Tustin, CA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required from
- Building Division (§8302b)
- Adopted to implement
- AB 1236 (§8300)
- HOA approval
- cannot be required (§8303h)
- Exempt from permit
- like-kind replacement (§8302b)
- Denial appeal
- to Planning Commission (§8303f)
Summary
In the City of Tustin, installing an electric vehicle charging station at a home or business requires a building permit from the Building Division under Tustin City Code Chapter 3, adopted to comply with state law AB 1236. The city runs a nondiscretionary, expedited review limited to health and safety, and denial requires written findings of a specific adverse impact with no feasible fix.
The intent and purpose of this Chapter is to adopt an expedited, streamlined electric vehicle charging station permitting process that complies with AB 1236 (Chapter 598, Statutes 2015) to achieve timely and cost-effective installations of electric vehicle charging stations. ... (a)All electric vehicle charging stations shall meet applicable health and safety standards and requirements imposed by the State of California and the City of Tustin.(b)All electric vehicle charging stations shall require a permit issued by the Building Division that complies with the City's adopted California Building Codes, and issued pursuant to this Ordinance. Routine operation and maintenance or like-kind replacements shall not require a permit. ... (h)Approval of an application for an electric vehicle charging station shall not be based or conditioned on the approval of an association, as defined in Section 4080 of the Civil Code.
Full Breakdown
Tustin City Code Section 8300 states the chapter exists to adopt an expedited, streamlined electric vehicle charging station permitting process complying with AB 1236 (Chapter 598, Statutes of 2015), intended to remove barriers and minimize costs for property owners and the City while protecting public health and safety. Section 8301 defines an electric vehicle charging station as supply equipment built to Article 625 of the California Electrical Code that delivers power into a plug-in electric vehicle. Under Section 8302, every charging station needs a permit issued by the Building Division consistent with the City's adopted California Building Codes; routine operation, maintenance, or like-kind replacement is exempt.
The Building Official maintains an administrative, nondiscretionary checklist based on the Governor's Office of Planning and Research 'Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist,' and may adjust it only to document unique climatic, geological, seismological, or topographical conditions, posting any changes on the Building Division's website. Section 8303 requires the applicant to submit documents and fees in person or electronically, accepts electronic signatures in lieu of a wet signature, and directs the Building Division to act within a reasonable time once an application is deemed complete.
Review is limited to whether the installation meets health and safety requirements; the City cannot condition approval on the approval of a homeowners' association under Civil Code Section 4080. If the Building Division denies or conditions an application, it must document substantial evidence of a specific, adverse impact and the lack of a feasible mitigation, and its decision can be appealed to the Tustin Planning Commission.
Violations & Fines
Installing a charging station without the required Building Division permit is a violation of the Tustin City Code, enforced like any other permit violation through the Article 1 administrative citation program: a written notice, then civil fines up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 for a third, with a right to request a hearing within ten days under Section 1166. A denied or conditioned EV charging permit application may be appealed to the Planning Commission under Section 8303(f).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to install a home EV charger in Tustin?
Can my homeowners association block my EV charging station?
What happens if the City denies my application?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tustin
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