ATTACHMENT NO. 1
ORDINANCE NO. 25-1760
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF NORWALK AMENDING TITLE 15
(BUILIDNGS AND CONSTRUCTION) OF THE NORWALK MUNICIPAL
CODE TO ADD CHAPTER 15.54 (ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING
STATIONS) WHICH SETS FORTH AN EXPEDITED, STREAMLINED
PERMITTING PROCESS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING
SYSTEMS
WHEREAS, the City of Norwalk (“City”) is a general law city, incorporated under the laws of the State of California; and
WHEREAS, the City adopts this Ordinance pursuant to the City’s General and police powers and property rights set forth under Government Code Sections 65850(a); and
WHEREAS, the City desires to amend Title 15 (“Buildings and Construction”) of the Norwalk Municipal Code (NMC) to add a new Chapter 15.54 (Electric Vehicle Charging Stations); and
WHEREAS, the State of California and the City of Norwalk have consistently promoted and encouraged the use of fuel-efficient electric vehicles; and WHEREAS, the State of California adopted Assembly Bill 1236, which requires local agencies to adopt an ordinance that creates an expedited and streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging systems; and WHEREAS, by the passage of Assembly Bill No. 1236 ("AB 1236") in 2015, Assembly Bill No. 970 ("AB 970") in 2021, and Assembly Bill No. 1291 ("AB 1291") in 2022, the State Legislature amended Section 65850.7 of the California Government Code to require every city, county, or city and county with a population less 200,000 residents to adopt an ordinance that creates an expedited, streamlined permitting process for "electric vehicle charging and hydrogen-fueling stations"; and WHEREAS, AB 1236, AB 970, and AB 1291 also require every city and county to administratively approve electric vehicle charging and hydrogen-fueling station permits in an expedited and timely manner, and it prohibits a city and county from denying an application for use permit unless it makes certain written findings; and WHEREAS, creation of an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations would facilitate convenient charging of electric vehicles and help reduce the City’s reliance on environmentally damaging fossil fuels; and WHEREAS, the City Council has held a duly noticed public hearing and has considered all evidence and testimony offered at said hearing.
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THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWALK DOES ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1.The foregoing recitals are true and correct and incorporates said recitals fully into this Ordinance as substantive findings.
Section 2.Title 15 of the Norwalk Municipal Code is amended by adding Chapter 15.54 titled “Electric Vehicle Charging Stations” to read as set forth in Exhibit A, which is incorporated herein by this reference.
Section 3.Any provision of the Norwalk Municipal Code or appendices thereto, inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, to the extent of such inconsistencies and no further, are hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary to effect the provisions of this Ordinance.
Section 4.If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of any competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance, and each and every Section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion of the Ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
Section 5.The proposed Ordinance will be in the public interest since it will enact and reflect the requirements of AB 1236 and establish a permit process for electric vehicle charging stations as required by State Law.
Section 6. Environmental Review. The Ordinance is exempt from additional review under the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code §§ 21000, et seq., “CEQA”) and CEQA Guidelines (14 California Code of Regulations §§ 15000, et seq.) because it establishes rules and procedures in compliance with recently-enacted State law; does not involve any commitment to a specific project which could result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment; and constitutes an organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. Accordingly, the Ordinance does not constitute a “project” that requires environmental review (see specifically CEQA Guidelines § 15378(b)(2, 5).
In addition, because the Ordinance is proposed, in part, for protection of the environment, it is exempt from further review under CEQA Guidelines § 15308.
Section 7.Severability. If any section, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, or otherwise invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining sections of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause and phrase thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases may be declared unconstitutional or invalid.
Section 8.Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this Ordinance and shall cause this Ordinance to be published or posted as required by law.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this __ day of ____ 2025.
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______________________________
TONY AYALA
MAYOR
ATTEST:
______________________________
THERESA DEVOY, CMC
CITY CLERK
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EXHIBIT A
“Title 15 BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
Chapter 15.54 ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS
15.54.010 Purpose
The purpose of this Chapter is to promote and encourage the use of electric vehicles by creating an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations while promoting public health and safety and preventing specific adverse impacts in the installation and use of such charging stations. This Chapter is also purposed to comply with California Government Code Section 65850.7.
15.54.020 Definitions
(a) “Electric vehicle charging station” or “charging station” means any level of electric vehicle supply equipment station that is designed and built in compliance with Article 625 of the California Electrical Code, as it reads on the effective date of this Chapter, and delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle.
(b) “Specific, adverse impact” means a significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact, based on objective, identified, and written public health or safety standards, policies, or conditions as they existed on the date the application was deemed complete.
(c) “Electronic submittal” means the utilization of one or more of the following:
a. Electronic mail or email.
b. The internet.
c. Facsimile.
15.54.030 Expedited permitting process
Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the Building Official shall implement an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations, and adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations shall comply with in order to be eligible for expedited review. The expedited, streamlined permitting process and checklist may refer to the recommendations contained in the most current version of the “Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist” of the “Zero-Emission Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook” as published by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. The City’s adopted checklist shall be published on the City’s website.
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15.54.040 Permit application processing
(a) Prior to submitting an application for processing, the applicant shall verify that the installation of an electric vehicle charging station will not have specific, adverse impact to public health and safety and building occupants. Verification by the applicant includes but is not limited to: electrical system capacity and loads; electrical system wiring, bonding and overcurrent protection; building infrastructure affected by charging station equipment and associated conduits; areas of charging station equipment and vehicle parking.
(b) A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the City’s adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed. Upon confirmation by the Building Official that the permit application and supporting documents meets the requirements of the City adopted checklist, and is consistent with all applicable laws and health and safety standards, the Building Official shall, consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, approve the application and issue all necessary permits. Such approval does not authorize an applicant to energize or utilize the electric vehicle charging station until approval is granted by the City. If the Building Official determines that the permit application is incomplete, he or she shall issue a written correction notice to the applicant, detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance.
(c) Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the Building Official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this Ordinance and associated supporting documentations. In accepting such permit applications, the Building Official shall also accept electronic signatures on all forms, applications, and other documentation in lieu of a wet signature by any applicant.
15.54.050 Technical review
(a) It is the intent of this Ordinance to encourage the installation of electric vehicle charging stations by removing obstacles to permitting for charging stations so long as the action does not supersede the Building Official’s authority to address higher priority life-safety situations. If the Building Official makes a finding based on substantial evidence that the electric vehicle charging station could have a specific adverse impact upon the public health or safety, as defined in this Chapter, the City may require the applicant to apply for a use permit. (b) In the technical review of a charging station, consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the Building Official shall not condition the approval for any electric vehicle charging station permit on the approval of such a system by an association, as that term is defined by Civil Code Section 4080.
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15.54.060 Electric vehicle charging station installation requirements (a) Electric vehicle charging station equipment shall meet the requirements of the California Electrical Code, the Society of Automotive Engineers, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, and accredited testing laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratories, and rules of the Public Utilities Commission or a Municipal Electric Utility Company regarding safety and reliability. (b) Installation of electric vehicle charging stations and associated wiring, bonding, disconnecting means and overcurrent protective devices shall meet the requirements of Article 625 and all applicable provisions of the California Electrical Code.
(c) Installation of electric vehicle charging stations shall be incorporated into the load calculations of all new or existing electrical services and shall meet the requirements of the California Electrical Code. Electric vehicle charging equipment shall be considered a continuous load.
(d) Anchorage of either floor-mounted or wall-mounted electric vehicle charging stations shall meet the requirements of the California Building or Residential Code as applicable per occupancy, and the provisions of the manufacturer’s installation instructions. Mounting of charging stations shall not adversely affect building elements.”