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Tehachapi council approves first reading of ordinance to expedite EV charging permits
Summary
To comply with state law (AB 1236), the council approved first reading of a local ordinance to streamline non-discretionary permitting for electric vehicle charging systems and adopt a permitting checklist; staff said the city has already processed several charger installations under the statute.
The Tehachapi City Council granted first reading by title only to an ordinance that sets forth procedures to expedite and streamline permit processing for electric vehicle (EV) charging systems, implementing requirements of state law (AB 1236).
Staff told the council the ordinance largely mirrors state requirements: permitting for EV chargers must be ministerial and can consider only health and safety issues; local conditions such as screening of electrical equipment cannot be imposed. The ordinance also adopts a checklist that, when met, makes an application complete for ministerial review by the city’s building official.
Why it matters: Councilmember questions focused on long-term maintenance and operational responsibility for chargers. Staff explained typical arrangements are host-site warranty and cloud-monitoring agreements with private charging providers (for example, ChargePoint), with revenue-share or warranty plans that incentivize timely maintenance.
Council action: The council approved first reading and set the ordinance in motion for subsequent processing consistent with state law; the vote was recorded unanimously.
What’s next: The ordinance will return for a subsequent reading and formal adoption; staff said the city has processed five to six charger installations under the state standard to date and will finalize local ordinance language to match the statute.
