El Segundo Municipal Code Ch. 21 Permit Process for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

This chapter is adopted to provide an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations, as defined, that will encourage the timely and cost-effective installation of such stations, in compliance with Government Code section 65850.7. This chapter is intended to achieve these goals while protecting public health and safety. (Ord. 1555, 9-5-2017)

Unless the contrary is stated or clearly appears from the context, the following definitions will govern the construction of the words and phrases used in this chapter:

BUILDING OFFICIAL OR OFFICIAL: The City's building official or designee.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION OR CHARGING STATION: An electric vehicle supply equipment station, of any level, that delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle and is designed and built in compliance with 24 California Code of Regulations section 625.1, et seq., as it reads on the effective date of this chapter, or as it may be amended.

NONCONFORMING CHARGING STATION: Any charging station that was lawfully established and in compliance with all applicable laws at the time it was installed, but which, due to enactment of this chapter, no longer complies with all the applicable regulations and standards of the zone in which the property is located.

SPECIFIC, ADVERSE IMPACT: 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 City found the electric vehicle charging station application complete. (Ord. 1555, 9-5-2017)

A. Except for any charging station located on publicly-owned property, this chapter applies to the permitting of all charging stations in the City.

B. Unless modified after the effective date of this chapter, a nonconforming charging station is exempt from this chapter. The routine operation and maintenance of such nonconforming charging station, or like-kind replacements, do not require a permit. (Ord. 1555, 9-5-2017)

A. All electric vehicle charging stations must meet all applicable health and safety standards and requirements, as set forth in Federal, State, County, and Municipal codes and regulations.

B. Electric vehicle charging stations must meet all applicable safety and performance standards established by applicable law including, without limitation, 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. 1555, 9-5-2017)

A. All documents required for the submission of a charging station application will be made available on the City's website and at City Hall.

B. Applicants may submit the required permit application and documents by submitting them either via electronic mail or the internet or by delivering them to the Community Development Department. An applicant's electronic signature will be accepted on all forms, applications, and other documents in lieu of a wet signature.

C. The building official, or designee, will adopt a checklist of all requirements with which the charging stations must comply to be eligible for expedited review. The electric vehicle charging station permit process, standard(s) and checklist(s) must substantially conform to recommendations for permitting of the "Zero-Emission Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook" published by the Office of Planning and Research, including the checklist and standards contained in the "Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist".

D. If the building official deems the application incomplete, a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information or documentation required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance must be sent to the applicant within ten (10) days after submission of the application. (Ord. 1555, 9-5-2017; amd. Ord. 1639, 9-20-2022)

A. Review of an electric vehicle charging station permit application is limited to whether the application meets local, State, and Federal health and safety requirements, and whether the charging station poses any specific, adverse impact on public health or safety. If the application meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standards, and the proposed charging station does not pose any specific, adverse impact upon public health or safety, the building official must approve the application and issue any required, nondiscretionary permits.

B. If the building official determines, based on the application, that the proposed charging station could have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health and safety, the building official may require an "electric vehicle charging station use permit". The permit may include conditions designed to mitigate the specific, adverse impact upon health and safety at the lowest possible cost.

C. The building official must notify an applicant whether the application has been approved and that a nondiscretionary permit will be issued, or, alternatively, whether the applicant must obtain an electric vehicle charging station use permit, within thirty (30) days after the submission of a complete application.

D. An application for an electric vehicle charging station can only be denied if the building official finds that: 1) the proposed installation would have a specific, adverse impact upon public health or safety, and 2) there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the adverse impact. These findings must be presented in writing, must include the basis for the rejection of the potential feasible alternative for preventing the adverse impact, and must be based upon substantial evidence in the record.

E. A feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact may include, but is not limited to, any cost-effective method, condition, or mitigation imposed by the City on a prior successful application for an electric vehicle charging station use permit, where the proposed charging station is similarly situated to the charging station in that prior successful application.

F. Any decision by the building official made pursuant to this chapter may be appealed to the Board of Appeals in accordance with the California Building Code, as adopted and amended by chapter 1 of this title. (Ord. 1555, 9-5-2017)

The applicant must pay to the City an application fee. Such fee will be fixed and established by the City Council from time to time by resolution. (Ord. 1555, 9-5-2017)