(A) Purpose and Intent: The purpose of this section is to establish and implement an expedited and streamlined permit review process for electric vehicle charging stations; ensuring the public health and safety while avoiding potential adverse impacts from the installation of said charging stations. This section is also purposed to comply with California Government Code Section 65850.7.
(B) Authority: The authority for the review and approval of permits for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations shall be vested with the building official, or their designee.
(C) Application: A building permit application for the installation of an electric vehicle charging station shall be filed with the building department in a manner prescribed by the building official. The provisions of this section shall apply to all new charging stations in the City. Electric vehicle charging systems legally established or permitted prior to the effective date of this section shall not be subject to the provisions of this section, unless physical modifications or alterations are proposed that would materially change the size, type, or components of the station that would require new permitting.
(D) Definitions:
ELECTRONIC SUBMITTAL: | The utilization of one or more of either electronic mail, the internet, or facsimile submittal of a building permit application and supporting documentation. |
ELECTRONIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION or CHARGING STATION: | Any level of electric vehicle supply equipment station that is designed and installed in compliance with Article 625 of the California Electric Code, as it reads on the effective date of this section, and delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle. |
FEASIBLE METHOD TO SATISFACTORILY MITIGATE OR AVOID A SPECIFIC ADVERSE IMPACT: | The inclusion of, but not limited to, any cost-effective method, condition, or mitigation imposed by the City on another similarly situated application in a prior successful application for permit. |
SPECIFIC ADVERSE IMPACT: | A significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact, based on objective, identified, and written public health or safety standards, policies, or conditions as they existed for the date the application was deemed complete. |
(E) Expedited Permitting Process: Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the building official shall implement an expedited and streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations, and adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations shall comply with in order to be eligible for expedited review. The expedited, streamlined permitting process and checklist may refer to the recommendations contained in the most current version of the “Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist” of the “Zero-Emission Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook” as published by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. The City’s adopted checklist shall be published on the City’s website.
(F) Permit Application Processing:
1. Prior to submitting an application for processing, the applicant shall verify that the installation of an electric vehicle charging station will not have specific, adverse impact to public health and safety and building occupants. Verification by the applicant includes, but is not limited to, electrical system capacity and loads; electrical system wiring, bonding and overcurrent protection; building infrastructure affected by charging station equipment and associated conduits; areas of charging station equipment and vehicle parking.
2. A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the City’s adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed. Upon confirmation by the building official that the permit application and supporting documents meets the requirements of the City adopted checklist, and is consistent with all applicable laws and health and safety standards, the Building Official shall, consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, approve the application and issue a permit. Such approval does not authorize an applicant to energize or utilize the electric vehicle charging station until approval is granted by the City. If the building official determines that the permit application is incomplete, a written correction notice shall be issued to the applicant, detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance.
3. Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this section and associated supporting documentations. The building official shall also accept electronic signatures on all forms, applications, and other documentation in lieu of a wet signature by any applicant.
4. An application to install an electric vehicle charging station shall be deemed complete after the applicable time period has elapsed:
(a) Five (5) business days after submission of the application, if the application is for at least one (1), but not more than twenty-five (25) electric vehicle charging stations at a single site.
(b) Ten (10) business days after submission of the application, if the application is for more than twenty-five (25) electric vehicle charging stations at a single site.
(G) Technical Review:
1. It is the intent of this Ordinance to encourage the installation of electric vehicle charging stations by removing obstacles to permitting for charging stations so long as the action does not supersede the building official’s authority to address higher priority life-safety situations. If the building official makes a finding based on substantial evidence that the electric vehicle charging station could have a specific adverse impact upon the public health or safety, as defined in this section, the City may require the applicant to apply for a use permit.
2. In the technical review of a charging station, consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the building official shall not condition the approval for any electric vehicle charging station permit on the approval of such a system by an association, as that term is defined by Civil Code Section 4080.
3. An application to install an electric vehicle charging station shall be deemed approved if the applicable time period described in subsection F.4 has elapsed and if:
(a) If the building official has not administratively approved the application pursuant to Government Code section 65850.7(b); and
(b) The building official has not made a finding, based on substantial evidence, that the electric vehicle charging station could have an adverse effect upon the public health or safety, or required the applicant to apply for a use permit pursuant to Government Code section 65850.7(b); and
(c) The building official has not denied the permit pursuant to Government Code section 65850.7(c); and
(d) An appeal has not been filed to the planning commission pursuant to Government Code section 65850.7(d).
(H) Electric Vehicle Charging Station Installation Requirements
1. Electric vehicle charging station equipment shall meet the requirements of the California Electrical Code, the Society of Automotive Engineers, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, and accredited testing laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratories, and rules of the Public Utilities Commission or a Municipal Electric Utility Company regarding safety and reliability.
2. Installation of electric vehicle charging stations and associated wiring, bonding, disconnecting means and overcurrent protective devices shall meet the requirements of Article 625 and all applicable provisions of the California Electrical Code.
3. Installation of electric vehicle charging stations shall be incorporated into the load calculations of all new or existing electrical services and shall meet the requirements of the California Electrical Code. Electric vehicle charging equipment shall be considered a continuous load.
4. Anchorage of either floor-mounted or wall-mounted electric vehicle charging stations shall meet the requirements of the California Building or Residential Code as applicable per occupancy, and the provisions of the manufacturer’s installation instructions. Mounting of charging stations shall not adversely affect building elements. (Ord. 848-22, 11-15-2022)