Olympia, WA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)

OMC chapter 16.100 sets the electric vehicle parking standards for the City of Olympia, adopted by Ord. 7367 in 2023. Section 16.100.020(B) applies to new buildings, surface parking lots and parking garages, and to those improved by an amount equal to or greater than 50 percent of the assessed value of the building or structure. Table 16.100A sets three tiers: EVSE spaces, EV-Ready spaces and EV-Capable spaces.

For Group A, B, E, F, H, I, M and S occupancies (nonresidential buildings), the table requires 10 percent of total parking spaces as EVSE, 10 percent as EV-Ready and 10 percent as EV-Capable. For Group R buildings with not more than two dwelling units, and for dwelling units with private garages, no EVSE or EV-Capable spaces are required and one EV-Ready space is required for each dwelling. For all other Group R occupancies, such as apartment buildings, the table requires 10 percent EVSE, 25 percent EV-Ready and 65 percent EV-Capable. Where a building contains more than one occupancy, the percentages are applied to the parking spaces provided for each occupancy, and any fraction is rounded up to the next whole number.

The chapter defines each tier. An EV-Capable space has a listed raceway able to accommodate a minimum 40-ampere dedicated 208/240-volt branch circuit. An EV-Ready space has a minimum 40-ampere dedicated 208/240-volt branch circuit terminated at a receptacle, junction box or supply equipment. An EVSE space has equipment supplying current at 208/240 volts. The electrical service must have sufficient capacity to charge all required spaces at a minimum of 40 amperes each, though an Automatic Load Management System can reduce that, provided it allocates at least 16 amperes per charger.

An EVSE space does not count toward the EV-Ready or EV-Capable totals, and an EV-Ready space does not count as EV-Capable, but each extra EVSE space beyond the minimum counts as one EV-Ready or EV-Capable space. Ten percent of accessible parking spaces must be EVSE and 10 percent EV-Ready, with at least one accessible space for each type. Infrastructure is not required where there is no public utility or commercial power supply, for dwelling units without on-site parking, or for heavy duty vehicle and fleet parking separate from employee and visitor parking. Owners of existing developments are encouraged, not required, to add charging until substantial improvements trigger the standard.