Petaluma Municipal Code Ch. 17.12 Electric Vehicle Charging STATIONS1

1 Editor’s Note: Former Chapter 17.12, Dwelling Construction Fees, previously codiZed herein and containing

portions of Ord. Nos. 932, 1074, 1145, 1352, 1383 and 1659 and prior code §§7.1—7.5, was repealed in its

entirety 9-10-12 by Ord. No. 2444.

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 speciZc adverse impacts in the installation and use of such charging stations. This chapter complies

with California Government Code Section 65850.7. (Ord. 2784 NCS §3, 2021.)

A. This chapter applies to applications for expedited building permits for electric vehicle charging stations

consistent with California Government Code Section 65850.7.

B. Electronic vehicle charging stations legally established or permitted prior to the e]ective date of this chapter

are not subject to the requirements herein unless physical modiZcations or alterations are undertaken that

materially change the size, type, or components of an electric vehicle charging station in such a way to require new

permitting.

C. Routine operation and maintenance of existing charging stations shall not require a permit.

(Ord. 2784 NCS §3, 2021.)

The deZnitions set forth in this section shall govern the construction and meaning of the terms used in this

chapter:

A. "Building o\cial" shall mean the chief building o\cial of the city of Petaluma or their designated

representative.

B. "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

e]ective date of this chapter, and delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric

vehicle. Where applicable a charging station may include essential signage, parking lot striping, wheel stops,

bollards, and other similar directional and safety improvements as necessary for safe operation of electric vehicle

charging station equipment.

C. "Electronic submittal" means the submission of an application using email, the internet, online permit system,

or other feasible method.

D. "A feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the speciZc adverse impact" includes, but is not limited

to, any cost-e]ective method, condition, or mitigation imposed by the county on another similarly situated

application in a prior successful application for a permit.

E. "SpeciZc, adverse impact" means a signiZcant, quantiZable, direct, and unavoidable impact, based on

objective, identiZed, and written public health or safety standards, policies, or conditions as they existed on the

date the application was deemed complete.

2 Editor’s Note: Ordinance 2784 NCS adds the provisions of this section as Section 17.12.020. The section has

been editorially renumbered to prevent duplication of numbering.

(Ord. 2784 NCS §3, 2021.)

Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the building o\cial shall implement an expedited, streamlined

permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations, and adopt a checklist of all requirements with which

applications for electric vehicle charging stations shall comply with 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 "Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist" of the "Zero-Emission Vehicles in

California: Community Readiness Guidebook" as published by the Governor’s O\ce of Planning and Research. The

city’s adopted checklist shall be published on the city’s website. (Ord. 2784 NCS §3, 2021.)

A. Prior to submitting an application for processing, the applicant shall verify that the installation of an electric

vehicle charging station will not have speciZc, adverse impact to public health and safety and building occupants.

VeriZcation by the applicant includes but is not limited to: electrical system capacity and loads; electrical system

wiring, bonding and overcurrent protection; building infrastructure a]ected by charging station equipment and

associated conduits; areas of charging station equipment and vehicle parking.

B. A permit application that satisZes the information requirements in the city’s application checklist shall be

deemed complete and be promptly processed. Upon conZrmation by the building o\cial that the permit

application and supporting documents meet the requirements of the city’s application checklist and are consistent

with all applicable laws and health and safety standards, the building o\cial 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

building o\cial determines that the permit application is incomplete, they shall issue a written correction notice to

the applicant, detailing all deZciencies in the application and any additional information required to be eligible for

expedited permit issuance.

C. Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the building o\cial shall allow for electronic submittal of

permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentations. In accepting such permit

applications, the building o\cial shall also accept electronic signatures on all forms, applications, and other

documentation in lieu of a wet signature by any applicant.

D. Any conditions imposed on an application to install an electric vehicle charging station shall be designed to

mitigate the speciZc, adverse impact upon the public health or safety at the lowest cost possible.

(Ord. 2784 NCS §3, 2021.)

A. It is the intent of this chapter 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 building o\cial’s

authority to address higher priority life-safety situations. If the building o\cial makes a Znding based on

substantial evidence that the electric vehicle charging station could have a speciZc adverse impact upon the public

health or safety, as deZned in Section 17.12.025(B), the city may require the applicant to apply for a use permit.

B. In the technical review of a charging station, consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the building

o\cial 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 deZned by Civil Code Section 4080.

(Ord. 2784 NCS §3, 2021.)

A. Electric vehicle charging station equipment 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 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.

C. 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.

D. Anchorage of either [oor-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 a]ect building

elements.

E. All contractors performing electrical vehicle infrastructure work on projects which are constructed with funds

provided in whole or in part by the city of Petaluma, or are constructed with funds in whole or in part which are

approved and/or administered by the city of Petaluma, shall be approved by the electric vehicle infrastructure

training program (EVITP) and electricians on the job shall be EVITP certiZed, in accordance with the following:

1. All of the installation, commissioning, and maintenance of electric vehicle charging stations, equipment

and related infrastructure subject to subsection E of this section, (hereinafter referred to as the "EV work")

shall comply with the following requirements:

a. At a minimum, one job-site supervisor or job-site foreman supervising the EV work at each job site is

required to be an electric vehicle infrastructure training program certiZed electrician.

b. The EV work shall be performed only by California State certiZed general electricians. Apprentices

may assist.

c. A minimum of Zfty percent of the state certiZed general electricians performing the EV work on each

job site shall be EVITP certiZed electricians.

d. The ratio of journeyman to apprentices shall comply with requirements set forth in California law.

e. EVITP certiZcation requirements do not apply to apprentices.

f. All apprentices assisting on the EV work shall be registered in a state of California approved

apprenticeship program which has a graduation rate of at least sixty percent.

2. Contractors performing EV work shall maintain a written or electronic record of all EV work including the

names of all EVITP electrician(s) who performed the EV work. Said record shall be made available to EVITP,

and/or city of Petaluma, upon request. Contractor shall cooperate fully with EVITP, and/or the city of

Petaluma, in case of a random or other quality assurance check(s).

(Ord. 2792 NCS §3, 2021; Ord. 2784 NCS §3, 2021.)

The decision of the building o\cial to approve or deny a permit for an electric vehicle charging station may be

appealed by Zling a request for hearing form and returning it to the building o\cial within Zfteen days from the

building o\cial’s decision. The appeal hearing shall be heard by the building board of appeals in accordance with

Chapter 17.08. (Ord. 2784 NCS §3, 2021.)