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Spanish Fort allows electric‑vehicle charging stations in commercial districts and at homes
Summary
The council adopted Ordinance 7062025 to permit electric vehicle (EV) charging stations by right in commercial districts and to allow installations at residences, subject to ADA and parking requirements; the ordinance does not mandate chargers for new construction.
The Spanish Fort City Council adopted Ordinance 7062025 to add a special provision allowing electric vehicle charging stations in the city’s commercial districts and at private residences, subject to zoning, parking and accessibility standards.
City Attorney David Connor told the council the ordinance does not mandate charging stations but enables property owners to install them where appropriate. “This ordinance does not mandate the installation of electric vehicle charging stations, but does allow the property owner to make a determination as to whether or not they want to include a vehicle charging station as a part of their provision of service,” Connor said.
Under the ordinance, existing commercial sites may add charging stations only if they maintain the minimum required parking for their use; chargers cannot be counted as part of a site’s required minimum parking. The provision allows dedicated charging facilities in zoning districts where fuel stations are allowed, subject to the same zone and review requirements. Installations must meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and any other technical or permitting standards the city enforces.
Connor said the planning commission recommended the ordinance after receiving applications from local businesses, including a pending request for chargers at the Cracker Barrel at Eastern Shore Centre. The council approved placing the new section in Article 7 (Special Provisions) of the zoning ordinance and assigned it an available section number.
On roll call the ordinance passed unanimously (Gustafson: yes; Perry: yes; Wynne: yes; Bradner: yes; Mayor: yes). The change allows restaurants, retail centers and homeowners to add chargers without a separate zoning text amendment, while preserving city review for related site and parking changes.
