Joint Meeting Council/BFPD
08/18/26 05:15 PM
City Manager Department
Andrew L Jared
Resolution
Doc ID: 6550
COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
AGENDA MATTER:
INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE NO. XXX-2026 OF THE CITY OF BARSTOW ADDING CHAPTER
15.11 REGARDING ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS AND HYDROGEN FUELING STATIONS, AND CHAPTER 15.05 REGARDING HEARINGS AND APPEALS, TO THE BARSTOW
MUNICIPAL CODE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Ordinance No. ___ to comply with state law requiring streamlined permitting of electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations. The proposed ordinance would do the following:
• Streamlined Permitting: Establish an expedited, administrative permitting process for EV charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations to comply with state law, including electronic applications and standardized checklists.
• Hearings and Appeals: Create procedures for appeals of staff and Planning Commission decisions, including appeals of a Building Official’s determination that a proposed facility requires a conditional use permit due to potential health or safety impacts.
DISCUSSION:
Background and Purpose
Government Code section 65850.7 requires cities to establish expedited, streamlined permitting processes for electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations. The legislation is intended to reduce the time and cost associated with permitting zero-emission vehicle infrastructure.
Cities must use standardized checklists to identify the requirements for expedited review, accept electronic applications, and generally limit review to compliance with applicable health and safety requirements.
Proposed Ordinance
The proposed ordinance adds Chapter 15.11 to establish an streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations, as required by state law. It directs the Building Official to make application materials available online, accept electronic applications, and administer the process through standardized checklists. Applications would receive a limited administrative review focused on compliance with applicable health and safety requirements, rather than discretionary review.
The proposed ordinance also adds Chapter 15.05 to establish general procedures for hearings and appeals under Title 15. The chapter requires advance notice of public hearings and establishes a process for appealing administrative decisions by City staff to the Planning Commission. It further provides a process for appealing Planning Commission decisions to the City Council, with appeals generally required to be filed within 10 days. These appeal provisions are particularly relevant to the streamlined permitting process because Chapter 15.11 allows the Building Official to require a conditional use permit when substantial evidence indicates that a proposed charging or hydrogen fueling station could have a specific adverse impact on public health or safety, and expressly provides Joint Meeting Council/BFPD
08/18/26 05:15 PM
City Manager Department
Andrew L Jared
Resolution
Doc ID: 6550
COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
for appeals of that determination through the Chapter 15.05 procedures.
CEQA
Staff has determined that adoption of the proposed ordinance and resolution is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines in that the actions involve general policy and procedure making, and it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the they will have a significant effect on the environment.
Attachments
Attachment 1 - Ordinance No. ______
Attachment 2 - Permitting Checklist for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Attachment 3 - Permitting Checklist for Hydrogen Fueling Stations FISCAL IMPACT:
This process would streamline procedures but does not impact costs associated with permit review.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the City Council hold a second reading of Ordinance No. ____ and adopt it at the next Regular Meeting.