Yonkers, NY Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Yonkers City Code Article XXI, §§ 43-244 to 43-252
- Effective date
- September 24, 2024 (Ord. No. 12-2024)
- Level 2/3 permits
- Building permit and electrical permit both required
- Level 1 permit
- Electrical permit only, no site plan review
- Screen size cap
- 25.6 sq ft, 7.1 ft tall, 3.6 ft wide
- Decommissioning trigger
- 12 continuous months of disuse
- Enforcement
- Class II offense under § 43-153
Summary
Yonkers requires a building and electrical permit for every Level 2 or Level 3 electric vehicle charging station and treats EV chargers as an accessory use allowed in every zoning district. Level 1 residential chargers need only an electrical permit and skip site plan review. Screens over 50 feet from a right-of-way trigger Planning Board review under City Code Article XXI.
Charging stations shall be permitted in all zoning districts as an accessory use subject to the Uniform Code and NFPA 70, as applicable. Level 1 EV charging stations are exempt from site plan review. All Level 1 EV chargers within a residential garage of a one- or two-family dwelling or townhouse shall conform to all requirements as regulated in the Residential Code of New York State. An electric permit is required. A building permit and an electrical permit shall be required for the installation of all Level 2 and Level 3 EV charging stations.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4745274; v31 updated 2025-10-28; through 10-28-2025).
Full Breakdown
Article XXI of the Zoning Code, added by Ordinance No. 12-2024 on September 24, 2024, governs every EV charging station installed or modified in the city after that date; stations built earlier are grandfathered unless they are retrofitted to a higher capacity or a different charging level under Section 43-246. Charging stations are an accessory use permitted in all zoning districts subject to the Uniform Code and NFPA 70, per Section 43-247. Level 1 chargers, running on a 15- to 20-amp breaker on a 120-volt circuit, installed in a one- or two-family home's garage need only an electrical permit and are exempt from site plan review; Level 2 chargers (40- to 100-amp, 208- or 240-volt) and Level 3 direct-current fast chargers (60-amp or higher, 480-volt three-phase) each require both a building permit and an electrical permit.
The Planning Board must conduct site plan review under Section 43-248 when new construction reduces existing parking counts, when a retrofit removes or relocates an ADA-accessible space, or when illuminated advertising screens sit within 50 feet of a right-of-way or residential district. Section 43-249 sets installation standards: utility lines run underground where feasible, lighting stays shielded and downcast with auto-dimming screens, noise must meet Chapter 66 limits, and freestanding Level 2 and Level 3 units need bollards or guards against impact damage. 5 feet deep, and EV stations are exempt from Chapter 43's accessory-structure count limits and the Table 43-3 setback distances that apply to other structures.
Owners must file a decommissioning plan before installation; after 12 continuous months of disuse the city can order that plan carried out within another 12 months, and can draw on any posted bond if the owner fails to comply, per Section 43-250.
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of Article XXI, including installing a Level 2 or Level 3 charger without a building and electrical permit or skipping required site plan review, is a Class II offense under City Code Section 43-153. A first violation is a separate offense and a repeat violation of the same section on the same property becomes a misdemeanor, exposing the owner, contractor or corporation to fines and possible imprisonment. Corporation Counsel can also sue for an injunction to stop or correct the violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to install a home EV charger in Yonkers?
Can I install an EV charging station in any zoning district in Yonkers?
When does a Yonkers EV charging station need Planning Board site plan review?
What happens if an EV charging station in Yonkers is abandoned?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yonkers
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