Delta council on April 25, voted in favour of giving preliminary approval to a bylaw amendment for the city’s electric vehicle and electric bicycle parking and charging requirements.
Delta’s current regulations includes a requirement for EV charging in new multi-unit residential or mixed-use buildings with more than six dwelling units.
A minimum of 20 percent of all required parking spaces must each be provided with either a minimum Level 2 charging station, roughed-in raceway or cable and electrical panel capacity to accommodate a station.
The new rules would see 100 per cent of vehicle spaces with either a dedicated Level 2 outlet or charger, as well as resident bicycle storage areas having one outlet per four bicycle spaces.
Visitor parking spaces would not be required to provide EV charging.
A report to council notes that the requirement to provide an energized outlet would allow all parking spaces to be EV-ready, thus reducing the costs for strata corporations and owners to add electrical room capacity, conduit and wiring after construction.
The bylaw amendment would also allow for shared circuit systems for “smart charging” or “load-sharing.”
Delta's zoning bylaw also does not currently include any electric vehicle charging requirements for new single-detached or duplex dwellings.
That would change as well, as the proposed bylaw amendment would expand on Delta’s Electric Vehicle Strategy, requiring at least one Level 2 capable outlet for single-detached dwellings, as well as include the same requirement for each unit in a duplex dwelling.
Secondary suites and coach houses would be excluded from the requirement.
It is also recommended that townhouse developments with shared parking areas provide charging capability for 100 percent of parking spaces, similar to multi-unit residential and mixed-use developments.
For townhouse developments with individual parking garages for each unit, the proposed bylaw would add a requirement for one outlet capable of Level 2 charging or higher for one space per dwelling unit in a garage.
The new bylaw would also have a requirement to provide Level 2 charging capacity, or higher, for 20 percent of parking spaces for commercial developments. That could take the form of load-sharing equipment or dedicated energized electrical outlets.
The amendment would also add a requirement for five percent of spaces in industrial developments to provide Level 2 charging equipment or outlets. The requirements for commercial and industrial would apply to new developments, as well as where significant modifications are made to a site.
Staff recommended that council waive the requirement for a public hearing for the new rules.
