Novato, CA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Decision maker
- Chief building official
- Checklist
- Adopted by the official and published on the city website
- Review scope
- Health and safety requirements only
- Denial standard
- Written findings of specific, adverse impact; no feasible mitigation
- Appeal
- Planning commission under division 19.54
- City-funded work
- EVITP certified supervisor; at least 50 percent EVITP electricians
Summary
In the City of Novato, electric vehicle charging stations go through an expedited permit process run by the chief building official, who publishes an adopted checklist on the city website. Review is limited to health and safety, and an application can be denied only on written findings of a specific, adverse impact with no feasible way to mitigate it.
a.As part of a complete application, the applicant shall include documentation of verification that the installation of an electric vehicle charging station will not have specific, adverse impact to public health and safety and building occupants. Verification by the applicant includes, but is not limited to: electrical system capacity and loads; electrical system wiring, bonding and overcurrent protection; building infrastructure affected by charging station equipment and associated conduits; areas of charging station equipment and vehicle parking. ... c.The application shall not be denied except upon the issuance of written findings based upon substantial evidence that the proposed installation would have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific adverse impact. The findings shall include the basis for the rejection of potential feasible alternatives of preventing the adverse impact. Any conditions imposed on the application shall be designed to mitigate the specific adverse impact upon the public health or safety at the lowest possible cost.
Full Breakdown
Section 4-19 creates an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations and states that it implements California Government Code Section 65850.7 (section 4-19.1). A charging station is any level of electric vehicle supply equipment built in compliance with Article 625 of the California Electrical Code that delivers electricity from a source outside the vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle (section 4-19.2).
The chief building official adopts a checklist of requirements for expedited review and the checklist is published on the city's website (section 4-19.3). A complete application includes the applicant's documentation that the station will not have a specific, adverse impact on public health and safety and building occupants, covering electrical system capacity and loads, wiring, bonding and overcurrent protection, affected building infrastructure and conduits, and the areas of the equipment and vehicle parking (section 4-19.4(a)).
The official's review is limited to whether the station meets health and safety requirements of local, state, and federal law. Approval does not authorize the applicant to energize or use the station until the city grants approval. An incomplete application gets a written correction notice listing every deficiency. If the official finds a possible specific, adverse impact, the applicant can apply for a charging station use permit decided under section 19.42.050, and appeals go to the planning commission under division 19.54. Approval cannot be conditioned on approval by an association, and electronic submittal and signatures are accepted.
Installation must meet the California Electrical Code, including Article 625. Charging equipment is treated as a continuous load in the service load calculations, and anchorage must meet the California Building or Residential Code and the manufacturer's instructions (section 4-19.5). On projects funded in whole or part by the City of Novato, at least one job-site supervisor must be an EVITP certified electrician and a minimum of 50 percent of the electricians performing the work must be EVITP certified.
Violations & Fines
Section 4-19 does not declare any act unlawful and prints no fine. Contractors on city-funded EV work must keep a written or electronic record of all EV Work, including the names of the EVITP electricians who performed it, and make it available to EVITP or the City of Novato on request (section 4-19.5(e)). Where no specific penalty is provided, the general penalty in section 1-5.1 sets a fine up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both, or an infraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an applicant have to submit in Novato?
When can Novato deny a charging station permit?
Can a homeowners association condition the permit?
Do electrician certification rules apply to private installations?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Novato
California rules heatmap·Compare Novato to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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