Burbank Municipal Code Art. 3 California Electrical Code

Part 3 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, also known as the “California Electrical Code,” which is part of the California Building Standards Code, 2025 Edition, together with Annexes C and I, as adopted by the California Building Standards Commission and the National Fire Protection Association is hereby adopted without local amendments, by the City of Burbank and made a part of this Code. [Added by Ord. No. 25-4,034, eff. 1/1/26.]

9-1-3-80.97: ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION EXPEDITED REVIEW PROCESS:

A. PURPOSE.

The purpose of this section is to promote and encourage the use of electric vehicles by creating an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations while promoting public health and safety and preventing specific adverse impacts in the installation and use of such charging stations. This section is also purposed to comply with California Government Code Section 65850.7.

B. DEFINITIONS.

The following words and phrases as used in this section are defined as follows:

(1) “Electric vehicle charging station” or “charging station” means any level of electric vehicle supply equipment station that is designed and built in compliance with Article 625 of the California Electrical Code, as it reads on the effective date of this Chapter, and delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle.

(2) “Specific, adverse impact” means a significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact, based on objective, identified, and written public health or safety standards, policies, or conditions as they existed on the date of the application was deemed complete.

(3) “Electronic submittal” means the utilization of one or more of the following:

a. e-mail

b. the internet

C. EXPEDITED PERMITTING PROCESS.

Section 65850.7 of the California Government Code provides that in developing an expedited permitting process, the City shall adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations shall comply to be eligible for expedited review. The Building Official is hereby authorized and directed to develop and adopt such checklist. The expedited, streamlined permitting process and checklist incorporates the recommendations contained in the most current version (which may change from time to time) 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 checklist shall be published on the City’s website.

D. PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESSING.

1. As part of the permit application submittal, 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. The application shall demonstrate compliance with Burbank Water and Power’s (BWP) interconnection policies.

3. 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 meet the requirements of the City adopted checklist; are consistent with all applicable laws and health and safety standards; and demonstrate compliance with BWP’s interconnection policies, then the Building Official shall, consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, approve the application and issue all necessary non-discretionary permits. Such approval does not authorize an applicant to energize or utilize the electric vehicle charging station until approval is granted by BWP. If the Building Official determines that the permit application is incomplete, he or she shall issue a written correction notice to the applicant, detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance.

4. Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the Building Official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this ordinance and associated supporting documentations. In accepting such permit applications, the Building Official shall also accept electronic signatures on all forms, applications, and other documentation in lieu of a wet signature by any applicant.

E. TECHNICAL REVIEW.

1. It is the intent of this section 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. A decision affecting review of the use permit is appealable to the Community Development Director. A decision by the Community Development Director may be appealed to the Planning Commission.

2. In 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.

F. 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 where applicable, rules of the Public Utilities Commission or BWP 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. [Added by Ord. No. 25-4,034, eff. 1/1/26.]

9-1-3-80.99: SMALL RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM REVIEW PROCESS:

A. The following words and phrases as used in this section are defined as follows: “Electronic submittal” means the utilization of one or more of the following:

1. e-mail

2. the internet

“Small residential rooftop solar energy system” means all of the following:

1. A solar energy system that is no larger than 10 kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating or 30 kilowatts thermal.

2. A solar energy system that conforms to all applicable state fire, structural, electrical, and other building codes as adopted or amended by the City and paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 714 of the Civil Code, as such section or subdivision may be amended, renumbered, or redesignated from time to time.

3. A solar energy system that is installed on a single or duplex family dwelling.

4. A solar panel or module array that does not exceed the maximum legal building height as defined by the authority having jurisdiction.

“Solar energy system” has the same meaning set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 801.5 of the Civil Code, as such section or subdivision may be amended, renumbered, or redesignated from time to time, but shall mean until that time either of the following:

1. Any solar collector or other solar energy device whose primary purpose is to provide for the collection, storage, and distribution of solar energy for space heating, space cooling, electric generation, or water heating.

2. Any structural design feature of a building, whose primary purpose is to provide for the collection, storage, and distribution of solar energy for electricity generation, space heating or cooling, or for water heating.

B. Section 65850.5 of the California Government Code provides that in developing an expedited permitting process, the city shall adopt a checklist of all requirements with which small rooftop solar energy systems shall comply to be eligible for expedited review. The Building Official is hereby authorized and directed to develop and adopt such checklist.

C. The checklist shall be published on the City’s internet website. The applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the City’s Building Division by personal or electronic submittal together with any required permit processing and inspection fees. In the case of electronic submittal, the electronic signature of the applicant on all forms, applications and other documentation may be used in lieu of a wet signature.

D. Prior to submitting an application, the applicant shall:

1. Verify to the applicant’s reasonable satisfaction through the use of standard engineering evaluation techniques that the support structure for the small residential rooftop solar energy system is stable and adequate to transfer all wind, seismic, and dead and live loads associated with the system to the building foundation; and

2. At the applicant’s cost, verify to the applicant’s reasonable satisfaction using standard electrical inspection techniques that the existing electrical system including existing line, load, ground and bonding wiring as well as main panel and subpanel sizes are adequately sized, based on the existing electrical system’s current use, to carry all new photovoltaic electrical loads.

E. For a small residential rooftop solar energy system eligible for expedited review, only one inspection shall be required, which shall be done in a timely manner and may include a consolidated inspection by the Building Official and a Fire Official. If a small residential rooftop solar energy system fails inspection, a subsequent inspection is authorized; however the subsequent inspection need not conform to the requirements of this subsection.

F. An application that satisfies the information requirements in the checklist, as determined by the Building Official, shall be deemed complete. Upon receipt of an incomplete application, the Building Official shall issue a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance.

G. Upon confirmation by the Building Official of the application and supporting documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the Building Official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations. Such approval does not authorize an applicant to connect the small residential rooftop energy system to the Burbank Water and Power Department’s electricity grid. The applicant is responsible for obtaining such approval or permission from the Burbank Water and Power Department. [Added by Ord. No. 25-4,034, eff. 1/1/26.]