The purpose of this chapter is to promote and encourage the use of electric vehicles by creating an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations while promoting public health and safety and preventing specific adverse impacts in the installation and use of such charging stations.
(Ord. 1699 § 1, 2021)
"Electric vehicle charging station" or "charging station"
means any level of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) that is designed and built in compliance with Article 625 of the California Electrical Code and delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in vehicle.
"Electronic submittal"
means either electronic mail (e-mail) or online submittal via the city's permitting and land management system.
"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 similar permit.
"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. 1699 § 1, 2021)
This chapter applies to the permitting of all electric vehicle charging systems in the city. Electric vehicle charging systems legally established or permitted prior to the effective date of this chapter are not subject to its requirements unless physical modifications or alterations are undertaken that materially change the size, type, or components of an electric vehicle charging system in such a way as to require new permitting. Routine operation and maintenance or like-for-like replacement shall not require a permit.
(Ord. 1699 § 1, 2021)
A. 
All electric vehicle charging systems 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 regarding safety and reliability.
B. 
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.
C. 
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. 1699 § 1, 2021)
A. 
All documents required for submission of an electric vehicle charging system application shall be made publicly available on the city's website.
B. 
The building official shall prepare and make available on the city website a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging systems shall comply to be eligible for expedited review.
C. 
The electric vehicle charging system permit process and checklist shall substantially conform to recommendations contained in the most current version of the "Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting" checklist contained in the "Zero-Emission Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook" adopted by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research.
D. 
The building official shall allow for the electronic submittal of the electric vehicle charging station application.
(Ord. 1699 § 1, 2021)
A. 
Review of the permit application shall be limited to the building division's review of whether the application meets local, state and federal health and safety requirements. The application shall be administratively reviewed by the building official, or their designee, as a ministerial permit.
B. 
An application for an electric vehicle charging station shall be deemed complete and the permit available for issuance, when the building official, or their designee, determines that the application satisfies all the requirements found in the EV charging permit checklist as may be amended periodically.
C. 
If an application is deemed incomplete, a written plan check correction notice will be available to the applicant within twelve calendar days, detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information or documentation required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance shall be given to the applicant for resubmission.
D. 
The building official, in consultation with the community development director, may require an applicant to apply for a conditional use permit if the building official finds, based on substantial evidence, that the electric vehicle charging station could have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health and safety. The building official's decision to require a conditional use permit may be appealed by the applicant to the planning commission.
E. 
If a conditional use permit is required, the application for the conditional use permit may be denied if the planning commission 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. Such findings shall include the basis for the rejection of potential feasible alternatives for preventing the specific, adverse impact. The decision by the planning commission shall be final.
(Ord. 1699 § 1, 2021)