Although a switched light is required in most rooms of a house, a switch connected to a wall receptacle for plugging in a lamp is allowed as an alternative in all habitable rooms of a house, except kitchens and bathrooms, which need to have the switch directly connected to a light fixture. The rest of the rooms can have a switched wall receptacle for plugging in a lamp, per National Electrical Code [NEC 210.70(A)(1)], but with the exception of several additional required locations for switched light fixtures (not switched receptacle outlets), per NEC 210.70(A)(2): 

** At least one switched light required in hallways, stairways, attached garages, and also detached garages that have electrical power.

•• At least one swtiched light must be installed at the exterior side of outdoor entrances to a dwelling unit, attached garage, and detached garage that has electric power. A vehicle door is not considered an outdoor entrance.

•• Interior stairways with six or more risers require lighting switched at the top and bottom landings (three-way switch). 

•• Any attic, underfloor space, utility room or basement that is used for storage or contains equipment that requires servicing, must have a minimum of one wall switched light.

•• Lights must not be controlled by a dimmer switches unless they provide a full range of dimming control at each location.

    And there are, of course, exceptions:

•• Lights are allowed to be controlled by occupancy sensors if they are either in addition to wall switches or equipped with a manual override switch.

•• At hallways, stairways, and outdoor entrances, remote, central, or automatic controll of lighting shall be permitted.

    Also, see our blog posts How can I figure out what a mystery wall switch does? 

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Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about ELECTRICAL WIRING:

• Which house appliances need a dedicated electrical circuit?

• Can a short circuit cause a high electric bill?

• What is the maximum spacing requirement for securing NM-cable (nonmetallic-sheathed cable)?

• Is it alright to just put wire nuts on the end of unused or abandoned NM-cable or wiring?

• What causes copper wires to turn green or black in an electric panel?  

• What are typical aluminum service entrance wire/cable sizes for the electrical service to a house?

• Why is it unsafe to bond neutral and ground wiring at subpanels?

• Should I get a lightning rod system to protect my house?

• Why is a strain relief clamp necessary for the cord connection to some electric appliances?  

• Does a wire nut connection need to be wrapped with electrical tape?

• What is the minimum clearance of overhead electric service drop wires above a house roof?

• What are the requirements for NM-cables entering an electric panel box? 

• What is the color code for NM cable (Romex®) sheathing?

• Why are old electrical components not always "grandfathered" as acceptable by home inspectors?

• How can I find out the size of the electric service to a house?

• Can old electrical wiring go bad inside a wall? 

• What is an open electrical splice?

• What are the most common electrical defects found in a home inspection? 

• What is the life expectancy of electrical wiring in a house? 

• What is an "open junction box"? 

• How dangerous is old electrical wiring? 

• What is a ground wire? 

• I heard that aluminum wiring is bad. How do you check for aluminum wiring?  

• What is "knob and tube" wiring?  

• What is the code requirement for receptacle outlets in a closet?

   Visit our ELECTRICAL page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.