Hydrogen Fueling Station Readiness
Hydrogen fueling stations across the state serve both passenger and commercial vehicles. They operate under robust codes and standards, with approval from local building, planning, and fire officials. Please refer to our Hydrogen Station Permitting Guidebook for information and best practices for hydrogen station development. The Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership also has a Hydrogen Refueling Station Buyer’s Guide.
The Hydrogen Fueling Station Permit Streamlining Map creates a shared understanding of Hydrogen Fueling Station permit streamlining across the state and tracks compliance with California laws. We hope communities use this tool, and the others linked below, to easily replicate success, leverage lessons learned, and save time as we all work to build out California’s zero-emission vehicle infrastructure network.
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: Check Compliance Deadline
Jurisdictions must adopt ordinances and post checklists by:
- September 30, 2025 (population > 250,000)
- September 30, 2028 (population < 250,000)
Step 2: Understand Streamlining Requirements
Applies to all hydrogen fueling stations that are located on a parcel that:
- (1) is zoned for industrial or commercial development and does not contain any residential units or
- (2) was previously developed with a service station, meaning any establishment which offers for sale or sells gasoline or other motor vehicle to fuel the public.
Review the Model Ordinance and Permitting Checklist
GO-Biz provides ready-to-use resources to help jurisdictions efficiently and effectively implement SB 1418.
Engage with the GO-Biz ZEV Team for guidance or technical support.
Step 3: Adopt Hydrogen Fueling Station Streamlining Ordinance
Initiate the adoption process with your city council or county board, including any required community outreach.
Finalize the Hydrogen Fueling Station Streamlining Ordinance and Permitting Checklist
Confirm any changes made to the model ordinance are in compliance with SB 1418 requirements:
- The streamlining ordinance states that permit applications that meet checklist requirements will be approved through non-discretionary permit (or similar)
- The streamlining ordinance states that no discretionary use permit is required and permit approval will be limited to health and safety review
- Electronic signatures accepted on City or County website (usually specified in the ordinance)
- The streamlining ordinance states that hydrogen permits do not require association approval
- The streamlining ordinance dictates that a written correction notices must detail all deficiencies
Streamlining ordinance gets adopted by the jurisdiction’s council/board
Step 4: Confirm Hydrogen Fueling Station Streamlining with GO-Biz
Implement the streamlined permitting process for hydrogen fueling stations
- Post the permitting checklist on the city or county website
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 Hydrogen Station Permit Streamlining Map and each jurisdiction will be scored based on the Permitting Hydrogen Stations Scorecard.
Hydrogen Permit Streamlining
California jurisdictions are required to streamline their hydrogen fueling station permitting processes — see the current tally below! You can learn more about scoring by looking at the Hydrogen 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: |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 539 |
To view the map in full screen, click here.
