Chapter 15.19 — ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS

The purpose of this chapter is to adopt an expedited, streamlined electric vehicle charging station permitting process that complies with Assembly Bill (AB) 1236 (Chapter 598, Statutes 2015) and Assembly Bill (AB) 970 (Chapter 710, Statutes 2021) to achieve timely and cost-effective installations of electric vehicle charging stations. The provisions of this chapter encourage the use of electric vehicle charging stations by removing unreasonable barriers, minimizing costs to property owners and the City, and expanding the ability of property owners to install electric vehicle charging stations. The provisions of this chapter further allow the City to achieve these goals while protecting the public’s health, welfare and safety. (Ord. 2017-10 § 1 (part), 2017; Ord. 2022-26 § 13, 2022)

A. This chapter applies to the permitting of all electric vehicle charging station systems in the City.

B. Electric vehicle charging station 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 station system. Routine operation and
maintenance or like-kind replacements of electric vehicle charging stations shall not
require a permit.
(Ord. 2017-10 § 1 (part), 2017)

A. “Association” means a nonprofit corporation or unincorporated association created for the purpose of managing a common interest development.

B. “Electronic submittal” means the utilization of one or more of the following:

1. Email;

2. The Internet; or

3. Facsimile.

C. “Common interest development” means any of the following:

1. A community apartment project;

2. A condominium project;

3. A planned development; or

4. A stock cooperative.

D. “Electric vehicle charging station” or “charging station” means any level of electric vehicle
supply equipment that is designed and built in compliance with Article 625 of the
California Electrical Code, or any successor regulation, and delivers electricity from a

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/NE4559 on 2026-09-25

City of Newport Beach, CA § 15.19.030 BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION § 15.19.060

source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle.

E. “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.

F. “Community Readiness Guidebook” means the guidebook published by the Office of
Planning and Research, with recommendations in the most current version of the “Plug-In
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist” of the “Zero-Emission Vehicles in
California.”
(Ord. 2017-10 § 1 (part), 2017)

A. All electric vehicle charging station systems shall meet applicable health and safety standards and requirements imposed by the state and the California Fire Code, as adopted and amended by the City.

B. Electric vehicle charging station systems shall be certified by an accredited listing agency
as defined by the California Electrical Code.

C. Electric vehicle charging station systems 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 rules of Public Utilities Commission
regarding safety and reliability.
(Ord. 2017-10 § 1 (part), 2017)

A. All documents required for the submission of an expedited electric vehicle charging station system application shall be made available on the publicly accessible City website.

B. Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents by email, the
Internet, or facsimile shall be made available to all electric vehicle charging station system
permit applicants.

C. An applicant’s electronic signature shall be accepted on all forms, applications, and other
documents in lieu of a wet signature.

D. The electric vehicle charging station system permit process and checklist(s) shall
substantially conform to recommendations for expedited permitting, including the “Plug-In
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist” contained in the most current version
of the “Zero-Emission Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook”
published by the Office of Planning and Research.

E. The City Council, by resolution, may establish a fee for the processing of electric vehicle
charging station system applications.
(Ord. 2017-10 § 1 (part), 2017)

A. The Building Division shall administratively approve an application to install electric

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/NE4559 on 2026-09-25

City of Newport Beach, CA § 15.19.060 NEWPORT BEACH CODE § 15.19.060

vehicle charging stations through issuance of a building permit or similar nondiscretionary
permit.

B. The Chief Building Official may require an applicant to apply for a use permit if the official
finds, based on substantial evidence, that the electric vehicle charging station system could
have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health and safety.

C. Review of the application shall be limited to the Chief Building Official’s review of
whether the application meets local, State, and Federal health and safety requirements.

D. If a use permit is required, the City may deny an application for the use permit if the City
makes written findings based upon substantive evidence in the record that the proposed
installation would have a specific, adverse impact upon public health or safety and there is
no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid, as defined, the adverse impact. Such
findings shall include the basis for the rejection of the potential feasible alternative for
preventing the adverse impact.

E. Decisions regarding an electric vehicle charging station system permit application may be
appealed to the Planning Commission pursuant to Chapter 20.64, or any successor chapter.

F. Any condition imposed on an application shall be designed to mitigate the specific, adverse
impact upon health and safety at the lowest possible cost.

G. The City shall not condition approval of an application on the approval of an association,
as defined in Section 4080 of the California Civil Code, or any successor statute.

H. If an application is deemed 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 shall be sent to the applicant for resubmission.

I. The following timeline is established for the application for permits for electric vehicle
charging stations.

1. An application to install an electric vehicle charging station submitted to the Building
Official shall be deemed complete if, after the applicable time period described in
subsection (I)(2) of this section has elapsed, both of the following are true:

a. The Building Official has not deemed the application complete, consistent with
the checklist created by the City pursuant to Section 15.19.050.

b. The Building Official 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 subsection (H) of this section.

2. For the purposes of subsection (I)(1) of this section, “Applicable time period means”
either of the following:

a. Five business days after submission of the application to the City, if the
application is for at least one, but not more than twenty-five (25) electric vehicle
charging stations at a single site.

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/NE4559 on 2026-09-25

City of Newport Beach, CA § 15.19.060 BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION § 15.19.060

b. Ten (10) business days after submission of the application to the City, if the
application is for more than twenty-five (25) electric vehicle charging stations
at a single site.

J. The following timeline is established for the approval for permits for electric vehicle
charging stations.

1. An application to install an electric vehicle charging station shall be deemed approved
if the applicable time period described in subsection (J)(2) of this section has elapsed
and all of the following are true:

a. The Building Official has not administratively approved the application
pursuant to subsection (A) of this section.

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

c. The Building Official has not denied the permit pursuant to subsection (D) of
this section.

d. An appeal has not been made to the Planning Commission pursuant to
subsection (E) of this section.

2. For the purposes of subsection (J)(1) of this section, “Applicable time period means”
either of the following:

a. Twenty (20) business days after the application was deemed complete, if the
application is for at least one, but not more than twenty-five (25) electric vehicle
charging stations at a single site.

b. Forty (40) business days after the application was deemed complete, if the application is for more than twenty-five (25) electric vehicle charging stations at a single site. (Ord. 2017-10 § 1 (part), 2017; Ord. 2022-26 § 13, 2022)

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/NE4559 on 2026-09-25

City of Newport Beach, CA