Plug-in Electric Vehicle Charging Station Readiness

Applies to all EVCS projects

• Light-, medium-, and heavy-duty stations
• Public or private (including fleet use cases) in any zone
• Residential, mixed use, commercial, industrial
• 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 hurdles 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, unless it has determined it is unable to accept electronic signatures and has stated the reasons in its ordinance
• 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

Local jurisdictions must:

• Finalize the EVCS Streamlining Ordinance and Permitting Checklist
• Confirm any changes made to the model ordinance are in compliance with AB 1236 & 970
• Initiate the adoption process with your city council or county board, including any required community outreach
• The streamlining ordinance is formally adopted by the jurisdiction’s city council or county board of supervisors

GO-Biz provides ready-to-use resources to help jurisdictions efficiently and effectively implement AB 1236 & 970

• EVCS Model Ordinance (click to download .docx)
• EVCS Model Permitting Checklist (click to download .docx)

After the ordinance is adopted and the checklist is finalized:

• Implement the streamlined permitting process for EVCS
• Post both documents on the city or county website so the public can easily find them

• Contact us to share your jurisdiction’s compliance updates
• The city and county’s current streamlining status will be updated on the GO-Biz EVCS Permit Streamlining Map and each jurisdiction will be scored based on the Permitting Electric Vehicle Station Scorecard.

• Planning and Zoning for Electric Vehicle Charger Deployment: 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.

• Energy Ready Charging Smart Program Guide: In 2025, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), with Great Plains Institute (GPI) as lead partner and partners including Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), published the Charging Smart Program Guide as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Ready suite of programs. This guidance document supports local governments nationwide in adopting recognized best practices for enabling efficient electric vehicle charger expansion through free technical assistance and a points-based designation system. Local governments can earn Bronze, Silver, or Gold designations by completing criteria across six categories—Planning, Regulation, Utility Engagement, Education and Incentives, Government Operations, and Shared Mobility. It addresses common planning and zoning challenges including reviewing zoning requirements for barriers, permitting EV chargers as an accessory use by right, establishing standard permitting processes and checklists, adopting EV-ready ordinances and building codes, and coordinating with utilities, and includes detailed action descriptions, implementation guidance, templates, verification resources, and sample approaches for local planners and code officials. Visit Energy-ready.org for more information.

• Coastal Development Permits: 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.

• EPIC 4.03 Pilot – EV Charging Solutions for Parking Constrained Customers: As part of the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) program, Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) and Cadmus are researching EV Charging Solutions for Parking Constrained Customers. The 2026 interim report provides detailed information about parking constrained customers, current capacities of local jurisdictions and challenges they face regarding EV charging in the PROW, and curbside charging advantages and risks. Future project publications will include more data on local permitting processes, timelines, and costs, and explore possible mitigation measures like consolidated dual PROW permits and coordinated inter department permit application reviews.
• Community Charging – Emerging Multifamily, Curbside, and Multimodal Practices:  In 2024, the federal Joint Office of Energy and Transportation published a white paper on emerging practices and technologies that can bring the benefits of electric mobility infrastructure to drivers in multifamily housing or who are otherwise dependent on curbside or on-street parking. This paper includes case studies of curbside charging pilots in Los Angeles, New York City, and several locations in Europe. Visit  DriveElectric.gov  for more.
• Pole-Mounted Electric Vehicle Charging – Preliminary Guidance: The World Resources Institute’s 2021 working paper on pole-mounted EV charging gives a thorough and still-relevant overview of factors that impact viability and cost of pole-mounted EVCS installations, including differences between streetlight and utility poles, electrical capacity considerations, electricity rates and metering, pole ownership, the role of utilities, and site selection. It also provides practical guidance and actionable steps for cities or utilities interested in assessing the viability of pole-mounted chargers, planning for pilot deployments, and, where feasible, siting and installing chargers. Visit  WRI.org  for more.