Montezuma County commissioners adopt resolution opting out of state EV charger model code

Montezuma County commissioners on Oct. 21 approved a resolution notifying the state that the county will not adopt the state's EV charger model code and will instead rely on its existing land-use permitting process.

The action came after a county staff member summarized options under new state legislation. "This law was passed, the electric vehicle charging system, permits law, Colorado Senate Bill 24 1 1 7 3. Montezuma County is a covered entity under the code," the staff member said. He described three options the county could take and said the proposed resolution would "opt out of the EV charger model code or the standards and administrative review process required by the act, but will instead continue to utilize the existing review process in the land use code." The board then moved to approve "resolution number 212025, a resolution opting out of the requirements of the EV charging code created by House Bill 24-1173."

The resolution directs county staff to notify the state of Montezuma County's decision not to adopt the model code and to continue handling electric-vehicle charging proposals through the county's land-use code and high-impact review procedures. No additional implementing changes to local code were described at the meeting.

Commissioners voted in favor of the resolution. There was no recorded amendment to the resolution during the meeting.

Why it matters: The county's choice sets the local permitting path for charging stations in unincorporated areas and signals how the county will apply state-level requirements locally. The county attorney's office said similar resolutions responding to the state code may be forthcoming for other bills.

The board took the vote during its regular Oct. 21 session and then moved on to department reports.