The Los Angeles City Council passed a motion Friday aimed at streamlining the permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations in accordance with California law.
According to the motion, the state amended its code in 2015 to require cities and counties with more than 200,000 residents to adopt an ordinance to streamline and expedite the process for electric vehicle charging stations to be permitted. The law is aimed at lowering installation costs, expediting permitting and expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure to meet California’s goals.
Another law, passed in 2021, requires California cities and counties to deem an electric vehicle charging station application complete within five or 10 business days and approved within 20 or 40 days after that.
“While the Departments of Building and Safety and City Planning have each taken proactive measures to promote electric vehicle adoption, including creating express permits for certain EVSC installations and prioritizing EV plan checks, the city does not have an ordinance that addresses the requirements of AB 1236 or AB 970,” the motion, introduced by Councilman Paul Krekorian, states.
The motion, which passed 10-0, instructs the city’s Department of Building and Safety, in consultation with City Attorney and the Planning Department, to prepare an ordinance that would streamline the city’s permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations in accordance with California law.
