Sec. 9-93. Expedited building permit process for electric vehicle charging stations.
a. Purpose.The purpose of this article 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 in the installation and use of such charging stations.
b. Applicability.This article applies to applications for expedited building permits for electric vehicle charging stations pursuant to Government Code Section 65850.7. Electric vehicle charging stations legally established or permitted prior to the effective date of this article are not subject to the requirements of this article unless physical modifications or alterations are undertaken that materially change the size, type, or components of an electric vehicle charging station. Routine operation and maintenance or like-kind replacements of existing charging stations shall not require a permit.
c. Process.
i.The Building Official shall adopt a checklist of all requirements for an application for an expedited building permit for electric vehicle charging stations. The checklist shall substantially conform to the checklist and standard plans contained in the most current version of the “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.
ii.If the application for an expedited building permit is incomplete, the Building Official shall issue a written correction notice of the deficiencies and the additional information required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance.
iii.An application for an expedited building permit for electric vehicle charging stations may be submitted by email or facsimile.
iv.If the Building Official finds, based on substantial evidence, that an electric vehicle charging 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. Such decisions may be appealed to the Planning Commission.
v.The Zoning Administrator may not deny an application for a use permit to install an electric vehicle charging station unless it makes written findings based upon substantial evidence in the record that the proposed installation would have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety, and 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 of preventing the adverse impact. The decision of the Zoning Administrator may be appealed to the Planning Commission. (Ord. 3575 § 3, 2017)