Redondo Beach council introduces ordinance to speed electric-vehicle charger permits

City of Redondo Beach council members introduced, by title, an ordinance to amend the municipal code to streamline permitting for electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations, staff said Monday. The measure, prepared in response to Assembly Bill 1236, was introduced for first reading as Ordinance No. 3286-25.

Mark Minor, director of community development, told the council the ordinance mirrors state model language and establishes a publicly available checklist and electronic submittal process for applicants. "The assembly bill requires local jurisdictions to adopt such an ordinance that creates an expedited and streamlined process for electric vehicle charging stations," Minor said. He added the city already accepts electronic submittals through a recently launched e-permitting system.

Minor said most standard installations will be "by right" and go straight to building permits without a separate planning review. He noted a narrow exception allowing the building official, in agreement with the community development director, to require a conditional-use permit if a project could present public health or safety hazards; that decision would be appealable to the planning commission.

During council questions, staff said residential charger permits are frequently issued over the counter when an electrician provides a load calculation, while commercial projects follow a 10-day statutory intake/acceptance window and then a plan-review process. Staff also told the council some proposed public or large-scale charging sites have encountered electric-utility capacity limits and that city staff will follow up with Southern California Edison to assess site-specific constraints.

After discussion, a motion to introduce the ordinance by title only carried on a voice vote. The clerk later read the ordinance title into the record for the first reading. Staff said they will return with a full presentation of related departmental improvements and an organizational assessment on Feb. 4.

The ordinance text, as introduced, would add Chapter 28 (Electric Vehicle Charging Stations) to Title 9 of the Redondo Beach Municipal Code to provide an expedited, streamlined permitting process in line with state law.