The City has changed its Zoning Bylaw to encourage electric vehicle use and to reduce carbon pollution from private transportation. Increasing access to home, workplace, and on-the-go charging infrastructure through EV-ready requirements for new buildings was identified as a priority action in the City’s Electric Vehicle Strategy.
Ensuring convenient access to EV charging across the municipality makes it easier for residents to choose electric vehicles. Installing EV charging infrastructure at the time of construction is more cost-effective than retrofitting a building later on.
These updates bring the City a step closer to achieving key objectives in its Electric Vehicle Strategy, its Official Community Plan, and Council’s Strategic Plan.
Zoning Bylaw Requirement for New Residential Development
- Effective June 1, 2019, 100% of parking spaces in new residential buildings must include Level 2 EV charging infrastructure.
- Effective January 1, 2022, 10% of residential visitor parking spaces must include Level 2 EV charging infrastructure.
- EV energy management systems (EVEMS) or "load sharing" can be used to meet the requirements to reduce costs and minimize the impact on the utility grid. An EVEMS must ensure that every EV charging outlet receive least 12kWh over an 8 hour period, the minimum performance standard.
- This requirement does not include the EV charging station (only an energized outlet). However, installation of EV charging stations is encouraged.
Technical guidance on the above requirements is provided in the EV Charging Infrastructure Requirements for New Residential Buildings Guidance.
Zoning Bylaw Requirements for New Non-Residential Development
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Effective January 1, 2022 for all projects submitting for building permit, a minimum of 45% of parking spaces provided for non-residential uses must include Level 2 EV charging infrastructure as follows:
- 35% of parking spaces include EV charging infrastructure to support workplace charging
- 10% of parking spaces include EV charging infrastructure to support opportunity (on-the-go) charging
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For workplace charging, EV energy management systems (EVEMS) or "load sharing" can be used to meet the requirements to reduce costs and minimize the impact on the utility grid. An EVEMS must ensure that every EV charging outlet receive least 12kWh over an 8 hour period, the minimum performance standard.
- For opportunity charging, dedicated circuits are necessary to meet the requirements.
- This requirement does not include the EV charging station (only an energized outlet). However, installation of EV charging stations is encouraged.
Technical guidance on the above requirements will be provided soon.
Contact Info
If you have questions regarding the Zoning Bylaw requirements for EV charging infrastructure, please email planning@cnv.org.