Carlsbad, CA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)

190 regulates who can occupy a designated electric vehicle charging station on a public street or in a publicly owned or operated off-street lot. Subsection B makes it unlawful to park or leave standing any vehicle in the space unless it is an electric vehicle actively charging, meaning the connector is inserted into the inlet and power is actually being transferred, or unless the connected vehicle has not yet exceeded whatever parking time limit applies to that space. It is separately unlawful to obstruct, block or otherwise bar access to a charging station.

The section defines its own terms by cross-reference to the state Vehicle Code, including electric vehicle charging station under Vehicle Code Section 22511 and park or parking under Vehicle Code Section 463, and it distinguishes a battery electric vehicle from a plug-in hybrid. A vehicle enforcement official, meaning a peace officer or a salaried city employee who enforces parking rules, can remove a vehicle found in violation once the signage required by Vehicle Code Section 22511 is posted, and the Carlsbad Police Department must be notified of any such removal.

An unauthorized vehicle goes to the nearest storage garage, and the owner must get mailed or hand-delivered notice within 48 hours listing the towing agency's contact information, the vehicle's description and license plate, the removal authority, and the right to request a post-storage hearing within 10 days using a form filed with the City Clerk. The hearing itself must be held within 48 hours of the request, is conducted by an administrative hearing officer who is not bound by technical rules of evidence, and results in a final written decision with no further administrative appeal; the officer can assess the city's reasonable costs, including impound and storage fees, but the towing agency bears those costs if reasonable grounds for the storage are not established. The section does not apply to vehicles abated under the state Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Program or impounded for investigation.