Washington County, OR Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Parking credit
- 1:1 substitution for required spaces
- ADA minimum
- At least 1 space per lot
- Signage cap
- 5 sq ft per space
- Outdoor outlet height
- 24 to 48 inches
- Governing provision
- CDC § 413-3.6
Summary
Washington County's Community Development Code does not mandate electric vehicle charging spaces, but Section 413-3.6 sets installation standards for any that are provided, allowing them to count 1:1 toward required parking, requiring at least one ADA-compliant space, and capping outlet mounting height between 18 and 48 inches.
413-3.6 If provided, electric vehicle charging parking spaces, either public or private, shall comply with the following requirements: A. Electric vehicle charging parking spaces may substitute for required minimum off-street parking spaces of Section 413-6.1 at a 1:1 ratio. B. A minimum of one electric vehicle charging space shall be ADA compliant. C. Electric vehicle charging parking spaces shall be posted with signage not to exceed 5 square feet in size. D. Electric vehicle charging unit outlets and operable parts shall be no less than 18 inches off the ground if indoors and 24 inches off the ground if outdoors and no higher than 48 inches off the ground to ensure easy access.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Community Development Code: Supplement 2 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 25).
Full Breakdown
6 governs electric vehicle charging parking spaces, either public or private, wherever a development chooses to provide them; the county does not require EV charging as a condition of a parking area, but once a project includes charging spaces they must meet four standards. 1 at a 1:1 ratio, so an EV charging stall counts as a regular required space rather than an add-on. Subsection B requires a minimum of one electric vehicle charging space to be ADA compliant, ensuring accessible charging is built into any installation rather than left optional.
Subsection C requires posted signage identifying each space, capped at not to exceed 5 square feet in size, keeping wayfinding compact rather than turning into an additional freestanding sign under Section 414. Subsection D sets physical placement limits for the charging hardware itself: electric vehicle charging unit outlets and operable parts shall be no less than 18 inches off the ground if indoors and 24 inches off the ground if outdoors and no higher than 48 inches off the ground to ensure easy access, a band designed to keep controls reachable while limiting exposure to water pooling or vehicle contact at grade. 5-foot minimum stall width and applicable aisle clearances as a standard space in the same lot.
Violations & Fines
Because EV charging spaces are optional rather than mandated, there is no separate penalty for omitting them; a development that installs charging spaces without ADA compliance, without the required signage cap, or with outlets mounted outside the 18-to-48-inch band will not clear the Type I parking area development permit required by Section 413-1 before the spaces can be used to satisfy minimum parking counts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Washington County required to make me install EV charging in a new parking lot?
Do EV charging spaces count toward my required parking total?
How high can an outdoor charging station's plug be mounted?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
Compare Washington County to another location·View the Oregon parking rules overview
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