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.

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 Charging Station Spaces
0 to 9 0
10 to 25 1
26 to 50 2
51 to 75 4
76 to 100 5
101 to 151 7
151 to 200 10
201 and over 6% 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 electric vehicles 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.

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, California Green Building Standards Title 24, Part 11, and Assembly Bill 2075, 2022)

Jurisdiction: California

Type: Laws and Regulations

Enacted: Sep 28, 2013

Amended: Sep 16, 2022

Technologies: EVs, PHEVs

See all California Laws and Incentives.