Bloomington, IL Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 44-1210(C), Bloomington Zoning Code
- EV charging mandate
- None; charging equipment is optional on any space
- Signage approval
- Development Services Director must approve non-illuminated signage
- Enforcing agency
- Community Development Department, Development Services Director
- Zoning violation fine
- $100 to $750 per violation per day (§ 44-1715)
Summary
The City of Bloomington does not require any parking lot to add electric vehicle charging, but § 44-1210(C) of the Zoning Code lets any parking space citywide carry a power outlet or charging apparatus as of right. Public charging stations may post non-illuminated directional signage once the Development Services Director signs off, with no variance or special-use hearing needed.
Electric vehicle charging. Any parking space may be equipped with a power outlet or similar apparatus for electric vehicle charging. Electric vehicle charging stations for public use may provide non-illuminated directional signage, subject to approval by the Development Services Director, to identify the location of charging stations.
Full Breakdown
Article XII of the Bloomington Zoning Code sets off-street parking standards, and § 44-1210, "Other parking uses," closes with electric vehicle charging. Subsections A and B are marked "(Reserved)": the Council stripped out earlier standards and left subsection C as the operative rule after amendments on October 26, 2020 (Ord. No. 2020-69), March 25, 2024 (Ord. No. 2024-015) and April 28, 2025 (Ord. No. 2025-034). The text is short and permissive: any parking space in any zoning district, residential or commercial, may be equipped with a power outlet or similar apparatus for charging, with no minimum count, no mandatory percentage of a lot, and no separate EV permit process layered on top of a normal electrical permit.
" Illuminated signs are not authorized under this subsection and would need to clear the City's separate sign code, Chapter 3, instead. Because the rule sits inside the Zoning Code rather than the Building Code, a property owner adding a charger to an existing space does not need a zoning variance, special use permit, or site plan amendment, only whatever electrical permit Chapter 15 requires for the wiring itself. The Community Development Department, through the Development Services Director, administers the parking article and reviews any signage request submitted under this section.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 44 folds parking-article violations into the Zoning Code's general enforcement scheme at § 44-1715. Erecting illuminated or unapproved directional signage at a charging station, or any other unpermitted zoning violation, lets the City pursue fines of $100 to $750 per violation per day plus court costs and attorney fees, and the Director of Development Services can withhold future permits until the property is brought back into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bloomington require new parking lots to include EV charging stations?
Can a business post signs directing drivers to its charging stations?
Do I need a zoning permit to add a charger to my existing parking space?
Sources & Official References
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