Long Beach Municipal Code Ch. 18.76 Streamlined Permitting Process for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations…

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Editor's note— ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), adopted Nov. 11, 2025, amended the title of Ch. 18.76 to read as herein set out. The former Ch. 18.76 was entitled "Streamlined Permitting Process For Electric Vehicle Charging Stations."

A. Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to promote and encourage the installation and use of electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen-fueling stations by removing obstacles to, and minimizing the costs of, permitting for charging stations so long as this action does not supersede the Building Official's authority to identify and address higher priority life-safety situations. Consistent with Sections 65850.7 and 65850.71 of the California Government Code, this chapter creates an expedited and streamlined permitting process for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen-fueling stations.

B. Permits required. Electric vehicle charging stations or hydrogen-fueling stations shall not be installed or used without first having obtained a permit as required by Section 18.04.010.

C. Submittal documents. Submittal documents shall be governed by Chapter 18.05, except as provided in Section 18.76.030.

D. Fee. Fees for electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen-fueling stations shall be governed by Chapter 18.06.

E. Inspection. Inspections shall be governed by Chapter 18.07.

F. Effective date. This chapter shall apply to all projects for the installation and use of electric vehicle charging stations submitted on or after September 30, 2016, or to all projects for the installation and use of hydrogen-fueling stations submitted on or after September 30, 2025. The applicable time period required by Section 65850.71 of the California Government Code shall apply to all projects for the installation and use of electric vehicle charging stations submitted on or after January 1, 2022.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words and terms shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meanings shown in this section. Where the words or terms are not defined in this section, Chapter 18.02 shall apply.

"Electronic submittal" means the utilization of one or more of the following:

1. E-mail;

2. Internet; or

3. Facsimile.

"Electrical vehicle charging station" or "charging station" or "EVCS" means an electric vehicle charging station as defined by Section 202 of Chapter 2 of the California Green Building Standards Code as adopted in Chapter 18.47 that is designed and built in compliance with Article 625 of the California Electrical Code adopted in Chapter 18.42 and delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle.

"Hydrogen fueling station" means the equipment used to store and dispense hydrogen fuel to vehicles according to industry codes and standards that is open to the public.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

A. Application for permit. An application for a permit shall be governed by Section 18.04.030.

B. Submittal. Application for a permit and supporting documents may be submitted to the Building Official in person, by mail, or by electronic submittal together with all required fees.

C. Electronic signature. The Building Official is authorized to accept an electronic signature on all forms, applications, and other documents in lieu of a wet signature by an applicant.

D. Action on application. An application for a permit and supporting documents that satisfies the information requirements in the checklist required by Subsection 18.76.050.A, as determined by the Building Official, shall be deemed complete.

Upon confirmation by the Building Official of the application for a permit and supporting documents being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, and consistent with this chapter, the Building Official shall administratively approve the application for a permit and supporting documents and issue the required permit.

Upon receipt of an incomplete application for a permit or supporting documents, the Building Official shall issue a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application for a permit or supporting documents and any additional information required to be eligible for expedited and streamlined permitting in this chapter.

E. Technical review. It is the intent of this chapter to encourage the installation of EVCS and hydrogen-fueling stations by removing obstacles to permitting for EVCS and hydrogen-fueling stations provided the action does not supersede the Building Official's authority to address higher priority life-safety situations. If the Building Official makes a finding based upon substantial evidence that the EVCS or the hydrogen-fueling stations(s) could have a specific adverse impact upon the public health or safety, the Building Official may require the applicant to apply for a use permit and may not be eligible for expedited and streamlined permitting in this chapter.

F. Validity of permit. The validity of permit shall be governed by Section 18.04.050.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

Inspection by the Building Official and/or Fire Code Official shall conform to the requirements of Chapter 18.07. A consolidated inspection by the Building Official and Fire Code Official may be performed at their discretion.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

A. Checklist. The Building Official is hereby authorized and directed to develop and adopt checklists of all requirements with which EVCS and hydrogen-fueling stations shall comply to be eligible for expedited and streamlined permitting in this chapter. The checklists shall substantially conform, as deemed necessary and appropriate by the Building Official, to the most current versions of the "Zero-Emission Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook" and "Hydrogen Station Permitting Guidebook" published by the California Governor's Office of Planning and Research. The Building Official is authorized to modify the checklists from time to time due to unique climactic, geological, seismological, topographical or environmental conditions.

B. Other documents. The Building Official shall prepare, maintain, and update, as deemed necessary and appropriate, in cooperation with other City departments and stakeholders, informational bulletins, training manuals and educational materials to assist in the implementation of this chapter.

C. Publicly accessible. The Building Official shall publish the checklist and other documents on a publicly accessible internet website, where possible, or other publicly accessible location.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)