Mendocino County, CA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Mendocino County Code Ch. 18.50
- Enacted
- Ord. No. 4479, 1-5-2021
- Legal basis
- Gov. Code § 65850.7 (AB 1236)
- Equipment standard
- CEC Article 625 compliance required
- Appeal body
- Mendocino County Planning Commission
Summary
Mendocino County reviews electric vehicle charging station permits administratively under a checklist the Building Official publishes on the Planning and Building Services website, implementing the state's AB 1236 mandate. Once an application meets the checklist the county must approve it and cannot condition approval on an association's sign-off; a denial for a specific health or safety impact can be appealed to the Planning Commission.
Upon confirmation by the Building Official that the application is complete and meets the requirements of the checklist, and is consistent with this chapter, the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations. However, the county may withhold issuance of the permit or authorization if there is a violation on record for any structure associated with the application under review. If the Building Official makes a finding, based on substantial evidence, that the electric vehicle charging station could have a specific adverse impact upon the public health or safety, the permit application shall be denied. ... The Building Official's decision to approve or deny a permit for an electrical vehicle charging station may be appealed to the Mendocino County Planning Commission pursuant to the appeal provisions of the relevant division of the Mendocino County Zoning Code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 75).
Full Breakdown
50, enacted by Ord. No. 7 (AB 1236), governs EV charging station permitting in the unincorporated county. 020 defines a covered "charging station" as electric vehicle supply equipment built to Article 625 of the California Electrical Code. 025 requires stations to meet applicable state and local health and safety standards plus safety and performance standards from the Electrical Code, the Society of Automotive Engineers, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, accredited testing labs such as Underwriters Laboratories, and, where relevant, Public Utilities Commission safety and reliability rules.
The Building Official adopts a checklist under Sec. 030, which may draw on the state's Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist from the Zero-Emission Vehicles in California Community Readiness Guidebook, and may be modified for documented local climatic, geological, seismological, or topographical conditions; the Building Official may also set a process for prioritizing competing applications. Applications and supporting documents can be submitted electronically, with e-signatures accepted at the department's discretion, or by mail or in person.
Violations & Fines
The county may withhold issuance of an EV charging permit if there is a violation on record for any structure associated with the application. A permit application is denied outright if the Building Official finds, based on substantial evidence, that the station could have a specific adverse impact on public health or safety, and that denial or any approval decision may be appealed to the Mendocino County Planning Commission under the zoning code's standard appeal provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Mendocino County require before approving an EV charging station permit?
Can Mendocino County deny my EV charging station permit?
Is there a state law behind Mendocino County's EV charging permit process?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mendocino County
California rules heatmap·Compare Mendocino County to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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