Austin, TX Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)

Austin folded its electric-vehicle charging rule into the same February 2025 rewrite of Chapter 12-5 that created the City's other designated-zone parking rules. Sec. 12-5-24(C) applies specifically to a parking space dedicated for electrical vehicle charging: a person may not park a motor vehicle in it unless the vehicle both has an electric motor that uses energy stored in a rechargeable battery and is actually connected to an electrical vehicle charging station. Simply owning or driving an EV isn't enough to claim the space; the vehicle must be plugged in.

The section sits alongside two related City-property parking rules: Subsection (A) bars parking in a City-designated employee lot or garage unless the person is a City employee or has special authorization from the director of the Austin Transportation and Public Works Department, and Subsection (B) bars parking in a City-designated visitor lot unless the person is conducting business at the City facility the lot serves. All three restrictions were adopted by Ordinance No. 20250213-026, Part 2, effective February 24, 2025. As written, Sec. 12-5-24 applies only to off-street parking lots and garages at property owned or leased by the City; the code text reviewed here does not extend an EV-only occupancy rule to private parking lots, garages, or curbside charging stations elsewhere in Austin.