An EV charger permit in California is supposed to be a building permit, not a planning hearing. State law requires every city and county to run a streamlined process for charger installations, with a published checklist, electronic submittal and review deadlines. For a mid-century house, the harder questions are usually the electrical panel and where the charger goes.
This guide explains what state law requires, what Palo Alto's and Cupertino's checklists ask for, and how the panel, the utility and a carport fit in. It reflects official pages read in November 2026. Confirm the current checklist with your own city before you hire an installer.
What state law requires your city to do
AB 1236, passed in 2015, put these rules in Government Code 65850.7, which SB 1418 amended effective January 1, 2025. The section requires cities and counties to approve charger installations through a building permit or a similar nondiscretionary permit. According to the state's Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), the law covers Level 1, Level 2 and DC fast charging, and it has applied to every city and county since 2017. Under the statute, as of November 2026:
Review is limited to the building official. In the statute's words, review "shall be limited to the building official's review of whether it meets all health and safety requirements of local, state, and federal law." GO-Biz says no planning permit should be required.
A use permit is the exception. A city can require one only if the building official finds, based on substantial evidence, that the charger could have a "specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety."
No association condition. A city can't make the permit depend on a homeowners association's approval of the charger. The association's own rules are a separate question.
The checklist must be online. Each city must adopt a checklist of what a charger must meet to qualify for expedited review, publish it on its website, and accept electronic submittal and electronic signatures.
Looks aren't a reason to deny. GO-Biz's permit streamlining FAQ says aesthetic concerns may not factor into the review. Its permitting guidebook adds that a charger being visible from the street isn't a visual impairment, and no screening should be required.
AB 970 added deadlines, now in Government Code 65850.71. They became operative on January 1, 2022 for cities and counties with more than 200,000 residents and on January 1, 2023 for smaller ones. For a site with 1 to 25 chargers, which covers a typical house, an application is deemed complete if, after 5 business days, the building official hasn't found it complete or sent a written correction notice. It is deemed approved 20 business days after it's complete if the official hasn't approved or denied it, made the adverse-impact finding or required a use permit, and no appeal has been filed. The correction notice must detail all deficiencies.
Level 1, Level 2 and what the permit covers
PG&E says Level 1 charging, from a standard household outlet, usually requires no upgrade. Level 2 needs a professionally installed 240-volt outlet on a dedicated circuit. Cupertino's checklist shows the range of Level 2 circuits a city may see:
3.3 kW at 20 or 30 amps
6.6 kW at 40 amps
9.6 kW at 50 amps
19.2 kW at 100 amps
Cupertino says electrical plans must be stamped and signed by a California licensed electrical engineer or a C-10 electrical contractor.
Panel capacity and the load calculation
If your house still has its original service, our electrical panel and wiring guide covers what to look for. For the permit itself, both cities checked focus on the numbers:
Load calculation. Cupertino requires an electrical service load calculation under California Electrical Code Article 220, including 125% of the charger load. If the existing service is smaller than the calculation requires, a new upgraded service panel must be installed. Palo Alto asks for a residential electric load calculator form.
Branch circuit. Cupertino's checklist asks whether the charger circuit is sized for a continuous load of 125% of the equipment.
Existing panel condition. Palo Alto says the installer must check the existing panel for hazardous conditions. If it has them, repairs or replacement may be needed, which can change the permit's scope and require a revision.
PG&E says you may have to upgrade your service or your panel, or add a second panel, and that service upgrades are needed when the wire serving the house doesn't meet capacity needs. Its PanelBoost program, a smart panel connected to the meter for owners of single-family homes with a 150-amp or smaller panel, was taking waitlist sign-ups only when we checked.
What two cities' checklists ask for
We read the residential charger handouts posted by Palo Alto and Cupertino. Both cite earlier code editions (Palo Alto's the 2019 California codes, Cupertino's the 2022 California Electrical Code). The 2025 California Building Standards Code, including the electrical code, took effect January 1, 2026, so details may change when the cities update them. Other cities' checklists follow the same state law but differ in detail.
Palo Alto
All plans and forms go through the city's Online Permitting System.
Plans include a site plan, a floor plan if the charger is indoors or in a garage, panel and disconnect locations, vehicle protection in a garage where needed, a three-line electrical diagram and the manufacturer's specification sheets.
Utility steps go through the city's own utilities department, CPAU, whose electrical engineering staff take part in plan review. CPAU's EVSE information form is required if the charger is rated over 50 amps or needs a breaker larger than 60 amps.
The charger coupling must be at least 18 inches above the floor indoors or 24 inches outdoors, unless the manufacturer says otherwise.
Cupertino
The city says a complete application is usually approved for issuance in 3 to 5 business days.
Planning review isn't required unless the building official finds a specific adverse impact. Fire department review applies only if the system includes a stationary storage battery.
Level 1 or Level 2 equipment installed within an existing house, including its garage or carport, can be permitted through the online portal, and no site plan is needed for it.
The coupling must be between 24 and 48 inches above finished grade.
A PG&E approval letter is needed if a dedicated meter will serve the charger.
Trenching needs a detail showing the required cover, and a bollard is shown where vehicle impact protection is required.
Both cities also check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in the house. Palo Alto lists them as inspection items, with carbon monoxide alarms where the house has fuel-fired appliances or an attached garage with an adjoining opening, and Cupertino accepts a signed Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm Certificate of Compliance; our guide to sale requirements for older homes explains the alarm rules. In a flood zone, Palo Alto says the lowest part of the equipment goes 1 foot above Base Flood Elevation, and Cupertino requires the equipment above base flood elevation, with an elevation certificate from a registered land surveyor. Our natural hazard disclosure guide shows how to check a flood zone.
Carports, garages and the street side of an Eichler
If your Eichler-era house has an open carport, described in our carport and entry court guide, a few details change. Cupertino asks that equipment be suitable for the indoor or outdoor setting where it's installed, and Palo Alto's outdoor coupling height applies. Palo Alto's handout shows a post-mounted example and says a wooden post must be protected from the weather with treated wood, a concrete base sloped to shed water and a post cap. If the run to the panel goes underground, expect a trenching detail.
A charger visible from the street shouldn't need screening, under GO-Biz's guidance, but placement still matters for clearances and vehicle protection, so mark the spot on the plan before you ask for bids.
The utility, costs and incentives
PG&E says its customers apply through its Your Projects portal. The application asks for the rate plan, the charging level and load, and whether the circuit needs a panel upgrade. PG&E says upgrades and permits at your expense may be necessary.
Federal credit. The Section 30C alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit covered chargers placed in service at a main home in an eligible census tract from January 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026, at 30% of the cost up to $1,000 per charging port. The IRS says it isn't allowed for property placed in service after that. Ask a tax advisor.
State green code: new construction. HCD's summary of the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code, effective January 1, 2026, requires a raceway for a future charger circuit in new one- and two-unit dwellings and townhouses with attached private garages. Its rules for additions and alterations apply only within the altered area, and the EV provisions there point to multifamily parking. Some cities add their own EV rules; Cupertino's checklist, for example, asks whether EV spaces conform to its municipal code, so ask.
This is general information as of November 2026, not legal, tax or electrical advice. Codes and checklists change, so confirm with your city's building department and a licensed electrician.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for a Level 1 charger?
The state law covers Level 1 installations, and Cupertino's checklist says a building permit application is required for all charger installations, with Level 1 among the listed types. Whether simply plugging into an existing outlet needs anything is a question for your city.
How long does an EV charger permit take?
For 1 to 25 chargers at one site, Government Code 65850.71 gives the city 5 business days to find the application complete or send a correction notice. An application can be deemed approved 20 business days after it's complete if the city hasn't acted on it. Cupertino says a complete application is usually ready in 3 to 5 business days.
Will I need a new panel?
Only the load calculation can say. If the existing service is smaller than the calculated load with the charger added, Cupertino's checklist requires an upgrade, and PG&E may need to upgrade the service wire.
Related reading
Heat Pumps for Mid-Century Homes: Going All-Electric in the Bay Area
Flat Roof Solar on Mid-Century Homes: Placement, Batteries, Billing
Solar Permit in California: Rooftop Rules for Mid-Century Homes
More guides on this topic: Owning & Renovating a Mid-Century Modern Home
Adding a charger to a mid-century home you own or plan to buy? Call or text the Boyenga Team at Compass at (408) 373-1660 or (650) 383-8606, or contact the Boyenga Team to talk it through.
