Livonia, MI Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)

Section 9.15 of the Livonia Zoning Ordinance treats EV charging stations and ports as a permitted accessory use in every zoning district, subject to review and approval by the Department of Inspection. On commercial properties, all above-ground charging equipment, including any attached sign, is capped at eight feet in height and four feet in width, and any sign on the unit cannot exceed two square feet unless the station sits at least one hundred feet from any public right-of-way, in which case the sign can grow to ten square feet. Neon or LED lighting around the frame or perimeter of a commercial charging station is strictly prohibited.

On single-family lots, the height limits shrink further: charging equipment in a front or side yard is capped at four feet, rising to six feet if placed in a rear yard, and none of it may sit inside a required front, side or rear yard setback. Commercial installations must stay at least ten feet from any public right-of-way and cannot encroach on pedestrian walkways, and any landscaping removed to install a station must be replanted in the same general area, with bollards or similar protection installed around the unit.

Residential charging stations are limited to use by the property's own owners, occupants or visitors, and the ordinance bars charging any fee for that use. In nonresidential districts, no more than fifteen percent of a site's required parking spaces may be dedicated EV charging spaces unless the Department of Inspection grants an exception. A charging station built as the property's principal use, rather than an accessory to another use, is treated as a waiver use limited to the C-2 and C-3 commercial districts and requires City Planning Commission review and City Council approval.