How do I read the NEC for free?

You can read the NEC for free through NFPA's own website. Go to the NFPA website, find NFPA 70, and open the free access viewer. It requires a free account and works in the browser.

The free viewer is read-only. You cannot print, search well, or copy from it, which is the trade that keeps it free. For job-site use most electricians still buy the book or an app.

Public libraries often carry the current edition too, and many states publish their adopted amendments online.

Remember that your state may enforce an older edition. Check which cycle your jurisdiction has adopted before you quote a rule from the newest book.

For day-to-day numbers, the electrical code calculator cites the exact NEC article behind every result, so the reference comes to you.