EV charger permits

AFDC's language is careful and so should ours be: installations must comply with local and state codes, and appropriate permits may be required from local building and permitting authorities. That's the honest state of things. Some cities have published detailed residential EV charging guidance — AFDC cites San Jose as one of the first and Seattle's residential tip sheets as another — but most homeowners have to ask.

The five-minute version: call your building department, say you're installing a Level 2 home EV charger, and ask (1) which permit, (2) the fee, (3) whether a site plan needs pre-approval, (4) how many inspections, and (5) which NEC edition they enforce. Write the answers down. That list is now your contractor checklist.

The permit should be pulled by the licensed electrician, in their name. If a company asks you to pull it as the homeowner, they're moving liability onto you. That's a reason to get another bid, not a paperwork convenience.

Some utilities also want to know about a new Level 2 load, particularly if you're joining a time-of-use or EV rate program or if service capacity is tight in your area. Whether notification is required and what it involves depends on your utility — ask them directly rather than assuming your electrician has.

How to choose

Call the building department before you take bids

Knowing the permit list first is the cheapest way to spot a contractor planning to skip it.

Permit in the contractor's name, always

Homeowner-pulled permits shift liability to you and can complicate insurance and resale.

Ask whether a site plan needs pre-approval

AFDC notes many areas require an approved plan before installation. It's a schedule item, not a formality.

Check with your utility separately

Utilities set their own notification and rate-program rules. Your electrician's permit does not automatically inform them.

Keep the inspection sign-off

It's what proves the circuit was inspected if you ever sell the house or file an insurance claim.