Hydrogen-fueling stations: administrative approval.

Existing law requires every city, county, and city and county to administratively approve an application to install electric vehicle charging stations through the issuance of a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit and requires the review of an application to install an electric vehicle charging station to be limited to the building official's review of whether it meets all health and safety requirements of local, state, and federal law. Existing law prohibits a city, county, or city and county from denying an application for a use permit to install an electric vehicle charging station unless it makes written findings that the proposed installation would have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety, and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact. Existing law requires that any conditions imposed on an application to install an electric vehicle charging station be designed to mitigate the specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety at the lowest cost possible. This bill, until January 1, 2030, would extend these provisions to apply to the installation of hydrogen-fueling stations located on a parcel that is either (1) zoned for industrial or commercial development and does not contain any residential units or (2) was previously developed with a service station, as defined. The bill would define "hydrogen-fueling station" to mean the equipment used to store and dispense hydrogen fuel to vehicles according to industry codes and standards and that is open to the public. The bill would require hydrogen-fueling stations to meet specified standards, including applicable safety and performance standards established by the Society of Automotive Engineers and accredited nationally recognized testing laboratories and any rules established by the State Air Resources Board, Energy Commission, and Department of Food and Agriculture regarding safety, reliability, weights, and measures, as specified. Existing law requires electric vehicle charging stations to meet specified safety and performance standards and, where applicable, the rules of the Public Utilities Commission regarding safety and reliability. This bill would additionally require an electric vehicle charging station to, where applicable, comply with the rules of the Department of Food and Agriculture regarding safety, reliability, weights, and measures. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.