Lathrop Municipal Code Ch. 15.32 Electric Vehicle Charging Systems (evcs)

A. Authority. This chapter is adopted under the authority of Government Code Section 65850.7.

B. Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to adopt an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS).

C. Applicability. This chapter applies to the permitting of electric vehicle charging stations installed in commercial and residential applications.

(Ord. 25-473, 10/13/2025)

The following words and phrases as used in this chapter are defined as follows:

"Electronic submittal"

means the utilization of one or more of the following:

The city's online portal;

The internet;

Facsimile.

"Electric vehicle"

means the following:

An automotive-type vehicle for on-road use, such as passenger automobiles, buses, trucks, vans, neighborhood electric vehicles, electric motorcycles, and the like, primarily powered by an electric motor that draws current from a rechargeable storage battery, fuel cell, photovoltaic array, or other source of electric current.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are considered electric vehicles.

"Electric vehicle charging station (EVCS)"

means the following:

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.

"Specific, adverse impact"

means the following:

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. 25-473, 10/13/2025)

A. Consistent with Section 65850.7 of the Government Code, the building official shall develop and implement an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations, and shall adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations shall comply in order to be eligible for expedited review.

B. The expedited, streamlined permitting process and checklist may refer to the recommendations contained in the 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.

C. The city's adopted checklist shall be published on the city's website.

(Ord. 25-473, 10/13/2025)

A. Application. An applicant for an electric vehicle charging system shall submit an electronic submittal containing a building permit application on the form provided by the city, accompanied by plans that reflect compliance with each item of information listed in the electric vehicle charging system checklist. Both the application and checklist are available online.

A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the city's adopted checklist, as determined by the building official, and shows no specific, adverse impacts upon public health or safety shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed for approval. Permit issuance will commence once all permit processing and inspection fees are paid by the applicant.

Upon receipt of an incomplete application, the building official shall issue a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance.

Where it is found that the installation of an electric vehicle charging station will have a specific, adverse impact on public health or safety, the building official may require conditions for the installation of the electric vehicle charging station to mitigate a specific, adverse impact on public health or safety, consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7.

B. Inspection. When a building permit is issued for an electric vehicle charging system, inspections will be performed in an efficient and timely manner and should include consolidated inspections where possible; inspection measures taken should be consistent with all applicable laws, codes and standards to ensure the electric vehicle charging system is properly and safely installed.

(Ord. 25-473, 10/13/2025)

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 servicing electric utility companies regarding safety and reliability.

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. 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.

D. 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 and the California Green Building Code. Electric vehicle charging equipment shall be considered a continuous load.

E. Anchorage of either floor-mounted or wall-mounted electric vehicle charging stations shall meet the requirements of the California Building Code or California 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.

F. An automatic load management system (ALMS) may be used to reduce the maximum required electrical capacity to each EVSE space served by the ALMS in accordance with requirements of the California Green Building Code.

G. The electric vehicle charging requirements set forth herein are intended to reflect the electric vehicle charging requirements set forth in the most current California Building Standards Code, Title 23 of the California Code of Regulations. State law shall govern in the event of any inconsistency relating to electric vehicle charging requirements between the most current California Building Standards Code and this chapter.

(Ord. 25-473, 10/13/2025)