Marin County, CA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing statute
- Cal. Gov't Code §65850.7 compliance
- Review deadline
- 3 business days for complete applications
- Wiring standard
- Article 625, California Electrical Code
- HOA approval
- Not required on private property
- Grid connection
- Separate utility approval required
- Appeal
- To Planning Commission, decision final
Summary
Marin County Code Section 19.04.033(2) creates an expedited, ministerial permit process for electric vehicle charging stations countywide, implementing California Government Code Section 65850.7. The Building Official must approve a complete application or flag deficiencies within three business days, with no added discretionary review for compliant installations.
c.Electric vehicle charging station requirements.i.Electric vehicle charging station equipment shall meet the requirements of the California Electrical Code, the Society of Automotive Engineers, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, and accredited testing laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratories, and rules of the Public Utilities Commission or a Municipal Electric Utility Company regarding safety and reliability.ii.Installation of electric vehicle charging stations and associated wiring, bonding, disconnecting means and overcurrent protective devices shall meet the requirements of Article 625 and all applicable provisions of the California Electrical Code.iii.Installation of electric vehicle charging stations shall be incorporated into the load calculations of all new or existing electrical services and shall meet the requirements of the California Electrical Code. Electric vehicle charging equipment shall be considered a continuous load.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 2026 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Section 19.04.033(2) of the Marin County Code defines an electric vehicle charging station as equipment built to Article 625 of the California Electrical Code that delivers power from an outside source into a plug-in electric vehicle. Installation, wiring, bonding, disconnects, and overcurrent protection must meet Article 625 and all other applicable California Electrical Code requirements, and the charging load must be folded into the electrical service's load calculations as a continuous load. Anchorage of floor- or wall-mounted stations must meet the California Building or Residential Code as applicable, without adversely affecting building elements.
Applicants submit to the Building Division in person, by mail, or electronically, using the county's published checklist, along with permit and inspection fees; electronic signatures are accepted. Before submitting, the applicant must verify the installation will not cause a specific, adverse impact to health, safety, or building occupants, covering electrical capacity, wiring protection, affected infrastructure, and parking layout. A complete application is approved and issued as a charging-station permit without further discretionary review, though approval does not authorize connecting to the utility grid, which the applicant must arrange separately. If the building official finds a specific, adverse impact with no feasible mitigation, in writing, an administrative use permit may be required instead, appealable to the planning commission, whose decision is final. No homeowners' association approval is required for a station on private property outside restricted common areas.
Violations & Fines
An incomplete application draws a written correction notice detailing every deficiency, rather than a penalty, and the applicant has no automatic right to install before permit issuance. If the building official finds a specific, adverse impact to health or safety with no feasible fix, the county may require the more involved administrative use permit process, and installing without any permit remains subject to the general Title 19 permit violation penalties under Section 19.04.029.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast does Marin County process an EV charging station permit?
Does my homeowners' association have to approve my EV charger in Marin County?
Can the county deny my EV charging station application?
Does an approved county permit let me connect my charger to the power grid?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marin County
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