A.

Purpose and intent. The purpose and intent of this section is to facilitate and encourage the use of electric vehicles, to expedite the establishment of convenient and cost-effective electric vehicle infrastructure, and establish the minimum requirements for such infrastructure to serve both short- and long-term parking needs.

B.

Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to this Section:

Commercial buildings, for this section, means commercial buildings and R-Occupancies that are covered by the International Building Code.

Electric vehicle (EV) means a vehicle registered for on-road use, primarily powered by an electric motor that draws current from a rechargeable storage source that is charged by being plugged into an electrical current source.

Electric vehicle (EV) capable light space means a designated parking space that is provided with conduit sized and rated for a minimum 40-amp, 208/240-Volt dedicated branch circuit and shall be no less than one inch in size and has sufficient physical space adjacent to the existing electrical equipment for future electric upgrades.

Electric vehicle (EV) capable space means a designated parking space that is provided with conduit sized and rated for a minimum 40-amp, 208/240-Volt dedicated branch circuit and shall be no less than one inch in size. Conduit must be continuous from the future or existing electrical panelboard or switchboard location(s) and end at a junction box or receptacle located within close proximity of the parking space. The electrical panel serving the parking space shall have sufficient capacity and physical space for a dual-pole, 40-amp breaker and shall be labeled, "For future electric vehicle supply." The conduit shall be sealed at the junction or outlet box that is capped off, with the conduit sealed and the cap labeled as, "For future electric vehicle charging."

Electric vehicle charging station—Private restricted use means an electric vehicle charging station that is:

1.

Privately owned and restricted access (e.g., single-family dwelling unit, executive parking, designated employee parking, assigned parking at multi-family residential building); or

2.

Publicly owned and restricted (e.g., fleet parking with no access to the general public).

Electric vehicle charging station—Public use means an electric vehicle charging station that is:

1.

Publicly owned and publicly available (e.g., Park-n-ride, public library parking lot, recreation and senior center lot, etc.); or

2.

Privately owned and available to visitors of the use (e.g., shopping center, hotel, office, etc.).

Electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) means a public or private parking space that is served by battery charging station equipment that has as its primary purpose the transfer of electric energy (by conductive or inductive means) to a battery or other energy storage device in an electric vehicle.

Electric vehicle parking space means any marked parking space that identifies the use to be exclusively for the parking of an electric vehicle.

Electric vehicle (EV) ready space means a designated parking space that is provided with a dedicated branch circuit with wiring capable of supporting a minimum 40-ampere, 208/240-Volt circuit that terminates at a receptacle, plug, junction box, or an installed electric vehicle supply equipment within close proximity of the parking space. There shall be adequate reserved space in an electrical panelboard or switchboard to meet the electric vehicle requirements.

Electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) means the electrical conductors and associated equipment external to the electric vehicle that provide a connection between the premises wiring and the electric vehicle to provide electric vehicle charging.

Electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) installed space means a designated parking space with dedicated electric vehicle supply equipment capable of supplying a minimum 40-amp, dedicated circuit rated at 208/240 Volt from a building electrical panelboard.

Residential buildings, for this section, means dwellings that are covered by the International Residential Code.

C.

Number of required electric vehicle charging stations. The following table sets forth the number of required charging stations for all new development or redevelopments as required in chapter 15.18 of the Louisville Municipal Code. For each EVSE installed space beyond the minimum number of required spaces, a credit may be given for a required EV ready, EV capable, or EV capable light space.

1.

Requirements will be rounded up to the nearest whole number.

2.

Minimum electrical and hardware requirements for EVSE Installed, EV Ready, and EV Capable are set forth in chapter 15.18 of this Code.

3.

Minimum charging rate. Each installed EVSE shall comply with one of the following:

a.

Be capable of charging at a minimum rate of 6.2 kVA (or 30A at 208/240V).

b.

When serving multiple EVSE installed spaces and controlled by an energy management system providing load management, be capable of simultaneously sharing each EVSE installed space at a minimum charging rate of no less than 3.3 kVA.

D.

Permitted locations.

1.

EVCS are permitted in every zoning district when accessory to a principal permitted use. Such stations located at single-family and designated multi-family units shall be private restricted use only.

2.

If the primary use of the parcel is the retail electric charging of vehicles, then the use shall be considered an automotive fueling station for zoning purposes. Installation shall be located in zone districts which permit this use.

E.

General requirements.

1.

Accessible spaces. A charging station will be considered accessible if it is located adjacent to, and can serve, an accessible parking space as defined and required by the ADA. It is not necessary to designate the EVSE exclusively for the use of vehicles parked in the accessible space.

2.

EVCS—Public use shall be subject to the following requirements.

a.

The EVCSs shall be located in a manner that will be easily seen by the public for informational and security purposes.

b.

The EVCSs shall be located in desirable and convenient parking locations will serve as an incentive for the use of electric vehicles.

c.

The EVCSs must be operational during the normal business hours of the use(s) that it serves.

d.

The EVSE shall be maintained in all respects, including the functioning of equipment. A phone number or other contact information shall be provided on the equipment for reporting problems with the equipment or access to it.

e.

The property owner may collect a service fee for the use of EVSE.

F.

The requirements of this section shall be shall be implemented through the building permit process and shall apply to:

1.

All new construction, expansion or modification projects for which a building permit has not been issued as of November 24, 2021; and

2.

All planned unit developments for which a building permit has not been issued as of November 24, 2021, irrespective of whether such planned unit development was approved or approved and recorded prior to such date, unless a waiver was expressly granted through the planned unit development review process set forth in chapter 17.28.

(Ord. No. 1816-2021, § 1, 10-19-2021; Ord. No. 1828-2022, § 1, 5-3-2022; Ord. No. 1877-2024, § 1, 8-6-2024)