Duluth, MN Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- new multi-family/hotel lots with 10+ spaces
- Required share
- 10% of spaces EV or EV-ready
- Charger level
- Level 2 or higher required
- Solar-powered sites
- only 5% of spaces required
- Existing lots
- 20+ spaces expanded 30%+ also comply
- Adopted
- Ord. No. 10868, effective 12-11-2023
Summary
In the City of Duluth, new parking lots serving multi-family or hotel/motel developments must provide electric vehicle charging or EV-ready wiring for at least 10 percent of spaces once a lot has 10 or more stalls, with chargers rated Level 2 or higher, under § 50-24.8 of the Unified Development Chapter.
1. In any new parking lot that is accessory to either a multi-family or hotel or motel use, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations shall be provided as follows: parking lots with 10 or more parking spaces must have EV charging stations or be EV ready for a minimum of 10% of the parking spaces. Charging stations must include Level 2 or higher chargers; if spaces are EV ready, the wiring must support Level 2 chargers. If the property is connected to solar or other renewable energy source, only 5% of the parking spaces are required to meet the EV charging/readiness requirements. 2. If the parking capacity of an existing parking lot with 20 or more spaces, that is also accessory to either a multi-family or hotel or motel use, is increased by 30% or more, EV charging stations shall be provided as noted in 50-24.7.1 above. 3. EV ready spaces shall include a cabinet, box or enclosure connected to a conduit linking parking spaces with 208/240V or higher voltage AC electrical service suitable for the number of charging stations.
Full Breakdown
8 requires new parking lots accessory to a multi-family or hotel/motel use to provide electric vehicle charging: lots with 10 or more spaces must have EV charging stations, or be EV-ready, for a minimum of 10 percent of the spaces. Charging stations must be Level 2 chargers or higher, and EV-ready spaces must have wiring that supports at least a Level 2 charger. If the property is connected to solar power or another renewable energy source, that percentage drops to just 5 percent of spaces.
The requirement also reaches existing lots: if an existing lot with 20 or more spaces serving a multi-family or hotel/motel use expands its capacity by 30 percent or more, the same charging or EV-ready standard applies to the enlarged lot. An EV-ready space must include a cabinet, box, or enclosure connected to a conduit linking the parking space to 208/240-volt or higher AC electrical service sized for the number of charging stations needed. The requirement was adopted by Ordinance No. 10868 on December 11, 2023, and is checked by Planning and Economic Development during zoning and site plan review before a building permit issues.
Violations & Fines
Building a covered multi-family or hotel/motel parking lot without the required EV charging or EV-ready spaces is a Unified Development Chapter violation. Under § 50-39.4, the property owner is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be fined under City Code § 1-7, up to $1,000, or under the administrative schedule in § 12-6, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my new apartment building's parking lot need EV chargers in Duluth?
What counts as EV ready under Duluth's ordinance?
Can solar power reduce how many EV spaces I need?
Does expanding an existing hotel parking lot trigger the EV rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Duluth
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