Can I install my light switches right next to the soaking tub?

Under the NEC, there’s acutally no specific minimum distance for a switch from the edge of a tub, provided the box isn't located inside the tub or shower zone itself. That zone is generaly defined as the space directly over the footprint of the tub or shower up to eight feet high. If your double gang box is on the wall past the edge of the tub basin, you are likely code-compliant in the US. However, if you are working in Canada, the CEC is way stricter and usually requires switches to be at least one meter away from the tub unless they are GFCI protected and meet specific height requirements. Even if it passes inspection, it’s a bit of a sketchy layout for a modern remodel. Think about the reach. If someone can sit in that soaking tub and touch the switch plate with one hand while submerged, you're relying entirely on a piece of plastic to keep them safe. Most inspectors won't fail you for a switch outside the zone in the US, but if that vanity light or fan isn't **GFCI protected**, you're taking a risk with wet hands and 120 volts.

Since you’re still at the rough-in stage, the best move is to just put the circuit on a GFCI breaker. The extra cost is negligible compared to the total cost of a bathroom remodel and it eliminates any arguement with a picky inspector. Some local jurisdictions have their own amendments that are more restrictive than the national code, and they love to flag anything that looks like a safety hazard.

Moving the box just a few inches further away if the framing allows is the cleanest fix. If you're stuck with the location, just make sure your grounding is perfect and the box is secure. It's one of those things where the code tells you the bare minimum, but common sense usually dictates a little extra buffer. I’d rather spend forty bucks on a breaker now than have to rip out drywall and move a box beacuse the inspector had a bad morning.

That makes sense about the 'zone' rules. I'm wondering though, if I put the whole circuit on a GFCI breaker, does it matter what kind of switch plate I use? I've seen those bulky weatherproof covers, but they’d look pretty rough in a finished bathroom. Also, if the vanity light itself is high up but the switch is the part within arm's reach, does the light fixture need any special rating? I'm just trying to figure out if the breaker protects everthing downstream or if I still need to worry about the specific hardware I'm picking out.

On the fixture side, most guys just grab anything 'damp rated' and call it a day. If that vanity light is within three feet of the tub edge horizontally, some inspectors might push for it to be enclosed, even if it's high up.

For the switches, don't overthink the plates. Standard ones are fine, but I usally swap the cheap brittle ones for the mid-range nylon type so they don't crack and expose the terminals over time. Since you're at rough-in, just make sure your box is deep enought. Cramming everthing into a shallow plastic box is a headache you definitely don't want.

If that fan is actualy going inside the footprint of the tub area, check the manual. Most fans require GFCI protection if they're installed over a shower or tub. If you've already got the breaker for the fan, the switch being close becomes a non-issue from a safety standpoint. I once had an inspector get weird about a heater-fan combo because the switch was behind the door swing, so just watch your layout there too. It’s the little things that trip you up during the final walkthrough.

I usally check the screw situation on those switch plates. Even if the code is fine with the location, if you're worried about wet hands, make sure the yoke is perfectly grounded to the box. Sometimes on these double gangs, the ground wires get messy and folks get lazy with the pigtails. If that switch strap isn't bonded well, that plastic plate is your only line of defense.

Also, watch your box fill. Cramming a double gang with fan and vanity wiring gets tight. Using a deep box helps with heat and makes the final trim-out easier, especally if you ever swap to a dimmer.