Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code Ch. 15.44 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

A. Purpose and intent. The purpose of this section 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 specific adverse impacts in the installation and use of such charging stations. This section is also intended to comply with Government Code §§ 65850.7 and 65850.71, including successor statutes and amendments thereto.

B. Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Building official means the building official for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes and shall include their designee.

Electronic submittal includes submittal of a document or application including but not limited to by one of the following methods:

1. Electronic mail or email.

2. The internet.

3. Facsimile.

Electric vehicle charging station or charging station means any level of electric vehicle supply equipment station designed and built in compliance with article 625 of the California Electrical Code, including any amendment or successor statute thereto, and which delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle. Electric vehicle charging stations and electric vehicle charging supply equipment shall refer to equipment, including, but not limited to, the following: conductors (including ungrounded, grounded, and equipment grounding conductors), electric vehicle connectors, attachment plugs, and all other fittings, devices, power outlets, or apparatus installed specifically for the purpose of transferring energy between the premises wiring and the electric vehicle.

Feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact includes, but is not limited to, any cost-effective method, condition, or mitigation imposed by a city, county, or city and county on another similarly situated application in a prior successful application for a permit.

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.

C. Expedited electric vehicle charging station permitting. Electric vehicle charging stations which qualify for expedited permit processing, pursuant to Government Code § 65850.7, including any amendment or successor statute thereto, shall be subject to the procedures set forth in this section.

D. Expedited review process. Consistent with Government Code § 65850.7, including any amendment or successor statute thereto, the building official shall implement an expedited permit review 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 city's adopted checklist will be published on the city's publicly accessible website.

E. Electric vehicle charging stations permit application and processing.

1. All electric vehicle charging stations shall be subject to the following standards:

a. An electric vehicle charging station 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. Electric vehicle charging station systems and equipment shall also conform to all applicable provisions and requirements of the California Building Code.

b. The installation of electric vehicle charging station systems and equipment shall be in accordance with the city's adopted electric vehicle charging station checklist established by the building official.

c. All electric vehicle charging stations shall be installed only after approval by the building official and only after issuance of the necessary building permit and any and all other permits required by the city relating to the plumbing, electrical, and mechanical characteristics of the system.

2. Upon installation of an electric vehicle charging station, the applicant shall be responsible for obtaining authorization and approval to connect the electric vehicle charging station to the local utility provider's electrical grid. In the event the city owns or operates an electric utility into which connection is proposed by the applicant, the application shall demonstrate compliance with the city's utility interconnection policies prior to approval.

3. The building official shall condition the permit as deemed necessary in order to mitigate or avoid specific, adverse impacts of the charging station.

4. Consistent with Government Code § 65850.7, including any amendments or successor statutes thereto, the building official 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 § 4080.

(Ord. No. 664, § 2, 10-4-2022)