Corte Madera Municipal Code Ch. 15.90 Expedited Permit Process for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

(a) An "electric vehicle charging station" or "charging station" means any level of electric vehicle supply equipment station that is designed and built and installed in compliance with Article 625 and other general requirements of the California Electrical Code in effect at the time of installation, and delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle.

(b) "Electronic submittal" means the utilization of one or more of the following:

(1) Email;

(2) The Internet;

(3) Facsimile.

(c) A "feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific adverse impact" includes, but is not limited to, any cost-effective method, condition or mitigation imposed on an application for a permit.

(d) "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 the application was deemed complete.

(Ord. No. 997, § 5, 7-7-2020)

The purpose of the chapter is to provide an expedited, streamlined electric vehicle charging station permitting process that complies with Section 65850.7 of the California Government Code in order to achieve timely and cost-effective installations of electric vehicle charging stations to encourage their installation. This chapter allows the town to achieve these goals while protecting the public health and safety.

(Ord. No. 997, § 5, 7-7-2020)

(a) This chapter applies to all permit applications for electric vehicle charging stations in the town. notwithstanding the forgoing, the building official may impose additional requirements for any permit application involving four or more level 3 charging stations per site, as set forth in section 15.90.060(b).

(b) Electric vehicle charging stations legally established or permitted prior to the effective date of this chapter are not subject to the requirements of this chapter unless physical modifications or alterations are undertaken that materially change the size, type, or components of a small rooftop energy system in such a way as to require new permitting. Routine operation and maintenance or like-kind replacements shall not require a permit.

(Ord. No. 997, § 5, 7-7-2020)

(a) Electric vehicle charging stations shall meet applicable health and safety standards and requirements imposed by the state and the town.

(b) Electric vehicle charging stations shall meet all applicable safety and performance standards established by 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 regarding safety and reliability.

(c) For outdoor electric vehicle charging stations, design review approval subject to the provisions of chapter 18.30 is not required for installations

(d) Signage associated with electric vehicle charging station installations shall comply with the requirements of chapter 18.22, with the exception that signs for the purpose of station identification, which comply with sections 18.22.050 (1)—(10) inclusive, may be permitted without a sign permit, up to a maximum size of four square feet per station.

(e) Parking spaces served by electric vehicle charging equipment shall comply with the requirements of chapter 18.20.

(Ord. No. 997, § 5, 7-7-2020)

(a) Applications for the installation, alteration or replacement of an electric vehicle charging station shall be in writing and contain the information set forth in the application checklist and such other information as the building official may reasonably require to carry out the purpose of this title.

(b) All documents required for the submission of an expedited electric vehicle charging station application shall be made available on the publicly accessible town website.

(c) Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents by email, the internet, or facsimile shall be made available to all electric vehicle charging station permit applicants.

(d) An applicant's electronic signature shall be accepted on all forms, applications, and other documents in lieu of a wet signature.

(Ord. No. 997, § 5, 7-7-2020)

The building department shall make every attempt to review and approve for permit issuance all applications for electric vehicle charging stations in an expedited fashion when completed applications are received which meet all the requirements of the application checklist, as follows:

(1) An application that satisfies the informational requirements of the application checklist, supporting documents, and required fees, as determined by the building official, shall be deemed complete.

(2) The building department shall administratively approve an application to install an electric vehicle charging station through the issuance of a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit. Review of the application shall be limited to the building official's review of whether the application meets local, state, and federal health and safety requirements. Applications for more than four Level-3 charging stations may require additional plans and review.

(3) Upon receipt of an incomplete application, the building department shall issue a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any information required to be eligible for expedited permit review.

(4) In the event 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 and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific adverse impact, the applicant shall be required to apply for a use permit pursuant to chapter 18.26.

(A) The zoning administrator shall provide notice and take action on the use permit application pursuant to the requirements in chapter 18.26.

(B) The zoning administrator may not deny an application for a use permit to install an electric vehicle charging station unless it makes written findings based upon substantial evidence in the record, that the proposed installation would have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific adverse impact. The findings shall include the basis for the rejection of potential feasible alternatives of preventing the adverse impact.

(C) Any conditions imposed on a use permit application shall be crafted to mitigate the specific, adverse impact upon public health or safety at the lowest cost possible.

(D) The zoning administrator's decision on the use permit may be appealed to the planning commission pursuant to the time limits and processing provisions set forth in chapter 18.26.

(5) Approval of an application shall not be conditioned on the approval of an association, as defined in Section 4080 of the Civil Code.

(6) Only one inspection shall be required and performed for an electric vehicle charging station eligible for expedited review.

(7) The inspection shall be done in a timely manner and should include consolidated inspections. An inspection will be scheduled within two business days of a request and provide a two-hour inspection window.

(8) If an electric vehicle charging station fails inspection, a subsequent inspection is authorized but need not conform to the requirements of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 997, § 5, 7-7-2020)