Electric vehicle charging stations: permitting: curbside charging.

Existing law creates the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, known as "GO-Biz," and requires GO-Biz to serve the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth. Existing law continues into existence the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) division within GO-Biz as the Zero-Emission Vehicle Market Development Office. Existing law references GO-Biz's Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permitting Guidebook, which recommends best practices for electric vehicle supply equipment permitting. This bill would require the office to develop a model permitting checklist, model zoning ordinances, and best practices for permit costs and permit review timelines to help local governments permit curbside charging stations as part of the office's development of the Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permitting Guidebook or any subsequent updates. The bill would also require the office to consult with local governments, electric vehicle service providers, and utilities while developing the above-described materials. Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, authorizes the legislative body of any county or city to adopt prescribed zoning ordinances within its jurisdiction. Existing law declares that it is the policy of the state to promote and encourage the use of electric vehicle charging stations and to limit obstacles to their use. Existing law prescribes various requirements on the review and approval of applications to install electric vehicle charging stations. Existing law requires every city, county, and city and county to administratively approve an application to install electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen-fueling 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 or a hydrogen-fueling 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 defines "electric vehicle charging station" or "charging station" for these purposes. This bill would require local agencies to, among other things, develop a checklist that includes all of the information required for a complete application for a permit or other authorization to install an electric vehicle charging station within the public right-of-way, as defined. As part of that process, this bill would require local agencies to consider the Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permitting Guidebook from the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development. The bill would require local agencies with populations of 250,000 or more to comply with these provisions by January 1, 2027, and local agencies with populations of fewer than 250,000 residents to comply with these provisions by January 1, 2029. The bill would define various terms for these purposes. By imposing additional duties on local agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.