Palo Alto Municipal Code Ch. 16.15 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

(a) Definitions.

(1) “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, 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.

(2) “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.

(3) “Electronic submittal” means the utilization of one or more of the following:

i. Electronic mail or email.

ii. The internet.

iii. Facsimile.

(b) Expedited permitting process. Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the Chief Building Official shall implement an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations, and adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations shall comply with in order to be eligible for expedited review. The expedited, streamlined permitting process and checklist may refer to the recommendations contained in the most current version of the “Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permitting Guidebook” published by the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. The city’s adopted checklist shall be published on the city’s website.

(c) Permit application processing.

(1) Prior to submitting an application for processing, the applicant shall verify that the installation of an electric vehicle charging station will not have specific, adverse impact to public health and safety and building occupants. Verification by the applicant includes but is not limited to: electrical system capacity and loads; electrical system wiring, bonding and overcurrent protection; building infrastructure affected by charging station equipment and associated conduits; areas of charging station equipment and vehicle parking.

(2) A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the city’s adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed. Upon confirmation by the Chief Building Official or designee that the permit application and supporting documents meets the requirements of the city adopted checklist, and is consistent with all applicable laws and health and safety standards, the Chief Building Official or designee shall, consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, approve the application and issue all necessary permits. Such approval does not authorize an applicant to energize or utilize the electric vehicle charging station until approval is granted by the city. If the Chief Building Official or designee determines that the permit application is incomplete, he or she shall issue a written correction notice to the applicant, detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance.

(3) The Chief Building Official or designee shall not condition the approval for any electric vehicle charging station permit on the approval of such a system by an association, as that term is defined by Civil Code Section 4080.

(4) Permit applications under this section may be submitted electronically, including electronic signatures on all forms, applications, and other documentation.

(d) Technical review. It is the intent of this section to encourage the installation of electric vehicle charging stations by removing obstacles to permitting for charging stations so long as the action does not supersede the Chief Building Official’s authority to address higher priority life-safety situations. If the Chief Building Official or designee makes a finding based on substantial evidence that the electric vehicle charging station could have a specific adverse impact upon the public health or safety, as defined in this section, the city may require the applicant to apply for a use permit.

(Ord. 5661 § 2, 2025)