Aliso Viejo, CA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)

Chapter 13.10 of the Aliso Viejo Municipal Code, adopted by the Aliso Viejo City Council as Ordinance 2017-191, is the city's electric vehicle charging station permit expediting ordinance. It does not set parking space counts. It governs how the city permits charging equipment, and it ties every step to California Government Code Section 65850.7.

Under § 13.10.020, the building official must implement an expedited administrative permit review process and adopt a checklist of all requirements a station must meet to qualify. The process and checklist can refer to the "Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist" in the "Zero-Emission Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook" published by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research. The city's adopted checklist must be published on the city's website. The same expedited process is repeated in the city's amendment to Section 107.3 of Chapter 1 of the California Building Code in § 13.02.060, which also promises simplified submittal forms on the city's website.

Section 13.10.030 bars the building official from conditioning approval of any charging station permit on approval by an association, as that term is defined by California Civil Code Section 4080. Section 13.10.040 sets the processing rule: an application that satisfies the information requirements in the adopted checklist is deemed complete and promptly processed. Once the building official confirms the application and supporting documents meet the checklist and are consistent with all applicable laws, the official approves it and issues all necessary permits. Approval does not authorize the applicant to energize or use the station until the city grants approval. An incomplete application gets a written correction notice detailing every deficiency and the added information needed.

Section 13.10.050 states the intent to encourage installation by removing permitting obstacles, without superseding the building official's authority over higher priority life-safety situations. If the building official finds, based on substantial evidence, that a station could have a specific adverse impact upon public health or safety, as defined in Government Code Section 65850.7, the city can require the applicant to apply for a use permit.