New Castle County requires electrical permits for Level 2 EV chargers. Delaware law (26 Del. C. §1018) preempts HOA bans on EV chargers. Public stations must meet ADA accessibility standards.
New Castle County Department of Land Use requires an electrical permit for hardwired Level 2 EV charger installations (240V). Plug-in Level 1 and portable Level 2 units using existing circuits do not require permits. Permit review is typically 5 to 10 business days. Delaware's EV charging statute at 26 Del. C. §1018 and the Delaware Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (25 Del. C. Ch. 81) restrict HOAs from prohibiting EV charger installation by unit owners, though HOAs may impose reasonable placement and aesthetic conditions. New Castle County adopted EV-ready provisions for new multifamily construction requiring a percentage of spaces to be EV-ready with conduit and panel capacity. Public chargers must comply with ADA 2010 Standards including accessible routes and signage.
Unpermitted hardwired installation: correction notice and permit backfiling with 2x fee. Electrical code non-compliance: required rewiring before final approval. HOA blocking owner installation unreasonably: owner may seek court order and damages.
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See how Wilmington's ev charging rules stack up against other locations.
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