Villa Park Municipal Code Art. 9-3 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

A. "Electronic submittal" means the utilization of electronic e-mail or any submittal via the internet.

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 effective date of this Section, 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 EVCS equipment.

C. "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 on an application for a permit.

D. "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. #2022-626, § 1)

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 or a Municipal Electric Utility Company 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 floor-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 affect building elements.

(Ord. #2022-626, § 1)

A. Applications for the installation, alteration, or replacement of an electric vehicle charging station shall submitted digitally, or in writing, and contain the information set forth in the application checklist and such other information as the Building Official may reasonably require.

B. Electronic submittal of the required permit applications and documents by email, the internet, or facsimile shall be made available to all electric vehicle charging 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.

(Ord. #2022-626, § 1)

The Building Department shall review and approve for permit issuance, an application for an electric vehicle charging station in a timely manner when a completed application is received and meets all requirements of the application checklist, as follows:

A. City staff shall adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electrical vehicle charging stations shall comply to be eligible for expedited review, which shall be consistent with information and requirements provided by the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development. The checklist shall be published on the City's website.

B. An application that satisfies the information requirements in the checklist, as determined by the Building Official, shall be deemed complete. Upon receipt of an incomplete application, the Building Official 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 by the Building Official of the application and supporting documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the Building Official shall administratively approve the application. Design Review is not required for electric vehicle charging stations.

D. The Building Official may require an applicant to apply for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) should an issue be identified with condition of approval to mitigate the issue under the Villa Park Municipal Code. If the Building Official finds, based on substantial evidence, that the electric vehicle charging station could have a specific adverse impact upon public health and safety, and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific adverse impact. An application for a CUP to install an electric vehicle charging station may not be denied unless based on substantial evidence in the record evidenced in written findings that the proposed installation would have a specific adverse impact on 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 specific adverse impact. Any conditions imposed on the CUP shall be crafted to mitigate the specific adverse impact upon health or safety at the lowest possible cost.

E. Field site inspections for electric vehicle charging stations will be subject to the Building Department's field inspector for review, approval or denial. The site inspections shall be completed in a timely manner and include consolidation inspections, if possible.

(Ord. #2022-626, § 1)