the parking spot, intended for a 6-50R, 14-50R, L6-50R or L14-50R outlet. The 2026 Code specifies the capacity: level 2 charging of at least 7.68 kW at 240 V. And the load calculation must now count this charger, even if it isn’t installed yet, unless an energy management system is used. In a new apartment building, every parking space except visitor spaces must be ready too.
The $600 grant
Québec pays $600 for an eligible, connected charger costing more than $600 before taxes. It is all explained in our guide The $600 grant, step by step.
Heating, workshop and sub-panel
- Garage heating and a workshop each have their own circuit, and they count in the load calculation.
- A sub-panel in the garage solves a lack of space in the main panel, but it adds no capacity to the electrical service.
- Before adding a charger, heating and a workshop, the load calculation tells whether the service is enough or whether you need load management or an upgrade to 200 A.
Garage lighting
An insulated ceiling needs IC-rated pot lights if they touch the insulation. Fixtures in a damp location must be approved for that location and marked accordingly.
Mistakes to avoid
- A permanent extension cord to the car or block heater: as Québec.ca reminds us, an extension cord is a temporary solution.
- A charger on an existing circuit: a level 2 charger needs its own dedicated circuit.
- An outdoor outlet without GFCI: every ordinary outdoor outlet within 2.5 m of the ground has one, and since the 2026 Code, block heater outlets too.
- A non-connected charger, if you are counting on the $600: since April 1, 2026, only connected chargers qualify.
With LTE Électrique
We install every brand of charger and its circuit, and give you the installation invoice that serves as proof for the $600. We check capacity first, with the load calculation, and the estimate is free, within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
- Does my new house come with a charger?
- No: the Code requires the basic infrastructure, a cable or conduit from the panel to an outlet box near the parking spot, ready for level 2 charging of at least 7.68 kW at 240 V, such as a 32 A charger on a 40 A circuit. The charger and its breaker are added later.
- Do all garage outlets need a GFCI?
- Under the RBQ’s rules, GFCI protection covers outlets within 1.5 m of a sink, garage included, and, outdoors, ordinary outlets within 2.5 m of the ground. Québec’s Code doesn’t require it for every garage outlet, unlike the American code.
- Does my detached garage need arc-fault outlets?
- The current wording doesn’t require it for a detached garage, but the RBQ recommends it. In a garage attached to a house, it is mandatory where the Code requires it.
- 32 A or 48 A for the charger?
- A 32 A charger on a 40 A circuit (about 7.7 kW) is enough for the vast majority of drivers: a full charge overnight. A 48 A charger (60 A circuit, about 11.5 kW) charges faster but needs more panel capacity.
- Can a 50 A outlet be on a 40 A circuit?
- For a charger, yes, according to the RBQ, if the maximum continuous load doesn’t exceed 80% of the circuit and this is permanently marked on the outlet.
- Can my charger be outside the garage?
- Yes, if the model is designed for outdoors and the installation is suited to the weather.
- Can I charge on an ordinary outlet?
- For occasional level 1 charging, a compliant outlet can do in a pinch. For daily use, a level 2 charger on its own circuit is faster and better suited.
- Does a garage sub-panel add capacity?
- No: it adds room for circuits, not capacity to the electrical service. The load calculation tells whether the service is enough.
- Can I connect the charger to the range circuit?
- The 2026 Code allows it with a switching device that feeds the charger only when the range uses little or no power, if the circuit suits the range and is at least 40 A. Charging then pauses during meals.
- Who applies for the $600 for the charger?
- You do, online, once the charger is installed and you have the vehicle. We give you the installation invoice that serves as proof.
Sources
- Guide d’accompagnement : contrôle de la qualité des travaux d’installation électrique (octobre 2023)PDF, Régie du bâtiment du Québec, checked on October 20, 2026
- Cahier explicatif sur les principaux changements au chapitre V, Électricité (édition 2026)PDF, Régie du bâtiment du Québec, checked on October 20, 2026
- Formation sur les principaux changements au chapitre V, Électricité (édition 2018), Régie du bâtiment du Québec, checked on October 20, 2026
- Code de construction, Chapitre V - Électricité 2026, Corporation des maîtres électriciens du Québec, checked on October 20, 2026
- Aide financière pour une borne de recharge à domicile, Gouvernement du Québec, checked on October 20, 2026
- Prévenir les risques d’incendie liés à l’électricité, Gouvernement du Québec, checked on October 20, 2026
About this guide
Written by LTE Électrique, a master electrician’s business in Sherbrooke (RBQ licence 5874-5597-01, CMEQ member). Every rule comes from Québec’s Construction Code or an official source, listed above with the date it was checked. French version reviewed by William Letendre, master electrician, on October 21, 2026.
About usCite this guide
To cite this guide, use its title, author and address:
“The garage: outlets, EV charger, sub-panel and heating”, LTE Électrique, https://www.lteelectrique.com/en/guides/garage-electrical-outlets-ev-charger, French version reviewed by William Letendre, master electrician, on October 21, 2026.