The B.C. government has announced more regulations to make it easier for people living in strata developments to request electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations where they live.
The regulations outline a process for a homeowner in a strata to request to install an EV charging station and determine a timeline for strata corporations to respond.
The regulations also enable strata corporations to grant permission to an owner to exclusively use a parking stall on common property on land that is a common asset for as long as five years if EV charging has been installed and the installation resulted from an owner's request for EV charging.
Strata corporations will also be required to obtain an Electrical Planning Report (EPR), which will help the strata plan for future upgrades and demands on their electrical systems, such as conversion to heat pumps and installation of cooling equipment, as well as support resident requests for EV charging.
Small stratas of fewer than five units will be exempt from the EPR requirement.
The province also notes the regulations brings into force the remainder of Bill 22, the Strata Property Amendment Act introduced earlier this year, which lowered the voting threshold from three-quarters approval to majority for approval of certain decisions related to the installation of EV charging equipment.
The City of Delta last year made bylaw changes to require EV infrastructure in new, multi-unit residential projects, part of the city’s overall Electric Vehicle Strategy.
The new rules require 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 are not required to provide EV charging.
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, according to the planning department.
Delta’s previous bylaw did not currently include any EV charging requirements for new single-detached or duplex dwellings, but the new requirement is for at least one Level 2 capable outlet for single-detached dwellings, as well as for each unit in a duplex dwelling.
Secondary suites and coach houses are excluded.
For new townhouse developments with individual parking garages for each unit, there is a requirement for an outlet capable of Level 2 charging or higher per dwelling unit in a garage.
