Lacey City Zoning Code
16.73 Electric
Vehicle Infrastructure
16.73.010 Intent.
A. To provide adequate and convenient electric vehicle charging stations to serve the needs of the traveling public;
B. To provide opportunities for Lacey residents to have safe and efficient personal electric charging stations located at their place of residence;
C. To provide the opportunity for commercial and industrial projects to supply electrical vehicle charging station services to their customers and employees;
D. To create standard criteria to encourage and promote safe, efficient and cost effective electric vehicle charging opportunities in a full range of zones and settings for convenience of service to those that use electric vehicles.
16.73.015 General Provisions.
A. Use of specially designated charging stalls: Electric vehicle charging stations should be reserved for parking and charging electric vehicles only.
B. Electric vehicles parking: Electric vehicles may be parked in any space designated for public parking, subject to the restrictions that would apply to any other vehicle that would park in that space.
16.73.020 Definitions.
A. “Battery charging station” means an electrical component assembly or cluster of component assemblies designed specifically to charge batteries within electric vehicles, which meet or exceed any standards, codes, and regulations set forth by Chapter 19.28 RCW and consistent with rules adopted under RCW 19.27.540.
B. “BEV” means a battery electric vehicle. A battery electric vehicle, or BEV, is a type of electric vehicle (EV) that uses chemical energy stored in rechargeable battery packs. As with other electric vehicles, BEVs use electric motors and motor controllers instead of internal combustion engines (ICEs) for propulsion. Sometimes, all-electric vehicles are referred to as BEVs (although a plug-in hybrid vehicle is also a battery electric vehicle).
C. “Battery exchange station” means a fully automated facility that will enable an electric vehicle with a swappable battery to enter a drive lane and exchange the depleted battery with a fully charged battery through a fully automated process, which meets or exceeds any standards, codes, and regulations set forth by Chapter 19.27 RCW and consistent with rules adopted under RCW 19.27.540.
D. “Charging levels” means the electrical force, or voltage, at which an electric vehicle’s battery is recharged. Levels 1, 2, and 3 are the most common EV charging levels, and include the following specifications:
1. Level 1 is considered slow charging. It requires a 15 or 20 amp breaker on a 120-volt AC circuit and standard outlet. This level of charging can fully recharge a BEV between 8 and 32 hours and a PHEV between 3 and 15 hours.
2. Level 2 is considered medium charging. It requires a 40 amp to 100 amp breaker on a 240-volt AC circuit. This level of charging can fully recharge a BEV between 4 and 6 hours and a PHEV between 1 and 2 hours.
3. Level 3 is considered fast charging. It requires a 60 amp or higher dedicated breaker on a 480 volt or higher three-phase circuit with special grounding equipment. Level 3 charging uses an off-board charger to provide the AC to DC conversion, delivering DC directly to the car battery. Charging time ranges from 25-40 minutes for BEVs and less than 20 minutes for PHEVs.
E. “Electric vehicle” means any vehicle that operates, either partially or exclusively, on electrical energy from the grid, or an off-board source, that is stored on-board for motive purpose. “Electric vehicle” includes: (1) a battery electric vehicle; (2) a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle; (3) a neighborhood electric vehicle; (4) medium-speed electric vehicle; and (5) electric motorcycles.
F. “Electric vehicle charging station” means a public or private parking space located together with a battery charging station which permits the transfer of electric energy (by conductive or inductive means) to a battery or other storage device in an electric vehicle. An electric vehicle charging station is permitted as an accessory use to any principal use.
G. “Electric vehicle infrastructure” means structures, machinery, and equipment necessary and integral to support an electric vehicle, including battery charging stations, rapid charging stations, and battery exchange stations.
H. “Electric vehicle parking space” means any marked parking space that identifies the use to be exclusively for an electric vehicle.
I. “Fast charging station” means an industrial grade electrical outlet that allows for faster recharging of electric vehicle batteries through higher power levels, which meets or exceeds any standards, codes, and regulations set forth by Chapter 19.28 RCW and consistent with rules adopted under RCW 19.27.540.
J. “NEV” means a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle. This is an electric vehicle that is capable of traveling at a maximum speed of 25 mph. They come with safety features like headlights, turn signals and seat belts. They may also be referred to as Low Speed Vehicles or LSVs.
K. “Non-Electric Vehicle” means any motor vehicle that does not meet the definition of “electric vehicle.”
L. “PHEV” is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, also known as a plug-in hybrid. It is a hybrid vehicle with rechargeable batteries that can be restored to full charge by connecting a plug to an external electric power source. A PHEV shares the characteristics of both a conventional hybrid electric vehicle, having an electric motor and an internal combustion engine; and of an all-electric vehicle, also having a plug to connect to the electrical grid. Most PHEVs on the road today are passenger cars, but there are also PHEV versions of commercial vehicles and vans, utility trucks, buses, trains, motorcycles, scooters, and military vehicles.
16.73.030 Where Permitted.
A. Zones Allowed. “Electric vehicle charging stations” shall be considered an allowed use in association with a primary permitted use in every zoning designation;
B. Battery Exchange Stations. “Battery exchange stations” are permitted in any commercial, industrial or mixed use zone. Provided, all other requirements for the building or space the use occupies can be satisfied, such as design review, fire code and building code requirements. This use is specifically prohibited in exclusively residential zones or zones designated OSI for environmentally sensitive reasons. (Ord. 1615 §1, 2022).
16.73.032 Required Facilities.
A. Electric vehicle charging station(s) level 2 or higher shall be provided for the land uses in Table 16T-86; provided, that one of the following occurs:
1. A new building or a new off-street parking facility is developed;
2. The parking capacity of an existing building, site, or parking facility is increased by more than fifty percent. The fifty percent threshold shall be cumulative over the most recent five years, including calculations of all previously exempt expansions. (Ord. 1615 §2, 2022).
Table 16T-86 Required Number of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Land Use Type | Percentage of Parking Spaces* |
|---|---|
Multifamily residential, 10 or more units | 5% |
Lodging | 5% |
Office, institutional, municipal, medical | 3% |
Industrial | 1% |
Recreational/entertainment/cultural | 1% |
*Percentage shall be rounded to the nearest whole number of spaces. For example, if two and four-tenths spaces are calculated, two spaces would be required. If two and six-tenths spaces are calculated, three spaces would be required. For percentages equaling one-half space or less, no spaces are required.
(Ord. 1615 §3, 2022).
16.73.035 Process for Review for Battery Exchange Stations.
If the facility includes a battery exchange station, or is associated with a new commercial activity requiring SPR approval, the application shall be reviewed and approved through SPR (Chapter 16.84 LMC). (Ord. 1615 §4, 2022; Ord. 1539 §122, 2019).
16.73.040 Design Criteria and Guidelines.
A. The following criteria shall be applied to electric charging facilities:
1. Generally. Location and layout of electric vehicle parking is expected to vary based on the design and use of the primary parking lot. It is expected flexibility will be required to provide the most convenient and functional service to users. Standards and criteria should be considered guidelines and flexibility should be allowed when alternatives can better achieve objectives for provision of this service.
2. Signage to Identify. Each charging station space should be posted with signage indicating the space is only for electric vehicle charging purposes. Days and hours of operations should be included if time limits or tow away provisions are to be enforced by the owner.
3. Maintenance. Charging station equipment should be maintained in all respects, including the functioning of the charging equipment.
4. Accessibility. Where charging station equipment is provided within an adjacent pedestrian circulation area, such as a sidewalk or accessible route to the building entrance, charging equipment should be located so as to not interfere with accessibility requirements of WAC 51-50-005.
5. Notification of Station Specifics. Information on the charging station must identify voltage and amperage levels and time of use, fees or safety information.
6. Public Streets. Charging stations within the streetscape shall be approved by the public works director. (Ord. 1615 §5, 2022; Ord. 1351 §1, 2010).