Woodside Municipal Code § 150.52 Applicability

The purpose of this subchapter is to adopt an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations that complies with AB 1236 (Chapter 598, Statutes 2015, Cal. Gov't Code § 65850.7) to achieve timely and cost-effective installations of electric vehicle charging stations. The subchapter encourages the use of electric vehicle charging stations by removing unreasonable barriers, minimizing costs to property owners and the Town of Woodside, and expanding the ability of property owners to install electric vehicle charging stations. The subchapter allows the Town of Woodside to achieve these goals while protecting the public health and safety.

(Ord. 2017-588, effective 8-24-17)

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION(S) or CHARGING STATION(S) means any level of electric vehicle supply equipment station that is designed and built in compliance with California Code of Regulations, Title 24 Part 3 California Electrical Code Article 625, as it reads on the effective date of this subchapter or as it may be amended, and delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle.

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. 2017-588, effective 8-24-17)

This subchapter applies to the permitting of all electric vehicle charging stations in the Town of Woodside. Electric vehicle charging stations legally established or permitted prior to the effective date of this subchapter are not subject to the requirements of this subchapter unless physical modifications or alterations are undertaken that materially change the size, type, or components of a small rooftop energy system in such a way as to require new permitting. Routine operation and maintenance shall not require a permit.

(Ord. 2017-588, effective 8-24-17)

(A) All electric vehicle charging stations shall meet applicable health and safety standards and requirements imposed by the state and the Town.

(B) Electric vehicle charging stations 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.

(Ord. 2017-588, effective 8-24-17)

(A) All documents required for the submission of an electric vehicle charging station system application shall be made available on the Town of Woodside website.

(B) Electronic submittal of the required permit application and associated documents for electric vehicle charging station system permits may be made by email. As an alternative an applicant may submit a permit application and associated documents at the Building Division front counter during regular business hours.

(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 Division shall adopt a checklist of all requirements with which the electric vehicle charging stations shall comply to be eligible for expedited review. The electric vehicle charging station permit process, standard(s) and checklist(s) shall substantially conform to recommendations for permitting, including the checklist and standards contained in the "Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist" of the "Zero-Emission Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook" published by the Office of Planning and Research.

(E) All fees prescribed for the permitting of electric vehicle charging stations shall comply with Cal. Gov't Code § 65850.55, Cal. Gov't Code § 66015, Cal. Gov't Code § 66016, and State Health and Safety Code § 17951 as set forth in the fee schedule adopted by resolution by the Town Council.

(F) The determination of value or valuation under any of the provisions of this Code shall be made by the Building Official. The value to be used in computing the electric vehicle charging station permit and plan review shall be the total value of all construction work for which the permit is issued as well as any other equipment.

(Ord. 2017-588, effective 8-24-17)

(A) The Building Official shall implement an administrative review process to expedite approval of electric vehicle charging 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 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) The Building Official may require an applicant to apply for an "electric vehicle charging station use permit" if the Building Official finds, based on the initial application submittal, that the electric vehicle charging stations could have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health and safety. The Building Official's decision may be appealed to the Planning Commission.

(C) If an electric vehicle charging station use permit is required, the Building Official may only deny an application for the electric vehicle charging station use permit if the official 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. The Building Official's decision may be appealed to the Planning Commission.

(D) If the Building Official issues an electric vehicle charging station use permit, the permit may include conditions designed to mitigate the specific, adverse impact upon health and safety at the lowest possible cost.

(E) 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 Town on another similarly situated application in a prior successful application for a permit.

(F) If an application is deemed incomplete, a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information or documentation required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance shall be sent to the applicant for resubmission. A separate fire inspection may be performed by the Woodside Fire Protection District, if required.

(Ord. 2017-588, effective 8-24-17)

(A) Intent. This section establishes standards for placards to be used to indicate the condition of a structure for continued occupancy in conformance with the Statewide program administered by the California Office of Emergency Services (hereafter CalOES) for ease in the rapid assessment of damaged structures after a disaster. This section further authorizes the Building Official and his or her authorized representatives to post the appropriate placard at each entry point to a building or structure upon completion of a safety assessment.

(B) Application of Provisions. The provisions of this section are applicable to all buildings and structures of all occupancies regulated by the Town of Woodside.

(C) Definitions. Safety assessment means a visual, nondestructive examination of a building or structure for the purpose of determining the condition for continued occupancy.

(D) Safety assessment program (SAP) means a Statewide voluntary program managed by the CalOES and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which establishes the protocol for a uniform placarding program that can be used anywhere in the United States using the ATC-20 system.

(E) Placards:

(1) The following are verbal descriptions of the official placards to be used to designate the condition for continued occupancy of buildings or structures:

(a) "INSPECTED — Lawful Occupancy Permitted" is to be posted on any building or structure wherein no apparent structural hazard has been found. This placard is not intended to mean there is no damage to the building or structure. This placard is printed on a green background.

(b) "RESTRICTED USE" is to be posted on any building or structure that has been damaged wherein the damage has resulted in some form of restriction to the continued occupancy. The individual who posts this placard will note in general terms the type of damage encountered and will clearly and concisely note the restriction on continued occupancy. This placard is printed on a yellow background.

(c) "UNSAFE — Do Not Enter or Occupy" is to be posted on any building or structure that has been damaged such that continued occupancy poses a threat to life safety. Buildings or structures posted with this placard shall not be entered under any circumstance except as authorized in writing by the Building Official, or his or her authorized representatives. Safety assessment teams shall be authorized to enter these buildings at any time. This placard is not to be used or considered as a demolition order. The individual who posts this placard will note in general terms the type of damage encountered. This placard is printed on a red background.

(2) The number of the ordinance codified in this chapter, the name and address of the jurisdiction and phone number shall be permanently affixed to each placard.

(3) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to alter, remove, cover or deface a placard. Once it has been attached to a building or structure, a placard is not to be removed, altered or covered until done so by an authorized representative of the Building Official.

(Ord. 2019-603, § 3, effective 12-12-19)

Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be subject to the general penalty provisions as set forth in Section 10.99 of this Code.

(Ord. 1992-462, effective 11-10-92; Am. Ord. 2007-539, effective 1-10-08)

Cross reference— Code compliance; judicial and administrative remedies, see §§ 10.40 through 10.53.