A. 
The purpose of this chapter is to promote and encourage the use of electric and hydrogen-fuel-based vehicles by creating an expedited, streamlined permitting process for installation of electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations while promoting public health and safety and preventing specific adverse impacts that may result from the installation and use of such charging and hydrogen fueling stations. This chapter is also purposed to comply with California Government Code Sections 65850.7 and 65850.71. If amendments to Government Code Sections 65850.7 and 65850.71 conflict with the provisions of this chapter, then this chapter shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with Sections 65850.7 and 65850.71, as the same may be amended.
B. 
This chapter is intended to encourage the installation of electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations by removing obstacles to permitting, but does not supersede the building official's authority to identify and address higher priority life-safety situations.
(Ord. 1123 § 1, 2018; Ord. 1200, 11/12/2025)
"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 electric vehicle charging station permit application.
"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 the ordinance codified in this chapter, and delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle.
"Electronic submittal"
means the utilization of one or more of the following:
1. 
Electronic mail or e-mail.
2. 
The internet.
3. 
Facsimile.
"Hydrogen Fueling Station"
means the equipment used to store and dispense hydrogen fuel to vehicles according to industry codes and standards where the fueling station is open to the public.
"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. 1123 § 1, 2018; Ord. 1200, 11/12/2025)
The building official shall implement an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations, and adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations shall comply with in order to be eligible for expedited review.
(Ord. 1123 § 1, 2018; Ord. 1200, 11/12/2025)
A. 
Prior to submitting an application for processing, the applicant shall provide information required by the city's checklist for installation of electrical vehicle charging stations or hydrogen fueling stations, as applicable, to verify that the installation 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, hydrogen fuel dispenser location, hydrogen generation or distribution equipment as applicable, all hydrogen fuel lines, electrical equipment supplying hydrogen fuel pumps and associated equipment, compliance with Class I, Division 1 and 2 requirements, clearances from surrounding electrical equipment as required by Chapter 5 of the California Electrical Code and applicable NFPA Standards, compliances the county of Los Angeles Fire Code; other requirements as determined by the building official.
B. 
A permit 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 meet the requirements of the city's checklist, and are consistent with all applicable laws and health and safety standards, the building official shall approve the application and issue all necessary permits within the building official's purview for the installation of an electric vehicle charging station or hydrogen fueling station as applicable. Such approval does not authorize an applicant to energize or utilize the electric vehicle charging station or hydrogen fueling station without obtaining other approvals that may be required by the city.
C. 
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. 
The city's adopted checklist and permit application shall be published on the city's website. The building official shall adopt a checklist of all application requirements for expedited building permits for electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations. The checklist shall substantially conform to the most current version of the "Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist" found in the "Zero-Emission Vehicles in California. Community Readiness Guidebook," and "Hydrogen Station Permitting Guidebook" published by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research.
The checklist, application form, and any other documents required by the building official shall be published on the city's website. The building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications and associated supporting documents. 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. 1123 § 1, 2018; Ord. 1200, 11/12/2025)
A. 
If the building official reviews an application and makes a finding, based on substantial evidence, that the electrical vehicle charging station or hydrogen fueling station could have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety, the city may require the applicant to apply for a conditional use permit. The planning commission shall grant a conditional use permit for installation of an electric vehicle charging station or hydrogen fueling station as applicable, unless the planning commission makes written findings, based on substantial evidence in the record, that the proposed installation would have a significant, adverse impact upon the public health or safety, and that there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact. The findings shall include the basis for the rejection of potential feasible alternatives for preventing the adverse impact. Any conditions imposed on an application to install an electric vehicle charging station or hydrogen fueling station shall be designed to mitigate the specific, adverse impact upon public health or safety at the lowest cost possible.
B. 
In the technical review of a charging or hydrogen fueling station, the building official or planning commission shall not condition the approval of an electric vehicle charging station or hydrogen fueling station installation permit on an association's (as that term is defined by Civil Code Section 4080) approval of the station.
C. 
The building official's decision to approve a permit pursuant to Section 15.54.040B above, or require a conditional use permit pursuant to subsection A of this section, may be appealed to the city's planning commission.
(Ord. 1123 § 1, 2018; Ord. 1200, 11/12/2025)
A. 
Electric vehicle charging station equipment 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 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.
E. 
Hydrogen fueling stations shall meet the requirements of the California Electrical Code, the County of Los Angeles Fire Code, National Fire Protection Association Standards, the Society of Automotive Engineers, and accredited testing laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratories, and rules of the Public Utilities Commission regarding safety and reliability.
F. 
Installation requirements of hydrogen fueling stations shall meet all requirements for hazardous locations as required by Chapter 5 of the California Electrical Code, and H-occupancy requirements of the county of Los Angeles Fire Code.
G. 
Where auxiliary structures are associated with the operation, control, monitoring, production, distribution, power provision, or any regulation of hydrogen fueling, the auxiliary structure shall meet all requirements of the Pico Rivera Municipal Code, including, but not limited to, zoning, fire, structural, egress, accessibility, equipment working clearances, short circuit, disconnect and listing of equipment and the structure.
(Ord. 1123 § 1, 2018; Ord. 1200, 11/12/2025)