Sacramento, CA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sacramento City Code § 17.608.040(O)
- Mandate
- All off-street parking facilities must provide EV charging
- Stall counts set by
- Sacramento City Building Code, not zoning code
- Required signage
- "EV CHARGING ONLY" marking on each station
- Parking trade-in
- 1 EV charger substitutes for 2 parking spaces
Summary
Every off-street parking facility built or altered in Sacramento must provide electric vehicle charging stations and charging spaces, per Sacramento City Code § 17.608.040(O). The zoning code sets the mandate; stall counts, wiring, and equipment specs are fixed by the Sacramento City Building Code. Stations must be posted "EV CHARGING ONLY," and one Level 2 or DC fast charger can replace two standard parking spaces.
17.608.040(F)(2)(c): "The number of electric vehicle charging spaces and electric vehicle charging stations are determined by the Sacramento city building code. Electric vehicle charging stations shall be clearly marked 'EV CHARGING ONLY.'" 17.608.040(O): "1. Electric vehicle charging stations and electric vehicle charging spaces shall comply with the requirements in the Sacramento city building code. 2. All off-street parking facilities, shall provide electric vehicle charging stations and electric vehicle charging spaces in compliance with the provisions in the Sacramento city building code." 17.608.060(A)(1)(h): "One electric vehicle charging station utilizing an electric vehicle charger level 2 or an electric vehicle direct current fast charger may be substituted for two parking spaces."
Full Breakdown
Sacramento's off-street parking chapter requires every parking facility to provide EV charging infrastructure directly, rather than leaving it optional. 060(A)(1)(h) allows "one electric vehicle charging station utilizing an electric vehicle charger level 2 or an electric vehicle direct current fast charger" to be "substituted for two parking spaces," cutting the on-site vehicle count while adding charging capacity. 030(B), EV charging is one of the few parking elements the city affirmatively mandates rather than merely caps. 020(G)(2) once a building permit for the charging work is issued.
Violations & Fines
Building without required EV charging infrastructure, or striping a marked "EV CHARGING ONLY" space for general use, is a zoning code violation enforceable through the city's code enforcement process, which can issue correction notices and administrative citations for continued noncompliance. Developers who skip the charging mandate at plan-check risk a stop-work order until building-code-compliant EV infrastructure is added to the plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every Sacramento parking lot need EV chargers?
Can a business use its EV charging space for regular cars?
Can EV chargers reduce how much parking a project has to build?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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EV Charging in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sacramento County handle ev charging.