Lawmakers at all levels of government are grappling with how to support the growing demand for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Across the country, jurisdictions are taking up legislation that would mandate the installation of electric vehicle charging equipment in multifamily parking structures.
California, for example, requires that 10 percent of parking spaces be capable of supporting EV charging for new multifamily buildings. St. Louis has a similar ordinance, which went into effect January 2022. In advance of the 2024 International Code Council’s I-Codes, code development participants are exploring options for standardizing EV infrastructure in all property types.
Many jurisdictions across the country already impose minimum parking space requirements, which add significant costs to housing development. The average cost for a 200 square foot surface-level parking spot is $300 to $500. Structured parking spaces can climb higher than $50,000 in per-unit costs in some metro areas. Depending on the type of charging station, each unit can range from $2,500 to $13,000. Ultimately, these additional costs can impact housing affordability.
The voluntary installation of EV charging equipment can have positive impacts on business and energy efficiency, but the National Apartment Association (NAA) opposes mandatory and arbitrary minimums for parking spaces with this equipment. These laws do not accurately measure consumer demand, feasibility or cost. Instead, states should expand existing support structures like tax incentives for properties that install EV chargers.
For more information on energy efficiency policy, please reach out to Ben Harrold, NAA’s Manager of Public Policy.