Delaware Residential EV Charging Station Permitting Law

Under 22 Del.C. § 119, Delaware municipalities must adopt an ordinance establishing a procedure for residents to obtain a permit to install an electric vehicle charging station on residential property abutting a residential street. The ordinance must require installation by a licensed electrician and written permission of the property owner. Restrictions are 'reasonable' only if they do not significantly increase purchase or installation cost, do not significantly decrease performance, and do not effectively prohibit installation. The deadline for municipal compliance was July 1, 2023. Cities cannot prohibit residential EV charging outright.

Municipalities that fail to adopt compliant ordinances or that impose effectively prohibitive restrictions may face state enforcement and civil challenge by aggrieved residents.