Santa Maria, CA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- SMMC Chapter 9-56, eff. 1/1/2020
- State law implemented
- Gov. Code § 65850.7 / AB 2136
- Permitting authority
- City Building Official
- Discretionary review trigger
- Specific adverse health/safety impact
- Electrical standard
- CEC Article 625
- HOA approval required
- No, per Civil Code § 4080
Summary
Santa Maria uses an expedited, streamlined permit process for home and business electric vehicle charging stations under Municipal Code Chapter 9-56, matching state law AB 2136. The Building Official must adopt a compliance checklist and cannot make approval contingent on HOA sign-off.
Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the Building Official shall implement an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations, and adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations shall comply with in order to be eligible for expedited review. The expedited, streamlined permitting process and checklist may refer to the recommendations contained in the most current version of the "Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist" of the "Zero-Emission Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook" as published by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research. The City's adopted checklist shall be published on the City's website.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4818069; v9 updated 2026-04-07).
Full Breakdown
7 locally. 040 requires applicants to first verify the installation will not cause a specific adverse impact to health and safety, covering electrical system capacity, wiring, bonding, overcurrent protection, and the building infrastructure around the charger. 040(2). 050 lets the Building Official require a discretionary use permit only if there is substantial evidence of a specific adverse impact on public health or safety, and bars conditioning approval on any homeowners' association sign-off under Civil Code Section 4080. 060 requires charging equipment and its wiring, bonding, disconnects, and overcurrent protection to meet Article 625 of the California Electrical Code, be counted as a continuous load in electrical load calculations, and have anchorage that meets the California Building or Residential Code.
Violations & Fines
Installing a charging station without an approved permit, or energizing one before City approval is granted, means the work is not authorized under Chapter 9-56; the Building Official can require corrective permitting and, absent compliance, can pursue the same code-enforcement remedies used for unpermitted electrical work. An incomplete application draws a written correction notice detailing every deficiency rather than an outright denial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Santa Maria require a permit for a home EV charger?
Can my HOA block my Santa Maria EV charging station permit?
Can the City require more than a streamlined permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Maria
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