This chapter shall be known as the "Electric Vehicle Charging
Stations" chapter and may be cited as such.
(SCC 1599 § 1, 2016)
The State of California and the County of Sacramento have consistently
promoted and encouraged the use of fuel-efficient electric vehicles.
To that end, the State of California recently adopted Assembly Bill
1236, which requires local agencies to adopt an ordinance that creates
an expedited and streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle
charging systems as the creation of an expedited process would facilitate
convenient charging of electric vehicles and help reduce reliance
on environmentally damaging fossil fuels. Therefore, it is the purpose
and intent of this chapter 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 chapter also is intended to
comply with California Government Code Section 65850.7.
(SCC 1599 § 1, 2016)
The provisions of this chapter shall apply generally to all
property throughout the unincorporated territory of the County of
Sacramento. This chapter shall be applied in conjunction with the
Codes set forth in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations
and in the event of any conflict between this chapter and any law,
rule or regulation of the State of California, that requirement which
establishes the higher standard of safety shall govern.
(SCC 1599 § 1, 2016)
The Chief Building Official, or the Building Official's designee,
is charged with the responsibility of administering this chapter and
exercising the authority conferred thereby.
(SCC 1599 § 1, 2016)
As used herein, the following definitions shall govern the construction
of this chapter:
A.
"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 County on another
similarly situated application in a prior successful application for
a permit.
B.
"Association"
means a nonprofit corporation or unincorporated association created
for the purpose of managing a common interest development as set forth
in California Civil Code, Section 4080.
D.
"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 chapter, and delivers electricity
from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric
vehicle.
E.
"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.
(SCC 1599 § 1, 2016)
Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the Building
Official shall implement an expedited, streamlined permitting 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, streamlined
permitting process and checklist may refer to the recommendations
contained in the most current version of the "Plug-In Electric Vehicle
Infrastructure Permitting Checklist" of the "Zero-Emission Vehicles
in California: Community Readiness Guidebook" as published by the
Governor's Office of Planning and Research. The County's adopted checklist
shall be published on the County's website and may be modified by
the Building Official as needed without additional authorization from
the County Board of Supervisors.
(SCC 1599 § 1, 2016)
B.
Prior
to submitting an application for processing, the applicant shall verify
that the installation of an electric vehicle charging station will
not have any specific, adverse impact to public health and safety
and to building occupants. Verification by the applicant includes
but is not limited to: assurances that the station meets all health
and safety requirements of local, state, and federal law; 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.
C.
A permit
application that satisfies the information requirements in the County's
adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed.
Upon confirmation by the Building Official that the permit application
and supporting documents meet the requirements of the County adopted
checklist, and are consistent with all applicable laws and health
and safety standards, the Building Official shall, consistent with
Government Code Section 65850.7, approve the application and issue
the necessary permits. Such approval does not authorize an applicant
to energize or utilize the electric vehicle charging station until
final inspection approval is granted by the County. If the Building
Official determines that the permit application is incomplete, he
or she 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.
D.
Consistent
with Government Code Section 65850.7, the Building Official shall
allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this
chapter 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.
(SCC 1599 § 1, 2016)
A.
It
is the intent of this chapter to encourage the installation of electric
vehicle charging stations by removing obstacles to permitting for
charging stations so long as the expedited process does not supersede
the Building Official's authority to address higher priority life-safety
situations. If the Building Official makes a 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 this
chapter, County may require the applicant to apply for a use permit.
B.
In
the technical review of a charging station, 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.
(SCC 1599 § 1, 2016)
A.
Electric
vehicle charging station equipment 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 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.
(SCC 1599 § 1, 2016)
The provisions of this chapter are declared to be separate and
severable. The invalidity of any clause, phrase, sentence, paragraph,
subdivision, section or portion of this chapter, or the invalidity
of the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall not
affect the validity of the remainder of this chapter, or the validity
of its application to other persons or circumstances.
(SCC 1599 § 1, 2016)
