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City staff proposes EV-charging ordinance with permits, design standards and 10% cap on commercial stalls
Summary
City staff presented an ordinance to establish electrical permits, design standards and a 10% cap on EV-only parking stalls at commercial sites; council asked staff to require placement mock-ups, consult vendors and consider residential screening rules.
City staff presented regulations for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations aimed at setting a uniform permitting and design framework across Missouri City.
"The purpose of this presentation is really to obtain direction from you, regarding the 3 proposed ordinances," Monica, the staff presenter, told council. The proposed EV ordinance would require an electrical permit that specifies location, voltage and amperage, establish design standards (parking space sizes and outlet heights of 36 to 48 inches), and allow periodic inspections of nonresidential chargers. For commercial properties, the draft would let EV-only stalls count toward required parking totals provided total EV stalls remain under 10% of required spaces.
Council members pressed staff about what the ordinance could require for visual screening and wiring. The mayor said she was concerned about chargers placed immediately in front of a house entry, noting that many residential installs run cords across driveways. Monica said staff can add residential screening or fencing language at council direction and that the ordinance currently applies in all zoning districts.
On enforcement, staff said property owners would generally police EV-only spaces (for example through towing rules), while the city’s role would be limited to code enforcement and permit review. Councilmember Ryan asked that applicants submit a mock-up of charger placement during permitting; staff agreed to require mock-ups and to consult major vendors such as ChargePoint and Tesla about technical best practices.
The presentation recommended a phased schedule: if vendor feedback is received in time, the ordinance could return for a first reading on May 4 and a second reading on May 20. Staff emphasized the proposal is intended to balance safety, accessibility and neighborhood aesthetics while accommodating commercial charging infrastructure.
