Rio Vista Municipal Code Ch. 15.06 Expedited Permit Process for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

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 division's authority to address higher priority life-safety situations.

(Ord. 001-2026, 1/20/2026)

"A 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.

"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.

"Electronic submittal"

means the utilization of one or more of the following:

Email.

The internet.

Facsimile.

"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.

(Ord. 001-2026, 1/20/2026)

Electric vehicle charging stations, as defined in this chapter, shall be subject to the expedited permitting procedures set forth in this chapter.

(Ord. 001-2026, 1/20/2026)

Consistent with Government Code § 65850.7, and as that statute may be amended from time to time, the building division shall implement an expedited administrative 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 checklist shall be posted on the city's website.

(Ord. 001-2026, 1/20/2026)

Consistent with Government Code § 65850.7, and as that statute may be amended from time to time, the building division shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentations. In accepting such permit applications, the building division shall also accept electronic signatures on all forms, applications, and other documentation in lieu of a wet signature by any applicant.

(Ord. 001-2026, 1/20/2026)

Consistent with Government Code § 65850.7, and as that statute may be amended from time to time, the building division 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. 001-2026, 1/20/2026)

A. 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 building division that the permit application and supporting documents meet the requirements of the city's adopted checklist, and are consistent with all applicable health and safety laws, the building division shall, consistent with Government Code § 65850.7, as may be amended, 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 division determines that the permit application is incomplete, it 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.

B. An application to install an electric vehicle charging station submitted to the building division of the city shall be deemed complete if, after the applicable time period described in subsection C has elapsed, both of the following are true:

1. The building division of the city has not deemed the application complete, consistent with the checklist created by the city.

2. The building division of the city 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 Government Code § 65850.7, subdivisions (b) and (g).

C. For purposes of subsection B, "applicable time period means" either of the following:

1. Five business days after submission of the application to the city if the application is for at least one, but not more than 25 electric vehicle charging stations at a single site.

2. 10 business days after submission of the application to the city if the application is for more than 25 electric vehicle charging stations at a single site.

D. An application to install an electric vehicle charging station shall be deemed approved if the applicable time period described in subsection E has elapsed and all of the following are true:

1. The building division of the city has not administratively approved the application pursuant to Government Code § 65850.7, subdivision (b).

2. The building division of the city 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 Section 15.06.080.

3. The building department of the city has not denied the permit pursuant to Section 15.06.080.

4. An appeal has not been made to the planning commission of the city, pursuant to Section 15.06.090.

E. For purposes of subsection D, "applicable time period" means either of the following:

1. 20 business days after the application was deemed complete, if the application is for at least one, but not more than 25 electric vehicle charging stations at a single site.

2. 40 business days after the application was deemed complete, if the application is for more than 25 electric vehicle charging stations at a single site.

(Ord. 001-2026, 1/20/2026)

A. If the building division makes a finding based on substantial evidence that the electric vehicle charging station could have a specific, adverse impact upon public health or safety, as defined in Section 15.06.020, the city may require the applicant to apply for a use permit.

B. The building division may not deny an application for a use permit to install an electric vehicle charging station 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. The findings shall include the basis for the rejection of potential feasible alternatives of preventing the adverse impact.

(Ord. 001-2026, 1/20/2026)

A decision of the building division pursuant to this chapter may be appealed to the planning commission. The appeal must be made in writing within 30 days of the decision of the building division.

(Ord. 001-2026, 1/20/2026)