Santee, CA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)

Santee built Chapter 11.50 specifically to speed up electric vehicle charging station permits rather than route them through the ordinary discretionary process. Section 11.50.030 makes the chapter apply to the permitting of all electric vehicle charging systems in the City of Santee, but grandfathers systems legally established or permitted before the chapter took effect unless a physical modification materially changes the system's size, type or components enough to require new permitting; routine operation, maintenance and like-kind replacement need no permit at all.

Section 11.50.040 ties the equipment itself to the California Electrical Code, Society of Automotive Engineers and National Electrical Manufacturers Association standards, Underwriters Laboratories listing, and Public Utilities Commission safety and reliability rules, and requires charging load to be folded into the building's electrical load calculations as a continuous load.

On process, Section 11.50.060 caps the Building Official's review to whether the application meets local, State and federal health and safety requirements, administratively, as a nondiscretionary permit rather than a discretionary one; the City cannot condition approval on an association's sign-off under Civil Code Section 4080. If a submittal is incomplete, Section 11.50.060(D) requires a written plan check correction notice within 10 working days. The Building Official may still require a discretionary use permit under subsection (E) if substantial evidence shows a specific, adverse impact on public health or safety, and that determination, or a City Council denial of the resulting use permit, is appealable under Santee Municipal Code Sections 13.04.040 and 13.04.070.