Contra Costa County, CA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Building permit under § 718-14.002
- Adopted by
- Ordinance No. 2019-39 (Dec. 2019)
- Checklist source
- CA Zero-Emission Vehicles Readiness Guidebook
- Applications
- May be filed electronically
- Incomplete application
- Written notice of missing items
Summary
Installing an electric vehicle charging station in unincorporated Contra Costa County requires a building permit under Section 718-14.002. The county building official posts a standard permit application and an EV charging station checklist online, accepts electronic applications, and must deem a submission complete or tell the applicant in writing what's still missing, under Sections 718-14.004 and 718-14.006.
A building permit is required to install an electric vehicle charging station. "Electric vehicle charging station" has the meaning set forth in Government Code Section 65850.7... The building official will make the following available on the County website:(1)The County's standard building permit application form.(2)The County's standard electric vehicle charging station checklist, which will substantially conform to the checklist in the most current version of the Zero-Emission Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook published by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research... An application to install an electric vehicle charging station may be submitted electronically... An application will be deemed complete if the building official determines that the application includes all of the information and documents required by the standard application form and the standard checklist. If an application is deemed incomplete, the building official will notify the applicant in writing of the additional information needed.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Ordinance Code: Supplement 103).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 718-14 of the Ordinance Code, adopted by Ordinance No. 7. 004 requires the county building official to post two things on the county website: the standard building permit application form, and a station-specific checklist that substantially conforms to the checklist in the current Zero-Emission Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook published by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research. That checklist spells out everything an EV charging station must meet to qualify for review and approval under this chapter, and applicants may file electronically rather than in person.
006 then sets the completeness standard: an application is deemed complete once it includes everything the standard form and checklist require. If the building official finds the application incomplete, the applicant gets written notice describing exactly what additional information is needed before review can proceed. Unlike the parallel solar chapter, the EV charging provisions don't spell out a specific approval timeline or a separate authorization-to-operate step, but the underlying building permit process, inspections, and fees under Title 7 of the code still apply before the station can be energized and used.
Violations & Fines
An electric vehicle charging station installed without the Section 718-14.002 building permit is treated like any other unpermitted electrical work under the county's building code: the building official can require correction, additional inspection, and payment of permit fees before signing off, and an incomplete application under Section 718-14.006 simply stops the clock until the applicant supplies what the checklist requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a home EV charger in unincorporated Contra Costa County?
Where do I get the required application and checklist?
What happens if my EV charging permit application is missing information?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Contra Costa County
California rules heatmap·Compare Contra Costa County to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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