Hey everyone, I've been trying to wrap my head around the requirements for running Power over Ethernet (PoE) in Ohio. I always thought Ethernet work was considered low voltage, and thus didn't require a licensed electrician. However, after looking into Ohio law and the specifications of PoE, I'm starting to doubt my understanding.
Here are some key points:
- PoE (802.3af) operates at 44-57V DC (generally under 15.4W).
- PoE+ (802.3at) runs at 50-57V DC (up to 30W).
- PoE++ (802.3bt) can range from 50-57V DC (up to 60-100W depending on the variant).
According to Ohio Revised Code § 4740.13(D), there's an exemption for low-voltage work under 50 volts, which includes many low-voltage systems but doesn't make exceptions for Ethernet or PoE that exceeds this threshold. Since PoE+ and higher use over 50V, it appears these might legally require the work to be done by a licensed contractor.
Has anyone run into this when upgrading their networks? Would love to hear how others have approached this issue!
5 Answers
It's a fair point you raised. The law does mention 'tele-data' which generally covers Ethernet, right? I can't imagine needing an electrician just to swap out some cables, but maybe Ohio has stricter rules.
Honestly, if you're just pulling cable and not energizing it right away, how would they know? I'd say check with your local building department if you're really worried, but I doubt your inspector is going to care much about Ethernet a homeowner installs.
Yeah, local rules can vary, but generally, it's low-stakes when it comes to homeowner wiring—unless you're trying to run a business with it.
The code you linked should be read as addressing licensed contractors. I reckon there's nothing stopping a homeowner from running the cables themselves. Just can't operate as a business without the license, you know?
From my experience as a former remodeler and network installer, it seems like a bit of a hassle to pull permits for something non-lethal like Ethernet. In Ohio, I personally ran all my cabling when my house was built and got no pushback.
If you're just running data lines, and not hooking them up before inspection, it's not like they can penalize you for it. It's really all about what you power after installation.
Exactly! The inspector will see 0V during their checks, so that should work out fine.
True, but I think that exemption applies only to systems under 50V. So if you're talking PoE+, it could complicate things.