New Castle County, DE Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- UDC § 40.03.521.F, off-street parking
- EV conversions
- exempt from parking-plan filing
- Site plans must show
- EVSE, EV-capable, EV-ready, EV-installed spaces
- State law enforced too
- 16 Del. C. ch. 80
- Not covered here
- Wilmington, Newark run own codes
Summary
New Castle County requires new off-street parking areas, including apartment and multi-family lots, to include EV-capable or EV-ready spaces per the Building Code, and it exempts EV charger conversions from parking-plan review.
E. Parking plan. Except for the conversion of parking spaces to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, a parking plan must be submitted to the Department for review and approval if any of the following conditions apply unless the proposed parking is shown on a pending or approved land development or resubdivision plan: [...] F. EV-capable or EV-ready parking spaces. EV-capable or EV-ready parking spaces shall be required as provided in Chapter 6.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
Unified Development Code § 40.03.521.F ties every off-street parking area, including multifamily apartment lots under Table 40.03.522, to the EV-capable/EV-ready parking standards set in the Building Code (Chapter 6). Chapter 6's site plan rule, § 6.03.013.B.2, requires plans to show electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) and EV-capable, EV-ready, and EV-installed spaces. Separately, § 40.03.521.E exempts converting existing spaces to EV charging stations from the parking-plan filing otherwise required for lot changes of 10+ spaces. Per § 6.10.001, the county enforces the state's 16 Del. C. ch. 80 residential EV charging infrastructure law on top of these local rules.
Violations & Fines
Site plans that omit the required EVSE/EV-capable/EV-ready/EV-installed parking inventory are rejected by the Code Official under Chapter 6, and new parking areas that don't meet the § 40.03.521.F EV-capable/EV-ready standard won't clear plan review or receive a building permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does New Castle County require EV charging in new apartment parking lots?
Do I need a parking plan to add EV chargers to an existing multi-family lot?
Does this rule apply inside Wilmington or Newark?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Castle County
Compare New Castle County to another location·View the Delaware parking rules overview
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