Chapter 15.20
STREAMLINED PERMITTING PROCESS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS
Sections:
15.20.040 Electric vehicle charging station installation requirements.
15.20.050 Submittal requirements.
15.20.060 Technical review, permit and inspection requirements.
15.20.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter 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 on the installation and use of such charging stations. This chapter is also purposed to comply with California Government Code Section 65850.7. (Ord. 1563 § 1 (part), 2020)
15.20.020 Definitions.
A. “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.
B. “Specific, adverse impact” means a significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact, based on objective and written public health or safety standards, policies, or conditions as they existed on the date the application was deemed complete.
C. “Electronic submittal” means the utilization of one or more of the following:
1. Email; or
2. The internet; or
3. Facsimile. (Ord. 1563 § 1 (part), 2020)
15.20.030 Applicability.
This chapter applies to the permitting of all electric vehicle charging stations in the City of San Carlos. 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 which electric vehicle charging stations shall comply with in order to be eligible for review. The expedited, streamlined permitting process and checklist may refer to the recommendations contained in the most current version of “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 City’s adopted checklist shall be published on the City’s website. (Ord. 1563 § 1 (part), 2020)
15.20.040 Electric vehicle charging station installation requirements.
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 utility company regarding safety and reliability.
B. Installation of electric vehicle charging stations and associated wiring, bonding, disconnecting means and overcurrent protection 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 Code and the California 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. (Ord. 1563 § 1 (part), 2020)
15.20.050 Submittal requirements.
All documents required for the submission of an expedited electric vehicle charging system application shall be made available on the City of San Carlos website.
Electronic submittal of the required permit application and associated documents for electric vehicle charging system permits shall be made by email or the internet. As an alternative, an applicant may submit a permit application and associated documents at the Building Division front counter during regular business hours.
An applicant’s valid electronic signature on all forms, applications and other documents in lieu of a wet signature will be deemed acceptable.
The electric vehicle charging system permit process and the checklist shall substantially conform to recommendations for expedited permit issuance.
All fees prescribed for the permitting of electric vehicle charging systems shall comply with Government Code Section 17556. (Ord. 1563 § 1 (part), 2020)
15.20.060 Technical review, permit and inspection requirements.
The Building Division shall prepare and implement an administrative, nondiscretionary permit issuance process to expedite approval of electric vehicle charging station permits within thirty (30) days of the adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter.
Prior to submitting an application for processing, the applicant shall verify that the installation of an electric vehicle charging station will not have a specific, adverse impact upon 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.
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-adopted checklist, and is 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 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 Building Division.
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 expedited permit issuance shall be emailed to the applicant for resubmission.
Review of the permit application shall be limited to the Building Division’s review of whether the application meets local, State and Federal health and safety requirements. If a use permit is required, the Building Official may deny an application for the use permit if the Building Official makes written findings based upon substantive 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, as defined, the adverse impact. Such findings shall include the basis for the rejection of the potential feasible alternative for preventing the adverse impact. Any condition imposed on an applicant shall be designed to mitigate the specific, adverse impact upon health and safety at the lowest possible cost.
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 of San Carlos on another similarly situated application in a prior successful application for a permit. The City of San Carlos shall use its best efforts to ensure that the selected method, condition, or mitigation meets the conditions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 714 of the Civil Code defining restrictions that do not significantly increase the cost of the system or decrease its efficiency or specified performance.
The City of San Carlos shall not provide conditional approval of an application for an electric vehicle charging station on the approval of an association, as defined in Section 4080 of the Civil Code.
Only one inspection shall be required and performed by the Building Division for electric vehicle charging systems. During the required inspection, if it is found that the installation does not conform to the approved plans and/or comply with the current California Building Code and/or California Electrical Code requirements, then an additional follow-up inspection, or inspections, shall be required. If an electric vehicle charging station system fails inspection, a subsequent inspection is authorized.
The Building Division inspection shall be scheduled within three (3) business days, upon request, and may include consolidated inspections. (Ord. 1563 § 1 (part), 2020)