Level 2 Charger Installation

In 2020, the County was one of the first jurisdictions in the region recognized by the State as having a streamlined EV charger permitting process.

Permitting

Installing a Level 2 EV charger in the San Diego region requires a building permit and is subject to inspection prior to use. Installations must be completed by a certified and licensed electrician. Find electricians in your area that have completed training certification in the installation of EV charging equipment.

Residents of the Unincorporated County

To make charger installation easier if you live in the unincorporated area of the County, you can access a checklist to help you through the permitting process. Residents can use the County’s online Citizen Access Portal to receive same-day permits for home chargers, and submit requests for commercial projects electronically (2-3 day permit issuance is typical). 

To apply for a charger permit using the Citizen Access Portal, select PDS APPLY FOR RECORD (bottom left corner of the page), click the check box to accept use terms and CONTINUE APPLICATION, select BUILDING (RESIDENTIAL ALTERATION), enter your address, contact info, and eventually select “8013 – RESIDENTIAL EV CHARGE STATION” from the drop down menu. Step-by-step guidance instructions are available here. Once you complete the submittal, the permit is issued as an “instant permit”, allowing you to pay for the permit fee and schedule an inspection all within the online system.

For residents looking to bundle services, solar photovoltaic on your home can further reduce the costs of charging your EV by powering with renewable energy. 

Additional information on renewable energy project permitting and permitting fees is available online.

Residents Living in Incorporated Cities Within San Diego County

To install your Level 2 EV charger at home or your business, you’ll need to use the appropriate permit provided by the city you live in. You can find EV charging, residential building, and renewable energy permitting information for each of the region’s 18 incorporated cities using the links below.

Charging at Condos, Apartments, and other Multi-Unit Dwellings

If you live in a multifamily residence, you may not have EV charging infrastructure on-site. Don’t worry – driving an EV can still be an option for you! Here are options for your EV charging needs.

Charge nearby or when on the go. Use this map to search for local charging stations you can use near your home or areas that you frequent.

You may find public charging available at your worksite, local shopping center or grocery store, healthcare offices, or other public locations to help you charge up while you are on the go.

Many EV owners don’t have chargers at home and using these public charging options meet their charging needs.

Charging at public locations nearby or on the go are also great options if you don’t have off-street parking available at your single-family home (e.g, you don’t have a garage or driveway).

Advocate to bring EV charging to your multifamily community. If you are unable to utilize local chargers or prefer to have a charger at your home, you’ll need to work with the property owner and manager or homeowner’s association to bring EV charging to your multifamily community.

It can help to have multiple residents working together in this effort, so it’s a good idea to survey your community’s residents to see if they’d like to have access to EV charging.

Help bring EV charging to your multifamily community

  1. Contact your building management to express interest
  2. Take a poll to gather resident support
  3. Work with your neighbors and building management to understand costs and charger site locations

See these helpful resources, including surveys and letters you can modify, to advocate for EV charging at your condo, apartment, or townhome.

Incentives for Multifamily Property Owners

There are incentive and rebate programs available to help fund Level 2 EV charging in multifamily properties. If you live in a condo, apartment, or other multifamily residence, you are encouraged to share this information with your property owner to help cover the costs of EV charging infrastructure at your multi-unit dwelling.