Riverside Municipal Code Ch. 16.23 Electric Vehicle Charging Station and Hydrogen Fueling Station…

The purpose of this ordinance is to create an expedited, streamlined electric vehicle charging station and hydrogen fueling station permitting process that complies with Government Code section 65850.7 to achieve timely and cost-effective installations of electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations.

(Ord. 7748, § 42, 2025; Ord. 7348 §1, 2016)

A. This chapter applies to the permitting of all electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations in the City.

B. Electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations legally established or permitted prior to the effective date of this ordinance are not subject to the requirements of this ordinance unless physical modifications or alterations are undertaken that materially change the size, type, or components of an electric vehicle charging station and hydrogen fueling station in such a way as to require a new permit.

(Ord. 7748, § 43, 2025; Ord. 7348 §1, 2016)

For the purpose of this chapter, words and terms shall be defined as set forth in this section. Where terms are not defined in this Code and are defined in other codes, such terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them as in those codes. Where terms are not defined through the methods authorized by this section, such terms shall have ordinary accepted meanings such as the context implies.

Electric vehicle charging station means the following:

A. 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 section, and delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle.

Electronic Submittal means the utilization of the following:

A. Any computer based electronic plan review software maintained, operated, and utilized by the City while receiving applications through the internet.

Hydrogen fueling station means the following:

A. Equipment used to store and dispense hydrogen fuel to vehicles according to industry codes and standards that is open to the public.

Specific adverse impact means the following:

A. 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. 7748, § 44, 2025; Ord. 7348 §1, 2016)

A. All electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations shall meet all applicable health and safety standards and the requirements imposed by the state and the City, local fire department and utility director.

B. Electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations shall be designed, installed, operated, and maintained in accordance with all applicable codes, standards, and regulations adopted by the State of California and the City, including applicable national and international safety and performance standards, and the requirements of accredited testing laboratories.

(Ord. 7748, § 45, 2025; Ord. 7348 §1, 2016)

A. All documents required for the submission of an expedited electric vehicle charging station and hydrogen fueling station application shall be made available on the publicly accessible City website.

B. Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents through City utilized computer based software shall be made available to all electric vehicle charging station and hydrogen fueling station permit applicants.

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

D. The Building and Safety Division shall adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations shall comply to be eligible for expedited review.

E. The Building and Safety Division may refer to the recommendation contained in the most current version of the Hydrogen Station Permitting Guidebook and the Zero-Emissions Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook published by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, when adopting the electric vehicle charging and hydrogen fueling station permit process and checklist.

(Ord. 7748, § 46, 2025; Ord. 7348 §1, 2016)

A. The Building Official shall implement an administrative review process to expedite approval of electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations. Where the application meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standards and there are no specific, adverse impacts upon public health or safety, the Building and Safety Division shall complete the building permit approval process, which is nondiscretionary. Review of the application for electric vehicle charging stations shall be limited to the Building Official's review of whether the application meets local, state, and federal health and safety requirements.

B. If a permit application is deemed incomplete, a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the permit application and any additional information or documentation required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance shall be sent to the applicant for resubmission.

C. The Building Official may require an applicant to apply for a special use permit if the official finds, based on substantial evidence, that the electric vehicle charging station and hydrogen fueling station could have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health and safety. Such decisions may be appealed to the City Planning Commission in accordance with the procedures in Chapter 16.680.

D. If a use permit is required, the City may only deny such application if it makes written findings based upon substantial evidence in the record that the proposed installation would have a specific, adverse impact upon public health or safety and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the adverse impact. Such findings shall include the basis for the rejection of the potential feasible alternative for preventing the adverse impact. Such decisions may be appealed to the City Planning Commission in accordance with the procedures in Chapter 19.680.

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

F. 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 the city on another similarly situated application in a prior successful application for a permit.

(Ord. 7748, § 47, 2025; Ord. 7348 §1, 2016)

The City Council may establish by resolution fees that shall be charged for permits issued under this chapter.

(Ord. 7348 §1, 2016)