Kevin Dressel wrote:

Note that the last word in any electrical stuff is your local inspector.
You might want to run everything by them when you get your permit. If
there is a simplified code book available for your area, get it and read it.

The garage roof is built using trusses as
you'll see in the photos (I'd like to use some of the empty space up
there for light storage....holiday stuff, small boxes, etc.)

Make sure you keep it light. Most trusses (unless specified otherwise)
aren't rated for loads of that type.

Anyway, I am now ready to feed electric into the new garage. My current
intention is to run two circuits - one for the outside outlets / lights,
and one for the interior outlets / lights.

If you ever forsee using the space as a shop you may wish to consider a
heavier feed cable and a subpanel, along with extra outlets along the
walls. It would cost more, but would make future expansion MUCH
simpler. I recently bought a house and had to pull off the drywall and
insulation so I could rewire the garage.

1. What is the appropriate distance above or below an outlet box (and if
it applies, a switch as well) to drill the hole through the stud?

Usually it doesn't matter where the hole is as long as the wire is
stapled close to the box.

2. When encountering a window (or door), is it best practice to go below
the window (or above the door) through the cripple studs, or run the
romex through the attic space?

Go below.

Also, if you go through the cripples, is there a distance away from the
door/window you have to be?

Common sense would dictate far enough away that nails/screws going
through the studs won't hit the wire.

3. Can 3/4"
EMT be used as an adequate protection for the cable for the short runs
(15' or so) in the attic?

Normally romex in EMT is a no-no, except for very short runs (a few feet
or so) used for mechanical protection. Around here cable in the attic
generally doesn't need mechanical protection since it's above 5'.

6. In
either case, I'll have a hole going through anywhere from 4 to 8" of
masonry. Can I feed both runs through a single hole, or should I drill
two? Not a big deal, just extra effort.

Don't see why you can't use one hole...just make sure that there are no
sharp edges that could fray the cable.

7. Last question....for now anyway....has anyone ever experienced
interference running electrical along side the control wires for the
garage door (particularly, these are the ones that lead to the safety
beams near the bottom of the garage door).

Ideally you don't want them running parallel for long lengths. You
certainly are not allowed to put them in the same conduit.

Sorry for the rather lengthy post, but these are the questions that make
be go hmmmmm....

These are also the questions you should ask your inspector. Part of the
benefits of a permit is that they're supposed to be available to answer
questions based on the specifics of your local codes.

Chris