King County, WA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Townhouses
- 1 EV-ready space per unit
- New apartments
- 10% EVSE + 25% EV-ready
- Nonresidential/group housing
- 5% EVSE + 10% EV-ready
- Small exemption
- 4 or fewer common-wall units
- Accessibility
- 5% of EVSE spaces, min. one
Summary
Unincorporated King County requires electric-vehicle charging infrastructure in new off-street parking: EV-ready spaces for townhouses, and EVSE plus EV-ready percentages for new apartments, group residential, and nonresidential buildings under K.C.C. 21A.18.150.
If this title requires a use to provide off-street parking, the parking area, whether provided on-site or off-site, shall include electric-vehicle-charging infrastructure as follows: A.1. New townhouses shall provide one electric-vehicle-ready parking space per dwelling unit.
2. For new or substantially improved buildings for apartment dwelling units, or if paved surface parking area for such buildings is expanded by fifty percent or more, ten percent of total parking spaces shall be electric-vehicle-supply-equipment parking spaces and twenty-five percent of total parking spaces shall be electric-vehicle-ready parking spaces.
3. For the following development activities, five percent of total parking spaces shall be electric-vehicle-supply-equipment parking spaces and ten percent of total parking spaces shall be electric-vehicle-ready parking spaces:
a. new or substantially improved buildings for group residential or temporary lodging uses in K.C.C. 21A.08.030, or expansion of paved surface parking area for one of these uses by fifty percent or more;
b. new or substantially improved buildings for nonresidential uses, or expansion of paved surface parking area for one of these uses by fifty percent or more; and
c. new commuter parking lot or automotive parking, or expansion of paved surface parking area for one of these uses by fifty percent or more.
Full Breakdown
When King County's zoning code requires off-street parking for a new or substantially expanded building in unincorporated areas, that parking must include electric-vehicle charging infrastructure. New townhouses need one EV-ready space per unit. New or 50%-plus-expanded apartment buildings need electric-vehicle-supply-equipment (EVSE) stations for 10% of parking spaces and EV-ready wiring for another 25%. New nonresidential, group-residential, temporary-lodging, and commuter-lot projects need 5% EVSE and 10% EV-ready. Small common-wall buildings of four or fewer units, two stories or less, under 5,000 square feet, with a one-hour fire separation are exempt. At least 5% of required EVSE spaces (minimum one) must be accessible, and every EVSE space needs signage under RCW 46.08.185.
Violations & Fines
Building permits for covered projects are withheld until the required EV-ready wiring and EVSE stations are installed and pass King County Permitting inspection; site plans missing the mandated infrastructure get rejected at plan review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside Seattle or Bellevue?
Does every new home need a working charger?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in King County
Compare King County to another location·View the Washington parking rules overview
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