Access to electric vehicle charging stations in new multi-family development to increase with proposal headed to City Council

News Article
Portlanders invited to testify online via the Map App or at a public hearing on January 25 at 2 p.m.
Published

A new proposal headed to City Council will require all new multi-dwelling and mixed-use development with five or more units — that include onsite parking — to provide electric vehicle (EV)-ready charging infrastructure at higher rates than required by State rules.

The code amendments in the EV Ready Code Project were recently approved by the Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC) and are part of the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability’s work to reduce carbon emissions in and around Portland.

The project amends the zoning code to increase the requirement for new multi-dwelling and mixed-use development with at least five units and onsite parking. These would need to ensure 50% of the available parking has EV-ready infrastructure. Smaller parking areas with six or fewer spaces would need to provide this infrastructure to all parking spaces.

These code amendments augment recently approved state-level requirements for EV infrastructure to address local needs for expanded EV-charging access — especially for residents of apartments and condominiums — with additional requirements for EV infrastructure in new multi-dwelling and mixed-use developments with five or more units.

Read the Recommended Draft

The PSC’s Recommended Draft is now available for public review and testimony.

Testify to City Council

City Council will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, January 25 at 2:00 p.m. on the EV Ready Code Project amendments. Community members are invited to testify virtually via Zoom or in person at City Hall.

Testifying in person or virtually

To testify at the public hearing, you must register online. Registration closes one hour before the scheduled hearing time on January 25 at 2 p.m. Please email councilclerk@portlandoregon.gov with questions about providing testimony.

Testifying in writing

You can submit written testimony by using the Map App or via U.S. Mail.

Map App

Using the Map App is as easy as sending an email. Click "Testify" at the upper right-hand corner.

U.S. Mail

City Council Clerk
EV – Ready Code Project Testimony
1221 SW Fourth Avenue, Room 130
Portland, OR 97204