Yakima, WA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)

Yakima Municipal Code § 15.06.035, adopted by Ordinance 2017-017, treats electric vehicle charging stations (defined by reference to RCW 36.70A.695(5)) as an accessory use, not a stand-alone principal use. That means a station is only allowed where an approved principal use already exists, and only in the B-1 Professional Business, B-2 Local Business, HB Historical Business, SCC Small Convenience Center, LCC Large Convenience Center, CBD Central Business District, GC General Commercial, M-1 Light Industrial, M-2 Heavy Industrial, RD Regional Development, or AS Airport Support districts, as those districts are named in YMC § 15.03.010.

As an accessory use, installation still needs a development permit from the administrative official under YMC § 15.06.020, which bars any off-street parking area from being placed, constructed, located, relocated or modified without one. A second track applies to charging equipment sited in public parking lots or on-street public parking areas: those go through the citywide right-of-way use permit process in YMC Chapter 8.20, which requires an application filed with the city engineer with a scale drawing of the right-of-way, existing utilities and the proposed use (YMC § 8.20.030(A)), a fee set by the city's master fee schedule (YMC § 8.20.030(B)), and, for business/commercial uses, transmittal to the city council for approval or denial (YMC § 8.20.040(A)).

Anyone denied a right-of-way use permit may appeal under YMC § 8.20.050, which points to the procedures in YMC Chapter 16.08. Section 15.06.035 flatly excludes resource lands and critical areas from either pathway, regardless of zoning district.