Imperial County Municipal Code Ch. 7 Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations

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.

The streamline permit process for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations shall be subject to Division 32 "Administrative Permit Streamline Ordinance" of the Imperial County Land Use Ordinance Title 9.

(Ord. No. 1587, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-23)

This chapter applies to the permitting of all electric vehicle charging systems in the unincorporated areas of Imperial County. Electric vehicle charging systems 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 an electric vehicle charging 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. 1587, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-23)

"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 and delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in vehicle.

"Electronic submittal" means the utilization of one or more of either electronic mail, the internet, or facsimile.

"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 County on another similarly situated application in a prior successful application for a similar permit.

"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. 1587, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-23)

A. All electric vehicle charging systems 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 rules of the Public Utilities Commission regarding safety and reliability.

B. 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.

C. 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. 1587, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-23)

A. All documents required for submission of an electric vehicle charging system application shall be made publicly available on the County's website.

B. By resolution, the Board of Supervisors shall adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging systems shall comply to be eligible for expedited review.

C. The electric vehicle charging system permit process and checklist shall substantially conform to recommendations contained in the most current version of the Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist contained in the Zero-Emission Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook adopted by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research.

D. The County building official shall allow the electronic submittal of the electric vehicle charging station application.

(Ord. No. 1587, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-23)

A. Review of the permit application shall be limited to the County building official's review of whether the application meets local, State and Federal health and safety requirements. The application shall be administratively reviewed by the County building official as a nondiscretionary permit.

B. The County shall not condition approval of an application on the approval of an association, as that term is defined by Civil Code section 4080.

C. An application for an electric vehicle charging station shall be deemed complete and the permit available for issuance, when the chief building official determines that the application satisfies all the requirements found in the checklist found on Section.

D. If an application is deemed incomplete, a written plan check correction notice will be available to the applicant within ten (10) working days, detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information or documentation required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance shall be given to the applicant for resubmission.

E. The County building official, in consultation with the Planning and Development Services Director, may require an applicant to apply for a conditional use permit if the building official finds, 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's decision to require a conditional use permit may be appealed by the applicant to the Planning Commission pursuant to chapter 1.06 of this Code.

F. If a conditional use permit is required, the application for the conditional use permit may be denied if the Planning Commission 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. Such findings shall include the basis for the rejection of potential feasible alternatives for preventing the specific, adverse impact. Such decisions may be appealed to the Board of Supervisors pursuant to chapter 1.06 of this Code.

(Ord. No. 1587, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-23)

Scorecard taken from the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Website.

(Ord. No. 1587, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-23)