AB 1820 — Electric vehicle charging stations: permit fees.

Summary

Existing law requires a city, county, or city and county to administratively approve an application to install an electric vehicle charging station through the issuance of a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit, and requires every local government to adopt an ordinance that creates an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations, as provided. Existing law defines "electric vehicle charging station" to mean any level of electric vehicle supply equipment station that is designed and built in compliance with specified provisions, and delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle. Existing law requires fees charged by a local agency for specified purposes, including permits, to not exceed the estimated reasonable cost of providing the service for which the fee is charged, unless a question regarding the amount of the fee charged in excess of this cost is submitted to, and approved by, 23 of the electors. Existing law, until January 1, 2034, prohibits a city, county, city or county, or charter city from charging a permit fee for a solar energy system that exceeds the estimated reasonable cost of providing the service for which the fee is charged, which cannot exceed $450 plus $15 per kilowatt for each kilowatt above 15kW for residential solar energy systems, and $1,000 plus $7 per kilowatt for each kilowatt between 51kW and 250kW, plus $5 for every kilowatt above 250kW, for commercial solar energy systems, unless the city, county, city and county, or charter city provides substantial evidence of the reasonable cost to issue the permit as part of a written finding and an adopted resolution or ordinance, as provided. This bill, until January 1, 2036, would prohibit a city, county, city or county, or charter city from charging a permit fee for an electric vehicle charging station that exceeds the estimated reasonable cost of providing the service for which the fee is charged, which cannot exceed $500 plus $5 per kilowatt for each kilowatt between 51kW and 250kW, plus $2 for every kilowatt above 250kW, for a level 2 electric vehicle charging station installed at a new or existing multifamily housing development, unless the city, county, city and county, or charter city provides substantial evidence of the reasonable cost to issue the permit as part of a written finding and an adopted resolution or ordinance, as provided. The bill would make its provisions operative on July 1, 2027, but for every city, county, city and county, or charter city with a population of fewer than 200,000 residents, the provisions would apply beginning on January 1, 2028. By requiring local agencies to perform additional duties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make related findings and declarations. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Bill Text

• Chaptered 09/20/26 - Chaptered html September 20, 2026
• Enrolled 08/26/26 - Enrolled Current pdf August 26, 2026
• Amended 07/02/26 - Amended Senate pdf July 02, 2026
• Amended 06/17/26 - Amended Senate pdf June 17, 2026
• Amended 03/16/26 - Amended Assembly pdf March 16, 2026
• Introduced 02/10/26 - Introduced pdf February 10, 2026
• AB1820 View text html

Action History

1. August 28, 2026

   Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.

2. August 24, 2026

   Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 71. Noes 1.).

3. August 20, 2026

   In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

4. August 20, 2026

   Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 27. Noes 10.).

5. August 04, 2026

   Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

6. August 03, 2026

   From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.

7. July 02, 2026

   Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

8. July 02, 2026

   From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (July 1).

9. June 17, 2026

   From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.

10. June 03, 2026

    Referred to Com. on L. GOV.

11. May 27, 2026

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

12. May 26, 2026

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 72. Noes 0.)

13. May 07, 2026

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

14. May 06, 2026

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (May 6).

15. April 16, 2026

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

16. March 17, 2026

    Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.

17. March 16, 2026

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. Read second time and amended.

18. March 16, 2026

    Referred to Com. on L. GOV.

19. February 11, 2026

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 13.

20. February 10, 2026

    Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

• Pilar Schiavo · Primary

Votes

Subjects