This article shall be known as the "Electric Vehicle Charging
Station Permit Expediting Ordinance." The purpose of this article
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. This article is also purposed to comply with California
Government Code Section 65850.7.
(Ord. No. 1168, § 2, 9-25-17)
"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. Electric vehicle charging stations
and electric vehicle charging supply equipment shall refer to equipment
including, but not be limited to, the following: conductors including
ungrounded, grounded, and equipment grounding conductors, electric
vehicle connectors, attachment plugs, and all other fittings, devices,
power outlets, or apparatus installed specifically for the purpose
of transferring energy between the premises wiring and the 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. No. 1168, § 2, 9-25-17)
Electric vehicle charging stations which qualify for expedited
permit processing, pursuant to
Government Code Section 65850.7, shall
be subject to the procedures set forth in this article.
(Ord. No. 1168, § 2, 9-25-17)
Consistent with
Government Code Section 65850.7, the building
official shall implement an expedited permit review process for electric
vehicle charging stations, and adopt a checklist of all requirements
with which electric vehicle charging stations shall comply in order
to be eligible for expedited review. The expedited permit review process
and checklist may refer to the recommendations in the checklist prescribed
by the most current version of the "Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
Permitting Checklist" of the "Zero-Emission Vehicles in California:
Community Readiness Guidebook" published by the Governor's Office
of Planning and Research. The city's adopted checklist shall be published
on the city's website.
(Ord. No. 1168, § 2, 9-25-17)
(a) Prior
to submitting an application for processing, the applicant shall verify
that the installation of an electric vehicle charging station will
not have specific, adverse impact to public health and safety and
building occupants. Verification by the applicant includes, but is
not limited to: electrical system capacity and loads; electrical system
wiring, bonding and overcurrent protection; building infrastructure
affected by charging station equipment and associated conduits; areas
of charging station equipment and vehicle parking.
(b) Upon
payment of any required fee for processing, an 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 official that the permit application and supporting documents
meets the requirements of the city's adopted checklist, is consistent
with all applicable laws, and has passed technical review, the building
official shall, consistent with
Government Code Section 65850.7, 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 and the utility
provider. If the building official determines that the application
is incomplete, the building official 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.
(c) Consistent
with
Government Code Section 65850.7, the building official shall
allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this
article and associated supporting documentations. In accepting such
permit applications, the building official shall also accept electronic
signatures on all forms, applications, and other documentation in
lieu of a wet signature by any applicant.
(Ord. No. 1168, § 2, 9-25-17)
(a) All electric
vehicle charging stations shall be subject to the following standards:
(1) An
electric vehicle charging station 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. Electric vehicle
charging station systems and equipment shall also conform to all applicable
provisions and requirements of the City of Cypress Building Code.
(2) The
installation of electric vehicle charging station systems and equipment
shall be in accordance with the city's adopted electric vehicle charging
station checklist.
(3) All
electric vehicle charging stations shall be installed only after approval
by the building official and only after issuance of the necessary
building permit and any and all other permits required by the city
relating to the plumbing, electrical, and mechanical characteristics
of the system.
(4) Upon
installation of an electric vehicle charging station, the applicant
shall be responsible for obtaining authorization and approval to connect
the electric vehicle charging station to the local utility provider's
electricity grid. In the event the city owns or operates an electric
utility into which connection is proposed by the applicant, the application
shall demonstrate compliance with the city's utility interconnection
policies prior to approval.
(b) This
article does not supersede the building official's authority to address
higher priority life-safety situations. If the building official makes
a written finding based on substantial evidence that the electric
vehicle charging station could have a specific, adverse impact upon
the public health or safety, as defined in
Government Code Section
65850.7, and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate
or avoid the specific, adverse impact, the application shall be denied
and the city may require the applicant to apply for a use permit.
The determination of the building official may be appealed to the
planning commission, except that review by the planning commission
shall be limited to the findings required by this article.
(c) Consistent
with
Government Code Section 65850.7, the building official 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 Section 4080.
(Ord. No. 1168, § 2, 9-25-17)