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PUBLIC HEARING
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: March 18, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Gabriel Elliott, Director of Community Development & Housing Department: Community Development & Housing
Subject: Introduce Ordinance No. MC-1662 Setting Forth
Procedures for Expediting Permitting Processing for
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Systems (All Wards)
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino take the following action:
1. Hold a Public Hearing; and
2. Introduce, read by title only and waive further reading of Ordinance No. MC- 1662 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, establishing procedures for expediting permit processing for electric vehicle charging stations.
City Manager's Comments
The City Manager recommends approval. This brings the City in full compliance with Assembly Bill 1236.
Executive Summary
The State of California recently 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, in addition to publishing a checklist of all requirements needed for expedited review. 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.
The City of San Bernardino currently has a checklist of all requirements needed for expedited review of electric charging facilities, which is posted on the department’s website. To be in compliance with State Law, the City of San Bernardino must adopt 3 1
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this ordinance or face potential legal challenges.
Background
AB 1236, codified in Government Code Section 65850.7, requires all California cities and counties to develop an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS). The law was developed to further the availability of charging infrastructure to help drive the development of zero emission vehicles – the faster charging stations are deployed, the sooner California’s air quality improves, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, and local economic benefits are captured.
Pursuant to AB 1236, cities and counties must adopt a streamlined ordinance and checklist. Current city and county streamlining status is reflected on the EVCS Streamlining Map (Attachment 2), and jurisdictions are graded based on the Permitting Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Scorecard, which includes the streamlining requirements of AB 1236.
On this map, the City of San Bernardino is shown in yellow, which indicates that the City has a checklist of all requirements needed for expedited review of electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities, but not an ordinance. Cities with ordinances and checklists are colored green. Some of those cities in the Inland Empire include: Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Rialto, Bloomington, Grand Terrace, Highland, and Redlands.
Cities shown in red (City of Upland) are not in compliance and are potentially exposed to a lawsuit by an environmental organization named the Coalition for Clean Air. This group has sued the City of Compton for the same reason.
AB 970, codified in Government Code Section 65850.71, builds California’s existing permit streamline law, AB 1236. Jurisdictions are required by AB 1236 to limit EVCS project review to health and safety requirements. AB 970 adds specific binding timelines to that review period based on the size of the project and clarifies parking requirements.
To meet AB 970 timelines and requirements of AB 1236, the city is required to provide one complete set of comments detailing all application deficiencies, which the applicant should address in a streamlined and complete manner through modifications to the existing application.
Discussion
Permit Application Timelines and Parking Requirements
Stations Type Completeness Determination
1 – 25 station projects at
a single site
Application deemed complete if after 5 days the city has not either (1) found the application to be complete or (2) issued a written deficiency notice (a) detailing all changes needed to make the application consistent with the city EVCS permitting checklist or (b) identifying specific
information necessary for the Building Official to conduct 3 1
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a limited review of the whether the project meets all health and safety requirements.
If not already approved or denied pursuant to the
requirements of AB 1236, the application will be deemed approved 20 business days after it was deemed
complete if (1) the city has not made a finding, based on substantial evidence, that the EVCS could have a specific adverse impact upon the public health or safety; (2) the city has not required the applicant to apply for a Use
Permit as specified in Section 65850.7(b) ; and an appeal has not been made to the Planning Commission pursuant
to Section 658.7(d).
26 or more stations at a
single site
The same requirements as above apply except: an EVCS
application will be deemed complete after 10 business
days and will be deemed approved after 40 business
days after deemed complete.
Parking Requirements AB 970 clarifies that cities shall reduce the number of required parking spaces by the amount necessary to
accommodate the EVCS if the EVCS and associated
equipment interferes with, reduces, eliminates, or in any was impacts the required parking spaces for existing uses.
Strategic Targets and Goals
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The adoption of an ordinance setting forth procedures for expediting permitting processing for electric Vehicle Charging Systems (EVCS) aligns with Goal No. 3- Improved Quality of Life. The faster charging stations are deployed, the sooner California’s air quality improves, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, and more local economic benefits are captured. Cleaner air quality in San Bernardino improves the overall health of the residents of San Bernardino and improves their quality of life as well.
Fiscal Impact
There are no fiscal impacts related to the adoption of this ordinance.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino take the following action:
1. Hold a Public Hearing; and
2. Introduce, read by title only and waive further reading of Ordinance No. MC- 1662 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, establishing procedures for expediting permit processing for electric vehicle charging stations.
Attachments
Attachment 1 Ordinance MC-1662
Attachment 2 EVSC Permit Streamlining Map
Attachment 3 Presentation
Attachment 4 Proof of Publication – Public Hearing
Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
There are no prior actions taken on this subject by the Mayor and City Council.
CC: Eric Levitt, City Manager