Richmond, CA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)

Richmond Municipal Code sec. 14.46.013 does two separate things.

First, it gives the City parking services manager authority to designate stalls or spaces on a public street within the City jurisdiction for one exclusive purpose: charging and parking a vehicle that is connected for electric charging purposes. The wording is permissive. The manager may designate such stalls, so the section does not by itself turn any particular Richmond block into a charging zone. A space becomes a charging-only space once the manager designates it.

Second, the section addresses removal. When a City-owned or operated parking facility is posted in accordance with California Vehicle Code sections 22511 and 22651, the City may order the removal of a vehicle from a stall or space designated for electric vehicle charging if the vehicle is not connected for electric charging purposes. Two conditions sit inside that sentence: the facility has to be posted under those Vehicle Code sections, and the vehicle has to be in a designated charging stall without being connected.

The test the section uses is connection, not vehicle type. The exclusive purpose is charging and parking a vehicle that is connected for electric charging purposes, so under the section's wording an electric vehicle that occupies a designated stall without being plugged in falls outside that purpose just as a gasoline vehicle does. Parking in these stalls is tied to charging: the space is for parking only while the vehicle is charging.

Drivers should also note who acts under each part. Designating on-street stalls belongs to the City parking services manager. The removal order in a posted City facility is made by the City. The section as quoted does not state a fine amount, a time limit for a charging session, or a fee for using a charger, so none of those should be assumed from this provision alone.