§ 110.96

(a)

Purpose. The purpose of this chapter 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 chapter is also purposed to comply with California Government Code Section 65850.7.

(Ord. No. 23-25, § 1, 6-10-2023)

Sec. 110.96.020. - Definitions.

(a)

Electric vehicle charging station or charging station. 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.

(b)

Specific, adverse impact. This 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.

(c)

Electronic submittal. The utilization of one or more of the following:

(1)

Electronic mail or email.

(2)

The internet.

(Ord. No. 23-25, § 1, 6-10-2023)

(a)

Expedited permitting process. Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the building official shall implement an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations, and adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations shall comply 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 checklist shall be published on the city's website.

(Ord. No. 23-25, § 1, 6-10-2023)

(a)

Prior to submitting an application for processing, the applicant shall verify that the installation of an electric vehicle charging station will not have a specific, adverse impact on 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.

(b)

A permit application to install an electric vehicle charging station submitted to the building official shall be deemed if, after the applicable time period described in subsection (c) has elapsed, both the following are true:

(1)

The building official of the city, county, or city and county has not deemed the application complete, consistent with the checklist created by the city, county, or city and county pursuant to subdivision (g) of section 5850.7.

(2)

The building official of the city, county, or city and county has not issued a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and identifying any additional information explicitly necessary for the building official to complete a review limited to whether the electric vehicle charging station meets all health and safety requirements of local, state, and federal law, consistent with subdivisions (b) and (g) of section 65850.7.

(c)

For purposes of subsection (b), "applicable time period means" either of the following:

(1)

Five business days after submission of the application to the city, county, or city and county, if the application is for at least one, but not more than 25 electric vehicle charging stations at a single site.

(2)

Ten business days after submission of the application to the city, county, or city and county, if the application is for more than 25 electric vehicle charging stations at a single site.

(d)

An application to install an electric vehicle charging station shall be deemed approved if the applicable time period described in subsection (c) has elapsed and all of the following are true:

(1)

The building official has not administratively approved the application pursuant to subdivision (b) of section 65850.7.

(2)

The building official has not made a finding, based on substantial evidence, that the electric vehicle charging station could have a specific adverse impact on the public health or safety or required the applicant to apply for a use permit pursuant to subdivision (b) of section 65850.7.

(3)

The building official has not denied the permit pursuant to subdivision (c) of section 65850.7.

(4)

An appeal has not been made to the planning commission pursuant to subdivision (d) of section 65850.7.

(e)

For purposes of subsection (d), "applicable time period means" either of the following:

(1)

Twenty business days after the application was deemed complete if the application is for at least one, but not more than 25 electric vehicle charging stations at a single site.

(2)

Forty business days after the application was deemed complete if the application is for more than 25 electric vehicle charging stations at a single site.

(f)

If an electric vehicle charging station and any associated equipment interfere with, reduce, eliminate, or in any way impact the required parking spaces for existing uses, the city, county, or city and county shall reduce the number of required parking spaces for the existing uses by the amount necessary to accommodate the electric vehicle charging station and any associated equipment.

(g)

Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the building official shall allow for the electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentation. 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.

(Ord. No. 23-25, § 1, 6-10-2023)

Sec. 110.96.050. - Technical review.

(a)

It is the intent of this chapter to encourage the installation of electric vehicle charging stations by removing obstacles to permitting 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/city planner makes a finding based on substantial evidence that the electric vehicle charging station could have a specific adverse impact on public health or safety, as defined in this chapter, the city may require the applicant to apply for an administrative permit from planning.

(b)

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.

(Ord. No. 23-25, § 1, 6-10-2023)

Sec. 110.96.060. - Electric vehicle charging station installation requirements.

(a)

Electric vehicle charging station equipment shall meet the requirements of the California Electrical Code, the Society of Automotive Engineers, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, accredited testing

laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratories, and rules of the Public Utilities Commission or a Municipal Electric Utility Company regarding safety and reliability.

(b)

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.

(c)

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.

(d)

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. No. 23-25, § 1, 6-10-2023)

Titles 111—119 - RESERVED Title 120 - PLANNING AND ZONING CHAPTER 120.01. - ADMINISTRATION AND PROCEDURES