Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Permit Requirements: What to Expect

One of the key steps to installing electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in commercial parking facilities is acquiring the necessary permits and ensuring the parking spots and chargers comply with all applicable regulations. 

These permits and regulations can vary from state to state and even at a local level. Therefore, any commercial parking company that wants to install EV chargers should consult with state and local governments about what permits are required and what compliance needs to be met. 

So far, 13 states have enacted EV charging infrastructure installation requirements. These requirements range from safety inspections to equipment labeling to pricing information to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. 

Here is a rundown of the permits and compliance regulations commercial parking facilities are likely to require when they install EV charging infrastructure. 

Identifying information

The permit will ask for basic identifying information, both for the individual requesting the installation and the property owner, who are often not the same person. This section may also ask for a brief description of the infrastructure to be installed. 

Code compliance information

This will tell you the specific electrical codes that need to be complied with. This depends on whether a branch circuit and meter is being installed, or a hard-wired charging station is being installed. All electrical codes referenced in the Department of Energy’s template come from the National Electrical Code. (More on that below.)

The technical installation requirements included in the template address the following electric vehicle charging station safety measures:

• Required voltages to be used

• Listing and labeling requirements for chargers

• Wiring methods for installation

• EV charging equipment rating

• Required markings on chargers

• Means of coupling (plugging into) the EV

• Cable requirements

• Interlock requirements

• Automatic de-energization of cable requirements

• Breakaway requirements

• Overcurrent protection

• Personnel protection system

• Disconnecting means

• Loss of primary source requirements

• Interactive system requirements

• Hazardous location installation regulations

• Indoor siting rules

• Outdoor siting rules

National Electrical Code Compliance

Because EV chargers obviously have large amounts of electricity flowing through them, they need to be installed in compliance with specific requirements. These requirements can be found in the National Electrical Code (NEC), which is developed, published, and continuously updated by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA). The specific compliance regulations that EV charging infrastructure installation has to meet is found in National Electrical Code NFPA 70, Article 625 Electric Vehicle Charging System. 

Although the NEC is applicable nationwide, not every jurisdiction may be enforcing the latest version of it. Regardless of which version the local jurisdiction is enforcing, it is recommended to install EV charging infrastructure according to the latest version of the electrical code, as it will have the most up-to-date information about EV chargers. The current version is the 2026 National Electrical Code. The next updated version is set to be released in 2029.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance

In addition to NEC compliance, the other major compliance requirements parking facilities face is ADA compliance. To help with this, the U.S. Access Board, an independent federal agency,  has developed a technical assistance document, "Design Recommendations for Accessible Electric Vehicle Charging Stations." The document covers the following topics:

• Designing and installing EV charging infrastructure so it is accessible to and usable by people with disabilities,

• Existing requirements in the ADA and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) that apply to EV charging infrastructure,

• Accessibility features for EV charging infrastructure, associated parking spaces, and charger payment systems, and

• Applicability of the recommendations to both public and residential locations.

The U.S. Department of Energy says ADA-compliant chargers should:

• Be accessible, easy to use, and safe, 

• Ensure adequate space for exiting and entering the vehicle, 

• Have unobstructed access to the charging station, 

• Allow for free movement around the charging station and connection point on the vehicle, 

• Maintain clear paths and proximity to building entrances, and 

• Display appropriate signage. 

Additionally, if the EV charging station is developed, procured, maintained or used by the federal government, the user interface and payment system, or information and communication technology (ICT), must also meet the standards set out in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Installation Agency Requirements

Your permitting agency likely has requirements for who can perform the installation. In California, for example, EV chargers for commercial use must be placed in service by a Registered Service Agency, like Blink Charging or one of its installation partners. The chargers must display a county approval seal.

Electrical Capacity & Load Management

One item that the Certification Statement on your permit will likely address is electrical compliance. It may have a statement like: 

“The licensee ensures that appropriate load calculations have been done to ensure that the site has adequate electrical capacity to support electric vehicle charging equipment.” 

Your site’s electrical capacity is the maximum amount of power it can reliably and steadily draw from its various electricity sources. One way a site host can stretch its electrical capacity while still adhering to NEC requirements is to use load management for its commercial Level 2 chargers. 

Load management is when you have multiple Level 2 chargers using the same circuit. The chargers will be able to take the available electricity on that circuit and divide it among the chargers in use so that each charger is able to charge the EV it is plugged into without overloading the circuit. 

Smart charging goes further and automatically manages your charging schedule to avoid electricity peaks at your site.

Charger to network communication

One thing to remember when it comes to installing EV chargers in parking garages is that these structures sometimes interfere with cellular signals. This is significant for parking facility site hosts because networked EV chargers communicate with the network via cellular signal, ethernet, or wi-fi, with cellular being the most common. 

In parking garages or other sites with weak cellular signals where ethernet or wi-fi are also not available, these sites may require a cellular repeater for EV chargers to help boost the cellular signal.

LEED Certification Considerations

Some parking facility hosts may be interested in procuring LEED certification for their projects. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is the most widely used green building rating system in the world.

Although not a requirement for installing EV chargers, a site host may want to gain LEED certification to meet certain sustainability goals and try to claim any tax benefits associated with operating a sustainable building. 

Wrapping Up

Procuring permits need not be difficult for your commercial parking facility. By partnering with an EV charging specialist, like Blink Charging, you can ensure the products you buy adhere to all NEC and ADA compliance requirements and you can ensure you have the proper electrical capacity for the installation you want. Please contact Blink Charging today to speak with a commercial parking facilities expert about your EV charging needs and let us help make your permit requirements a breeze to deal with.