Allentown, PA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)

Section 660-44 of the 2026 Zoning Ordinance (Ord. No. 16166, effective January 1, 2026) governs off-street, on-site electric vehicle charging equipment citywide. Private, restricted-access EV charging stations are permitted as accessory uses in every zoning district, while public EV charging stations are allowed as an accessory use only where they serve an allowed nonresidential use. Neither type requires a special exception or conditional use review; both are treated as by-right accessory installations subject to the section's siting and equipment rules.

Charging equipment doubles as parking supply: § 660-44.B(1) lets a property count EV charging stations toward satisfying the minimum off-street parking requirement that otherwise applies to the site, so a developer adding chargers does not need to provide additional spaces on top of them. Public charging spaces, however, must stay reserved for parking and charging electric vehicles, though any electric vehicle can still park in a regular public space subject to the rules that apply to other cars.

Equipment placement is regulated for safety rather than aesthetics: § 660-44.C requires that charging equipment be designed and located so it does not impede pedestrian, bicycle, or wheelchair movement or create hazards on sidewalks. There is no separate permit fee schedule for EV chargers in this section; installation still requires the standard building and electrical permit review the Bureau of Building Standards and Safety applies to any electrical work.