Plug-in Electric Vehicle Charging Station Readiness
California has the most robust ZEV infrastructure in the country, but also one of the most challenging permitting environments. To reach true market potential as quickly as possible, our goal is for California to be the most straightforward place in the country to install market enabling ZEV charging and fueling infrastructure.
AB 1236 (2015) and AB 970 (2021), codified in Government Code Sections 65850.7 and 65850.71, require cities and counties to adopt streamlined permitting procedures for electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS), including a streamlining ordinance and checklist (examples below). City and county streamlining status is reflected on the EVCS Streamlining Map and jurisdictions are graded based on the Permitting Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Scorecard.
Please refer to our Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permitting Guidebook for information and best practices for charging station development.
Statewide Hydrogen Station Permit Streamlining Laws
California passed two statewide hydrogen fueling station permit streamlining laws to drive the deployment of hydrogen infrastructure and zero emission vehicles:
SB 1291 (Archuleta, 2022): Requires all California cities and counties to develop an expedited, streamlined permitting process for hydrogen fueling stations according to specific criteria.
SB 1418 (Archuleta, 2024): Builds on SB 1291 and requires jurisdictions to create an expedited permitting ordinance and checklist for hydrogen fueling stations. Additionally, jurisdictions must limit project review to health and safety requirements.
Cities and Counties: How to Meet Permit Streamlining Requirements
GO-Biz offers support to California cities and counties working to streamline permitting for hydrogen fueling stations under SB 1418, by providing model ordinances, checklists, and technical support. Additionally, GO-Biz helps businesses engage and communicate productively with city officials to develop hydrogen station infrastructure.
Step 1: Understand Streamlining Requirements
Applies to all EVCS projects
- Level 1, 2, and DC Fast Charging (DCFC)
- Public/private, residential, commercial, or fleet installations
- Light-duty, medium/heavy duty
- Stations as accessory or primary use
Local jurisdictions must:
- Adopt a streamlining ordinance for expedited EVCS permitting
- Create and post online permitting checklists for level 2 and DCFC stations for residential/non-residential
- Provide administrative (ministerial) approval – no discretionary review, use permits or aesthetic zoning jurdles unless specific health/safety issues arise
- Limit review to health and safety requirements under local, state and federal law (e.g, building/electrical codes). No CEQA review for most projects
- Accept electronic submittals and signatures
- Not require approval from a homeowners association (HOA) or similar before issuing a city/county permit
- Issue only one complete deficiency notice if an application is incomplete
Step 2: Adopt Electric Vehicle Charging Station Streamlining Ordinance and Checklist
GO-Biz provides ready-to-use resources to help jurisdictions efficiently and effectively implement AB 1236 & 970
Finalize the Electric Vehicle Charging Station Streamlining Ordinance and Permitting Checklist
Confirm any changes made to the model ordinance are in compliance with AB 1236 & 970 requirements:
Initiate the adoption process with your city council or county board, including any required community outreach. Streamlining ordinance gets adopted by the jurisdiction’s council/board
Step 3: Post the Adopted Ordinance and Permitting Checklist
Make the finalized health/safety streamlined permitting checklist easily accessible to the public by posting it prominently on the AHJ website. Implement the streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations
- Post the permitting checklist on the city or county website
Step 4: Confirm Electric Vehicle Charging Station Streamlining with GO-Biz
Confirm compliance with the GO-Biz ZEV Team
- Contact us to share your jurisdiction’s compliance updates
- The city and county’s current streamlining status will be updated on the CA Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permit Streamlining Map and each jurisdiction will be scored based on the Permitting Electric Vehicle Station Scorecard.
EV Charging Station Permit Streamlining Map (EVCS Streamlining Map)
The “EV Charging Station Permit Streamlining Map” is a living companion to the Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permitting Guidebook. Its purpose is to create a shared understanding of EVCS permit streamlining across the state, and track compliance with California laws AB 1236 (2015) and AB 970 (2021).
EV Permit Streamlining Progress
A growing number of California jurisdictions are streamlining their EV charging station permitting processes – see the current tally below! You can learn more about scoring by looking at the Permitting Scorecard. If you have updates to make for your jurisdiction, let us know.
Streamlined Jurisdictions
(Numbers of cities and counties)
| Streamlined: | Streamlining in Progress: | Not Streamlined: |
|---|---|---|
| 358 | 77 | 105 |
Permitting Resources
- Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permitting Guidebook
- Attorney General Legal Alert – AB-1236/AB -970
- Medium and Heavy-Duty ZEV Charging Station Installation Guide
- Permitting Scorecard
AB 1236 Permitting Fact Sheets
- AB 1236 & AB 970
- Assembly Bill 970: Permitting Process & Timelines
- AB 2565: Installing EVCS on Rental Properties
- Aesthetics & Screening
- Parking Requirements
- Zoning
Best Practices & Resources
Permitting Information
The Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permitting Guidebook is intended to hasten the transition to plug-in electric vehicles by simplifying the deployment of electric vehicle charging stations. The Guidebook helps create a shared foundation of understanding for how cities, counties, and developers can work together to streamline the planning, permitting, installation, and ongoing operation of charging stations and supporting equipment.
For more information on electric vehicle charging station permitting, please watch these presentations from our ZEV Permitting Workshop at the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) from March 2020:
Project Design for Permitting Efficiency – Critical Updates for MDHD Charging Developers
EVCS Permit Streamlining
Accessibility
Streamlined Jurisdictions
Interconnection Process (SCE and LADWP)
The California Building Officials have a helpful Electric Vehicle Charging webpage, which includes AB 1236 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Toolkits (located under “Documents”) to assist local jurisdictions with streamlining their permitting procedures. The Toolkits contain model ordinances, checklist templates, and other helpful materials.
For permit streamlining templates and assistance, please contact the ZEV Unit.
Additional & National Resources
Planning & Zoning
In 2023, the Sustainable Energy Action Committee (SEAC), Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), and Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) published Planning and Zoning for Electric Vehicle Charger Deployment, a guidance document to support local code officials. This guidance is the result of more than a year of engagement with 40+ key stakeholders including auto makers, EV charging providers, and planning professionals. While this document is intended for use nationwide, it draws from the GO-Biz EV Charging Station Permitting Guidebook as a California resource. It addresses common planning and zoning challenges including permitted accessory use, parking, accessible use, design and aesthetics, and the approval process, and includes sample code text on zoning, permitted accessory use, parking count, parking mandates, accessibility, and EV charger readiness.
Coastal Development Guidance for EV Charging
AB 1236 and AB 970 do not override the California Coastal Management Act. Local governments in the coastal zone with certified Local Coastal Programs (LCPs) are responsible for determining whether a CDP is required for proposed development within their respective jurisdictions. The Coastal Commission will work with LCPs to identify potential coastal resource concerns with respect to new or expanded EVCS and clearly define the circumstances when a CDP will and will not be required. For additional guidance, please refer to the California Coastal Commission’s Coastal Development Guidance for EV Charging Stations.
