Mandatory Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Building Standards

The California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) published mandatory building standards requiring pre-wiring for EV charging station installation in parking spaces at one- and two-family dwellings with attached private garages, multi-family dwellings, commercial facilities, and public buildings in the California Green Building Standards Code within the California Building Standards Code.

New one- and two-unit single family dwellings or townhouses with attached private garages must have electrical conduit installed that is capable of supporting a Level 2 EV charging station. For new multifamily dwellings and hotels, 10% of parking spaces must be EV-capable and 25% of parking spaces must be EV-ready. New multifamily dwellings and hotels with more than 20 units must install Level 2 EV charging stations at 5% of all parking spaces.

For public parking facilities, minimum EV charging station prewiring installation requirements are based on the number of parking spaces, per parking facility, as follows:

Total Actual Parking Spaces Required EV-Capable Parking Spaces
0 to 9 2
10 to 25 5
26 to 50 11
51 to 75 19
76 to 100 26
101 to 151 38
151 to 200 53
201 and over 30% of total parking spaces

Public facilities must also install handicap-accessible EV charging stations when installing new or additional EV charging stations. Minimum accessible EV charging station installation requirements, per parking facility, are as follows:

Total EV Charging Stations Van Accessible EV Charging Stations Standard Accessible EV Charging Stations Ambulatory Accessible EV Charging Stations
1 to 4 1 0 0
5 to 25 1 1 0
26 to 50 1 1 1
51 to 75 1 2 2
76 to 100 1 3 3
101 and over 1, plus 1 for each 300, or fraction thereof, over 100 3, plus 1 for each 60, or fraction thereof, over 100 3, plus 1 for each 50, or fraction thereof, over 100

In cases in which EV charging stations can simultaneously charge more than one vehicle, the number of EV charging stations provided shall be considered equivalent to the number of EVs that can be simultaneously charged.

Beginning January 1, 2023, CBSC must convene a workshop to evaluate demand for EV charging infrastructure, electric load forecasts, and statewide transportation electrification goals and use the workshop’s findings to recommend updates to EV charging station building standards. The workshop must convene and propose recommendations on a triennial basis. CBSC must also publish guidance and best practices for installing EV charging stations.

Additional requirements may apply. For more information, including exemptions and additional regulations, see the CBSC website.

(Reference California Health and Safety Code 18941.10 and 18941.11, California Building Code Chapter 2, and California Green Building Standards Title 24, Part 11)

Jurisdiction: California

Type: Laws and Regulations

Enacted: Sep 28, 2013

Amended: Sep 16, 2022

Technologies: EVs, PHEVs

See all California Laws and Incentives.