Vacaville, CA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Code Reference
- VMC 15.20.252 (CBC/CALGreen)
- New 1-Family Home
- EV-ready 40A 208/240V branch circuit (CALGreen §4.106.4)
- Multifamily/Commercial
- Tiered EV-capable / EV-ready / EVCS by lot size (§5.106.5)
- Charger Install
- Electrical permit via Building Division eTRAKiT
- Posted EV-Only Space
- Citable per CVC §22511
Summary
Vacaville adopts the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) and the California Building Code through Vacaville Municipal Code Chapter 15.20. New residential and commercial construction must include the EV-capable, EV-ready, and EV-charging-station parking spaces required by CALGreen Chapter 5.106 and Chapter 4.106. Permits for EV charging equipment installations are issued through the Vacaville Building Division.
65850.7. ... (b) A city, county, or city and county shall administratively approve an application to install electric vehicle charging stations through the issuance of a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit. Review of the application to install an electric vehicle charging station shall be limited to the building official's review of whether it meets all health and safety requirements of local, state, and federal law. ... (g) (1) On or before September 30, 2017, every city, county, or city and county with a population of less than 200,000 residents, shall ... adopt an ordinance ... that creates an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations.
Full Breakdown
Vacaville's EV-charging infrastructure requirements flow through three layers. 252 adopts the California Building Code and CALGreen as the City's construction codes. 5 sets percentages of EV-capable, EV-ready, and EV charging station (EVCS) spaces by parking-lot size, escalating in the 2022 and 2025 code cycles. The 2025 CALGreen update (effective Jan 1, 2026) requires every multifamily parking space to have at least a low-power Level 1 EV receptacle. (2) Permits: Installation of a residential Level 2 charger requires an electrical permit through Vacaville Building Division (eTRAKiT).
Commercial EVSE projects additionally require accessibility plan review and may trigger Public Works review for utility coordination. (3) On-street public chargers: PG&E and third-party EV-charging networks operate public chargers; signed EV-only spaces at public chargers may not be occupied by non-EVs or non-charging EVs under California Vehicle Code §22511. Vacaville also enforces a city-owned charging-station policy at City Hall, Town Square, and other municipal sites.
Violations & Fines
New construction that fails to install the required EV-capable, EV-ready, or EVCS spaces under CALGreen (as adopted by VMC 15.20.252) cannot pass final building inspection. Installing a Level 2 charger or sub-panel without an electrical permit is a building-code violation enforced by the Building Division. Parking a non-EV in a posted EV-charging space, or an EV that is not actively charging, is citable under California Vehicle Code §22511: typical fines start around $100.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a new Vacaville home need EV charging?
Do I need a permit to install an EV charger at my Vacaville home?
Can I park in an EV charging spot in Vacaville if I'm not charging?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Vacaville
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