Hydrogen and Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Local Permitting Policies

All cities and counties, including charter cities, must adopt an ordinance that creates an expedited and streamlined permitting process for EV charging stations. Cities and counties must approve applications to install EV charging stations within five to ten business days, depending on the number of stations proposed in the application. Applications will be approved after 20 to 40 business days, if the county or city does not approve the application, the building official does not deny the application, or the city or county does not submit an appeal. Each city or county must consult with the local fire department or district and the utility director to develop the ordinance, which must include a checklist of all requirements for EV charging stations to be eligible for expedited review. A complete application that is consistent with the city or county ordinance must be approved, and entities submitting incomplete applications must be notified of the necessary required information to be granted expedited permit issuance. Beginning January 1, 2022, these provisions apply to cities and counties with populations above 200,000 residents. Beginning January 1, 2022, these provisions apply to cities and counties with populations less than 200,000 residents.

(Reference California Government Code 65850.7 and Assembly Bill 970, 2021)

Jurisdiction: California

Type: Laws and Regulations

Enacted: Oct 8, 2015

Technologies: EVs, Hydrogen Fuel Cells, PHEVs

See all California Laws and Incentives.