Under cabinet outlets - Local code issues?

[rgonyer]

Okay sorry for the somewhat newbie question. I am re-doing my kitchen (new cabs) and I am one of those annoying people that loves a clean no outlet look on the backsplash. What I'd like to do is mount some outlets facing down from the cabinets.

While I am an electrical engineer, I do PLC programming 90% of the time for my job, so my code knowledge is somewhat limited.

From my reading here, I should be okay as long as my outlets are no higher than 20" above the counter top.

I just got off the phone with out county inspector (Scott County, Iowa). He says that the outlets must be 18" or lower (no minimum), but if they are mounted facing downwards, they must be 12" or lower. He said he thinks it's crazy too, but that's what the code states.

After reading here, he seems to be wrong. Could this be a local code that is more strict than the NEC?

Thanks for any help!

 

[George Stolz]

Your electrician should know the answer to this question.

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