Cambridge, MA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Zoning Ordinance Sec. 4.32.n, footnote 63
- Per-lot cap
- No more than 2 charging systems per lot
- Excluded district
- Open Space District (not permitted)
- Permit needed
- Building permit only, no BZA permit
- Max fine
- $300 per offense, each day separate
- Enforcement officer
- Superintendent of Buildings / ISD Commissioner
Summary
Cambridge's Zoning Ordinance treats publicly-accessible, privately-owned electric vehicle charging as a listed accessory use, permitted by right in every zoning district except the Open Space District. The Table of Use Regulations at Section 4.32.n caps installations at no more than two charging systems per lot, per footnote 63, regardless of lot size or district.
Publicly-accessible, Privately-owned Electric Vehicle Charging. An electric vehicle charging system and its attendant off-street parking space that is made available from time-to-time for use by other individuals in need of an electric vehicle charging system for personal use. ... 63. Provided, however, that no more than two (2) Publicly-accessible, Privately-owned Electric Vehicle Charging systems shall be permitted on a lot.
Full Breakdown
000 of the Zoning Ordinance defines the use precisely: a Publicly-accessible, Privately-owned Electric Vehicle Charging installation is an electric vehicle charging system and its attendant off-street parking space made available from time to time for use by other individuals needing a charging system for personal use. n and marks it Yes (permitted as-of-right, no Board of Zoning Appeal special permit) in the Residence C-1/C-1A/C-2/2A/3/3A/3B districts, the Office districts, all Business districts, and both Industrial districts; it is marked No only in the Open Space district.
Footnote 63 attaches a hard numeric ceiling to that as-of-right permission: no more than two such charging systems may be installed on a single lot, no matter how large the lot or how many principal uses it holds. A property owner adding a third publicly-accessible charger on the same lot needs relief the ordinance does not provide for this use; the table offers no special-permit fallback once the two-charger cap is reached. 000, not through a Board of Zoning Appeal hearing. a(1).
Violations & Fines
Installing a third or later publicly-accessible charging system on one lot, or operating the use in the Open Space district, violates the Table of Use Regulations. Under Section 9.16, the Superintendent of Buildings or Commissioner of Inspectional Services can pursue a criminal fine of up to $300 per offense or a noncriminal disposition under G.L. c. 40, Section 21D, with each day of continued violation counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install more than one EV charger for public use on my Cambridge property?
Do I need a special permit to install an EV charging station in Cambridge?
What happens if I violate the EV charging rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cambridge
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EV Charging in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle ev charging.