The purpose of this chapter is to adopt an expedited, streamlined
permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations that complies
with AB 1236 (Chapter 598, Statutes 2015, California Government Code
Section 65850.7, as may be amended from time to time) to achieve timely
and cost-effective installations of electric vehicle charging stations.
This chapter encourages the use of electric vehicle charging stations
by removing unreasonable barriers, minimizing costs to property owners
and the city of South San Francisco, and expanding the ability of
property owners to install electric vehicle charging stations. This
chapter allows the city of South San Francisco to achieve these goals
while protecting the public health and safety.
(Ord. 1542 § 1, 2017)
means the city’s chief building official or designee.
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 the ordinance codified in this chapter or
as it may be amended, and delivers electricity from a source outside
an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle.
means the utilization of one or more of the following:
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. 1542 § 1, 2017)
This chapter applies to the permitting of all electric vehicle
charging stations in the city of South San Francisco. Electric vehicle
charging stations legally established or permitted prior to the effective
date of the ordinance codified in this chapter are not subject to
the permitting requirements of this chapter unless physical modifications
or alterations are undertaken that materially change the size, type,
or components of the electric vehicle charging station in such a way
as to require new permitting. Routine operation and maintenance shall
not require a permit.
(Ord. 1542 § 1, 2017)
(a)
All electric vehicle charging stations shall meet all applicable
health and safety standards and requirements imposed by the state
and the city.
(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. 1542 § 1, 2017)
(a)
All documents required for the submission of an electric vehicle
charging station application shall be made available on the city’s
website.
(b)
Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents
shall be made available to all electric vehicle charging station permit
applicants. An applicant’s electronic signature shall be accepted
on all forms, applications, and other documents in lieu of a wet signature.
(c)
The city’s building and safety 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
permit process, standard(s) and checklist(s) may 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 Governor’s
Office of Planning and Research.
(d)
All fees prescribed for the permitting of electric vehicle charging
stations must comply with Government Code Section 66016 and State
Health and Safety Code Section 17951 as set forth in the fee schedule
adopted by resolution of the city council.
(e)
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. 1542 § 1, 2017)
(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
there are no specific, adverse impacts upon public health or safety,
the building and safety division shall complete the permit approval
process, which is nondiscretionary, and issue the permit. 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 South San Francisco planning commission in accordance with the appeal procedures set forth in Chapter 20.570.
(1)
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 building 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 South San Francisco planning commission.
(i)
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.
(ii)
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 an electric
vehicle charging station use permit.
(c)
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 permit issuance shall
be sent to the applicant for resubmission. A separate fire inspection
may be performed by the city of South San Francisco fire department,
if required.
(Ord. 1542 § 1, 2017)
