Snohomish County, WA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SCC 30.26.065(13)
- Core rule
- Charger cannot shrink aisle or stall size
- Pedestrian path standard
- Must meet WAC 51-50-005 accessibility
- Enforcement
- PDS via chapter 30.85 SCC penalties
- Base fine
- $500 (noncommercial) / $1,500 (commercial)
Summary
Unincorporated Snohomish County lets EV charging equipment go into any off-street lot, but SCC 30.26.065(13) bars the hardware from eating into the aisle or stall it serves. Chargers placed near a sidewalk or building entrance must still meet the accessibility standards in WAC 51-50-005.
(13) Electric Vehicle Charging. (a) Infrastructure for the charging of electric vehicles shall not intrude into nor diminish the dimensions of the aisle or parking stall(s) it is intended to serve. (b) Where electric vehicle infrastructure is provided within an adjacent pedestrian circulation area, such as a sidewalk or accessible route to the building entrance, the infrastructure shall be located as to not interfere with accessibility requirements of WAC 51-50-005.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through legislation passed August 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
065(13), addresses electric vehicle charging directly. 065(19). Where a property owner runs charging infrastructure through an adjacent pedestrian path, such as a sidewalk or the accessible route to a building entrance, the equipment must be positioned so it does not interfere with the accessibility requirements of WAC 51-50-005, the state building code's accessibility chapter. 084). 086). No separate county permit is required purely to add a charger, but new parking lot construction or reconfiguration still runs through the site plan and building permit process administered by the Snohomish County Department of Planning and Development Services (PDS), which checks compliance with this chapter before issuing a certificate of occupancy.
Violations & Fines
Parking lot violations, including chargers that block an aisle or reduce a stall below its required dimension, are enforced under chapter 30.85 SCC. A notice of violation carries a base monetary penalty of $500 for a noncommercial violation or $1,500 for a commercial one, accruing further amounts under SCC 30.85.170's escalation table up to a $10,000 cap for noncommercial and $25,000 for commercial violations if uncorrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a county permit to install an EV charger at my Snohomish County home?
Can a charging station block part of a parking stall in unincorporated Snohomish County?
What counts as a 'public' EV charging station under county code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Snohomish County
Compare Snohomish County to another location·View the Washington parking rules overview
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