Red Bluff Municipal Code Art. IV Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Permitting Process

The following words and phrases as used in this article are defined as follows.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV). An automotive-type vehicle for on-road use, such as passenger automobiles, buses, trucks, vans, neighborhood electric vehicles, electric motorcycles, and the like, primarily powered by an electric motor that draws current from a rechargeable storage battery, fuel cell, photovoltaic array, or other sources of electric current. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are considered electric vehicles.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) CHARGER. Off-board charging equipment used to charge an electric vehicle.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING SPACE (EV SPACE). A space intended for future installation of EV charging equipment and charging of electric vehicles.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION (EVCS) or CHARGING STATION. Any of the following:

(1) 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 the ordinance from which this article is derived, and delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle.

(2) One or more electric vehicle charging spaces served by electric vehicle charger(s) or other charging equipment allowing charging of electric vehicles. ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS are not considered parking spaces.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) CHECKLIST. A document containing objective requirements for the installation of an electric vehicle charging station and a process for electronic submittal of permit applications. The content of the checklist requires the permit applicant to evaluate the features of the existing electrical service such as rating in amperes, system voltage, connected or calculated load, spare capacity in amperes, voltage and ampere rating of the electric vehicle supply equipment, circuit rating of the electric vehicle supply equipment, location of the electric vehicle supply equipment, if ventilation is/or is not required, and clearances of the charging equipment to comply with all applicable building and fire safety laws. The checklist also assists the applicant in confirming that the location of the electric vehicle supply equipment will comply with any vehicle clearance requirements in the city's zoning ordinance.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE TRAINING PROGRAM (EVITP). The training program developed by automobile manufacturers, utilities, energy storage device manufacturers, electrical contractors, state and local electrical inspectors, the National Fire Protection Agency, and electrical workers that incorporates technical requirements, safety imperatives, and performance integrity for the installation of electric vehicle supply equipment or EV charging stations, electric recharging points, charging points, as such program may be modified from time to time.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY EQUIPMENT (EVSE). The conductors, including the ungrounded, grounded, and equipment grounding conductors and the 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.

ELECTRONIC SUBMITTAL. The utilization of one or more of the following:

(1) Electronic mail or email;

(2) An online permitting system; or

(3) A facsimile.

SPECIFIC, ADVERSE IMPACT. 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.

(Ord. No. 1082, passed 5-2-2024; Am. Ord. 1091, passed 11-18-2025)

The purpose of this article is to provide an expedited, streamlined permitting process for EVCS as required by California Government Code § 65850.7.

(Ord. No. 1082, passed 5-2-2024; Am. Ord. 1091, passed 11-18-2025)

EVCSs legally established or permitted prior to the effective date of the ordinance from which this article is derived are not subject to the requirements of this article, unless physical modifications or alterations are undertaken that materially change the size, type, or components of the EVCS in such a way as to require new permitting. Routine operation and maintenance shall not require a permit.

(Ord. No. 1082, passed 5-2-2024; Am. Ord. 1091, passed 11-18-2025)

(A) All EVCSs shall meet applicable health and safety standards and requirements imposed by the state and the city.

(B) EVCSs shall meet all applicable safety and performance standards established by the California Electrical Code as modified by this article, 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.

(C) Installation of electric vehicle charging stations and associated wiring, bonding, disconnecting means, and overcurrent protection devices shall meet the requirements of Article 625 of the California Electrical Code, as may be subsequently modified, and all applicable provisions of the California Electrical Code.

(D) 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.

(E) Prior to submitting an application for processing, the applicant shall verify that the installation of an electric vehicle charging station will not have a specific, adverse impact on public health and safety of 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.

(Ord. No. 1082, passed 5-2-2024; Am. Ord. 1091, passed 11-18-2025)

(A) All applications will be subject to Chapter 1 (General Provisions), Article I (Rules of Construction; General Penalty) of this code of ordinances.

(B) All documents required for submitting an expedited EVCS application shall be available on the city's website.

(C) Applications for EVCS permits and any supporting documents may be submitted in person, by email, facsimile, or through an online permitting system.

(D) An applicant's electronic signature shall be accepted on all forms, applications, and other documents in lieu of a wet signature.

(E) The Community Development Director or designee shall implement an EV checklist with all of the requirements that an EVCS must comply with to be eligible for expedited review.

(F) The EVCS permit process, standard plans, and checklist shall substantially conform to recommendations for expedited permitting contained in the most current version of the "Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist" of the "ZeroEmission Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook" as published by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, in effect at the time of permit application.

(Ord. No. 1082, passed 5-2-2024; Am. Ord. 1091, passed 11-18-2025)

(A) An application that satisfies the information requirements in the checklist, as determined by the Building Department, shall be deemed complete.

(B) Upon receipt of an incomplete application, the Building Department shall issue a written correction notice, detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance.

(C) Upon confirmation of application completeness, the Building Department shall review the application. The Building Department's review shall be limited to whether the application meets local, state, and federal health and safety requirements. Local law requirements shall be limited to those standards and regulations necessary to ensure that the EVCS will not have a specific, adverse effect on public health or safety.

(D) The Building Department may deny the building permit if it finds, based on substantial evidence, that the EVCS could have a specific, adverse impact on public health and safety and may require an application for a conditional use permit. Any conditions imposed shall be designed to mitigate the specific, adverse impact on public health and safety at the lowest cost possible. The decision to deny the building permit and require an administrative permit may be appealed to the Planning Commission.

(E) The city may not deny an application for a conditional use permit to install an EVCS, unless it makes written findings, based upon substantial evidence in the record, that the proposed installation would have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety, and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact. If a use permit is required, the Building Department may deny an application only if the Building Official makes written findings, based upon substantial evidence in the record, that the proposed installation would have a specific, adverse impact on public health or safety, and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the adverse impact, as defined. The findings shall include the basis for the rejection of potentially feasible alternatives for preventing the adverse impact.

(F) Upon confirmation that the application is complete and that the EVCS will not have a specific, adverse impact on public health or safety, the Building Official shall approve the application and issue all the necessary permits and authorizations.

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

(H) No approval by a homeowners' association, as defined in California Civil Code § 4080, shall be required to construct an electric vehicle charging station located on private property and outside of restricted common areas.

(I) EVCSs are subject to inspection in accordance with the applicable provisions of the California Building Code. Construction of the EVCS shall remain visible and accessible for inspection until approved.

(J) Only one inspection shall be required, which shall be done in a timely manner and may include a consolidated inspection by the Building Inspector. If an electric vehicle charging station fails inspection, a subsequent inspection is authorized and need not conform to the requirements of this section.

(Ord. No. 1082, passed 5-2-2024; Am. Ord. 1091, passed 11-18-2025)

All electrical vehicle infrastructure work on projects constructed with funds provided or administered, in whole or in part, by the city shall be installed by contractors holding the appropriate license classification required by the Contractors State License Board. Electricians performing such workshall hold certification from the electric vehicle infrastructure training program in accordance with the following.

(A) All of the installation, commissioning, and maintenance of electric vehicle charging stations, equipment, and related infrastructure (the "EV work") shall be performed in accordance with the following requirements:

(1) At a minimum, one job-site supervisor or job-site foreman supervising the EV work at each job site shall hold EVITP certification and shall be a licensed electrician.

(2) The EV work shall be performed only by duly licensed electricians. Apprentices may assist.

(3) A minimum of 50% of the licensed electricians performing the EV work on each job site shall hold EVITP certification.

(4) The ratio of journeymen to apprentices shall comply with applicable requirements under state law.

(5) No EVITP certification shall be required of apprentices.

(6) All apprentices assisting on the EV work shall be registered in an apprenticeship program compliant with California Department of Industrial Relations regulations, approved by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, and having a graduation rate of at least 60%.

(B) Contractors performing EV work shall maintain written or electronic records regarding the work, including the names of all EVITP electrician(s) who performed the work. The records shall be made available to the EVITP and/or the city upon request.

(Ord. No. 1082, passed 5-2-2024; Am. Ord. 1091, passed 11-18-2025)