Desert Hot Springs Municipal Code Ch. 15.34 Electric Vehicle Charging Station Streamlined Permitting Process

The purpose of this chapter is to create an expedited, streamlined electric vehicle charging station permitting process that complies with Government Code Section 65850.7 to achieve timely and cost-effective installations of electric vehicle charging stations.

(Ord. 698 11-19-19)

A. This chapter applies to the permitting of all electric vehicle charging stations in the City.

B. Electric vehicle charging stations legally established or permitted prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in 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 an electric vehicle charging station in such a way as to require a new permit.

(Ord. 698 11-19-19)

For the purpose of this chapter, words and terms shall be defined as set forth in this section. Where terms are not defined in this Code and are defined in other codes, such terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them as in those codes. Where terms are not defined through the methods authorized by this section, such terms shall have ordinary accepted meanings such as the context implies.

“Electric vehicle 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 section and delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle.

“Electronic submittal”

means the utilization of any computer based electronic plan review software maintained, operated, and utilized by the City while receiving applications through the internet.

“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. 698 11-19-19)

A. All electric vehicle charging stations shall meet all applicable health and safety standards and the requirements imposed by the state and the City, local Fire Department and utility provider.

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.

(Ord. 698 11-19-19)

A. All documents required for the submission of an expedited electric vehicle charging station application shall be made available on the publicly accessible City website.

B. Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents through City utilized computer based software shall be made available to all electric vehicle charging station permit applicants.

C. An applicant’s electronic signature shall be accepted on all forms, applications, and other documents in lieu of a wet signature.

D. The Building and Safety Division shall adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations shall comply to be eligible for expedited review.

E. The Building and Safety Division may refer to the recommendation contained in the most current version of the Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist and the Zero-Emissions Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook published by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, when adopting the electric vehicle charging permit process and checklist.

F. If the Building Official determines, based on substantial evidence, that the electric vehicle charging station could have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health and safety, the Building Official shall make written findings to support this determination and may require the applicant to apply for a conditional use permit pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 17.76 of the Desert Hot Springs Municipal Code or an administrative use permit should one be adopted in the future for electric vehicle charging stations. The decision of the Building Official on an application for an electric vehicle charging station becomes final unless the decision is appealed pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 4.36 of this Code.

(Ord. 698 11-19-19)

A. The Building Official shall implement an administrative review process to expedite approval of electric vehicle charging stations. Where the application meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standards and there are no specific, adverse impacts upon public health or safety, the Building and Safety Division shall complete the building permit approval process, which is nondiscretionary. Review of the application for electric vehicle charging stations shall be limited to the Building Official’s review of whether the application meets local, State, and Federal health and safety requirements. It shall be unlawful for any person to install, operate, or maintain an electric vehicle charging station without such a permit for such work, and the permit shall be secured from the Building Official by the owner or the owner’s agent.

B. If a permit application is deemed incomplete, a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the permit application and any additional information or documentation required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance shall be sent to the applicant for resubmission.

C. Any condition imposed on an application shall be designed to mitigate the specific, adverse impact upon health and safety at the lowest possible cost.

D. 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 by the City on another similarly situated application in a prior successful application for a permit.

E. Any permit approvals, which are granted pursuant to the provision of this chapter, shall not authorize an applicant to connect the electric vehicle charging station to the electricity grid of the public utility. Any such connection shall be governed by the rules and regulations of the public utility.

F. The Building Official shall have access to the premises described in a permit for the electric vehicle charging station in order to inspect the progress of the work.

(Ord. 698 11-19-19)