The new Code is in effect as of January 1, 2023. Projects that apply for permits on or after January 1, 2023 fall under the 2022 Code.
Electric cars are growing in popularity—nearly 18% of new cars sold in California last quarter were EVs. And these new cars need places to charge!
To meet the growing need for charging stations, California’s CALGreen Building Code has updated requirements to either install EV Supply Equipment (EVSE) or provide infrastructure for future equipment, depending on the size and type of project.
The EV Charging requirements apply to new parking facilities and additional parking at existing facilities. New electrical work (e.g., lighting) in an existing parking area will also trigger the requirements. Below we’ll highlight some items in the residential section, which includes single family, multi-family and hotels and motels. Let’s get into it.
To start, new single family residences or townhouses with a private garage must be EV Capable, meaning they must have a raceway to the garage and capacity on the electrical panel, but do not require actual charging stations. That’s right, for single-family residences, 1 parking bay in the garage must be electric ready for Level II charging capability (240v) and 40 amps must be reserved in the panel. While there may be other outlets onsite that could be used to supply a Level I (120v) charger, that would not satisfy the CALGreen requirement for EV charging.
On single family lots where a primary home already exists and the project is an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), CALGreen EV charging does not apply, due to the parking exemptions afforded to ADU projects.
For multi-family or hotel/motel projects with 20 parking spaces or less, 10% of parking spaces (rounded to the nearest whole space) must be EV Capable and 25% of parking spaces must be EV Ready, meaning they have low power EV charging receptacle and are ready for future Level 2 charging stations.
Multi-family or hotel/motel projects with more than 20 parking spaces require all of the above plus 5% of spaces must include Level 2 charging stations.
Of course, it’s the code so there are lots more details and exceptions. If you are planning new residential construction or a major remodel you may want to consult with an energy professional to ensure that you are in compliance with these new regulations.
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