Kern County, CA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit type
- Ministerial building permit
- Deemed complete
- 5-10 business days
- Deemed approved
- 20-40 business days after completeness
- Review scope
- Health and safety only
- HOA approval condition
- Prohibited
Summary
California law requires Kern County to approve applications to install electric vehicle charging stations administratively through a nondiscretionary building permit, limits county review to health and safety requirements, and deems applications complete or approved if the county misses statutory deadlines.
(b) (1) A city, county, or city and county shall administratively approve an application to install electric vehicle charging stations through the issuance of a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit. ... (3) Review of an application to install an electric vehicle charging station or hydrogen-fueling station shall be limited to the building official's review of whether it meets all health and safety requirements of local, state, and federal law. The requirements of local law shall be limited to those standards and regulations necessary to ensure that the electric vehicle charging station or hydrogen-fueling station will not have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety. However, if the building official of the city, county, or city and county makes a finding, based on substantial evidence, that the electric vehicle charging station or hydrogen-fueling station could have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety, the city, county, or city and county may require the applicant to apply for a use permit. ... (g) (1) (A) On or before September 30, 2016, every city, county, or city and county with a population of 200,000 or more residents, and, on or before September 30, 2017, every city, county, or city and county with a population of less than 200,000 residents, shall, in consultation with the local fire department or district and the utility director, if the city, county, or city and county operates a utility, adopt an ordinance, consistent with the goals and intent of this section, that creates an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations. ... (h) A city, county, or city and county shall not condition approval for any electric vehicle charging station or hydrogen-fueling station permit on the approval of the station by an association, as that term is defined in Section 4080 of the Civil Code.
Full Breakdown
Government Code Section 65850.7 declares EV charging station permitting a matter of statewide concern and requires every city and county, including Kern County's unincorporated areas, to approve EV charging station applications ministerially through a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit, with review limited to health and safety. Under subdivision (g), counties with 200,000 or more residents had to adopt an expedited, streamlined EV charging permitting ordinance with a published checklist by September 30, 2016. Under Government Code Section 65850.71 (AB 970), an application is deemed complete if the county takes no action within 5 business days (1-25 stations at a site) or 10 business days (more than 25), and deemed approved 20 or 40 business days after completeness, respectively, absent specific health and safety findings. Approval may not be conditioned on homeowners association consent.
Violations & Fines
These are state mandates on the county rather than restrictions on residents: if Kern County fails to act within the statutory timeframes, an EV charging station application is deemed complete and ultimately deemed approved by operation of law (Government Code Section 65850.71).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Kern County require a use permit for my home EV charger?
How fast must Kern County act on an EV charger permit application?
Does this state law apply in unincorporated Kern County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kern County
California rules heatmap·Compare Kern County to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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