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Solano County, CA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
Solano County Code § 6.3-26
Adopting ordinance
Ord. No. 1774, §1
Permit issuance
Nondiscretionary once complete
Electronic submittal
Email or internet, when available
Appeal body
County Planning Commission

Summary

Solano County requires a building permit for electric vehicle charging stations but must issue it on a nondiscretionary, expedited basis once an application meets the county's checklist. The Building Official cannot use discretion to reject a complete application under Solano County Code Section 6.3-26.040(e).

City-specific rules exist: Fairfield, Vallejo, and Vacaville have their own ev charging rules that differ from Solano County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

The building official shall issue a building permit, the issuance of which is nondiscretionary, for complete applications that meet the requirements of the approved checklist and this chapter. ... The building official may require an applicant to apply for a use permit if the official finds, based on substantial evidence, that the electric vehicle charging station could have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health and safety. Such decisions may be appealed to the county planning commission.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 1868, passed April 9, 2026).

Full Breakdown

3-26, adopted by Ordinance No. 1774, the county created a streamlined permit track for electric vehicle charging stations, covering any level of electric vehicle supply equipment built to Article 625 of the California Electric Code. The Building Official must post all application documents and checklists on the county website, and must accept electronic submittal of the permit application and supporting documents by email or the internet once that option is operational. 3, the Building Official's issuance of the permit is nondiscretionary; there is no case-by-case approval step for a complete, code-compliant application.

If an application is incomplete, the Building Official must send a written correction notice listing every deficiency and any additional fees or documentation needed before the applicant can resubmit for expedited review. The county can only pull a charging station installation out of the expedited track and require a discretionary use permit if the Building Official finds, based on substantial evidence, that the specific installation would create an adverse impact on public health or safety, and even then any denial must be supported by written findings that no feasible mitigation exists at the lowest possible cost.

Every charging station must also independently meet the safety and performance standards of the California Electrical Code, SAE, NEMA, and applicable Underwriters Laboratories listings, plus any California Public Utilities Commission safety and reliability rules.

Violations & Fines

A rejected or use-permit-diverted application can be appealed directly to the Solano County Planning Commission under Section 6.3-26.040(g) and (h). There is no separate fine schedule in this section; the enforcement mechanism is procedural, forcing the Building Official to issue the permit unless the county can document a specific adverse safety impact with no feasible mitigation, and any such denial or added condition is appealable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Solano County require a permit to install a home EV charger?
Yes. Section 6.3-26 requires a building permit for electric vehicle charging stations, but the county must run it through an expedited, streamlined process rather than standard discretionary review once the application is complete.
Can Solano County deny an EV charging station permit application?
Only in narrow circumstances. Under Section 6.3-26.040(g)-(h), the Building Official can require a discretionary use permit, and the county can deny it, only with written findings of a specific adverse health or safety impact that cannot be feasibly mitigated.
How do I appeal a denied EV charging station permit in Solano County?
Section 6.3-26.040(g) and (h) both state that a decision requiring a use permit or denying one can be appealed to the Solano County Planning Commission.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Solano County

All Solano County rules

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