Selma, CA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)

California has established one of the most comprehensive legislative frameworks in the country for facilitating electric vehicle charging station deployment, and these state mandates apply directly to the City of Selma. AB 1236, codified as Government Code Section 65850.7, requires every city and county in California to adopt an ordinance that creates an expedited, streamlined permitting process for EV charging stations. The law specifies that this permitting process must be administrative and ministerial, meaning it cannot involve discretionary review by planning commissions, zoning boards, or other bodies that exercise judgment or impose conditions beyond health and safety compliance. This effectively prevents local jurisdictions from using the permitting process to delay or discourage EV charger deployment. AB 970, signed into law in 2021, added more specific timeline requirements to the permitting process. Under this law, the Selma Building Division must determine whether an EV charging station application is complete within 5 business days for projects proposing fewer than 26 charging stations, or within 10 business days for larger projects. If the jurisdiction fails to notify the applicant within these timeframes, the application is automatically deemed complete. Once deemed complete, the application must be approved or denied based solely on whether the installation meets applicable health and safety requirements. There is no provision for additional conditions, architectural review, or neighborhood notice requirements. EV charging stations are classified as an accessory use under the state framework and are permissible in every zoning district in Selma, regardless of any local zoning designation that might otherwise restrict the use. This means that a residential property owner, commercial property owner, or institution can install EV charging equipment without needing a use permit, variance, or conditional use approval. The state framework explicitly supersedes any local zoning ordinance that would prohibit or unreasonably restrict EV charging station installation. For residential installations in Selma, Level 1 chargers that plug into a standard 120-volt outlet typically do not require a permit. Level 2 chargers, which require a dedicated 240-volt circuit, generally need an electrical permit to ensure proper circuit sizing, GFCI protection, and code compliance. The Selma Building Division processes these permits through the Community Development Department. The California Building Code includes requirements for new construction to incorporate EV-ready infrastructure, including electrical conduit, panel capacity, and dedicated circuits in garages and parking areas. HOAs operating within Selma are prohibited from unreasonably restricting EV charger installation under California Civil Code Section 4745, which allows homeowners in common interest developments to install EV charging equipment in their designated parking spaces, subject only to reasonable architectural guidelines that do not significantly increase the cost of installation.