Information for Companies Seeking to Install EV Chargers in the Public Right-of-Way

Electric Vehicle Charging in the Public Right-of-Way Policy

The goal of this policy is to provide convenient, reliable and affordable electric vehicle (EV) charging to all Portlanders, especially those who cannot charge at home. While some Portlanders who own an EV can easily charge at home, many Portlanders lack access to home charging because they don't have access to a garage, driveway, or dedicated parking space.

To bring public charging to more households, the City currently allows Portland's utilities and any private EV charging company that follow the necessary process to install EV chargers at the curb. The City will not own, operate or maintain any EV chargers. Private individuals, groups, or businesses are not permitted to install EV chargers in the right-of-way.

To learn more about our curbside charging policy, including siting guidelines, please visit our website.

Looking for a place to get started? In summer 2025, the Portland Bureau of Transportation launched a public map survey where Portlanders can share where they would like to see more curbside chargers. The survey has received hundreds of responses and shows where existing demand is.

What is the Master Lease Agreement?

The Master Lease Agreement (MLA) is the overarching legal contract that allows companies to lease space in the public right-of-way for the purpose of installing and operating their charging infrastructure. Companies must sign this document before they submit permits for specific sites.

To ensure fair access to companies interested in expanding Portland's network of public curbside EV chargers, the City developed the text of the MLA following extensive conversations and negotiations with EV charging companies in spring - summer 2025. Further changes to the template are unlikely to be considered by the City. A non-negotiable, finalized blank version of the MLA can be found in the Documents section below.

The MLA includes standard language around insurance and indemnification as well as requirements for EV charger equipment specifications, maintenance standards, data sharing, and more. To ensure Portland's curbside EV chargers meet high operational and reliability standards, the MLA also includes language from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program and best practices from state transportation agencies of Oregon, Washington, and California. These standards are designed to improve user experience. For example, EV charging companies cannot require a paid membership to use a charger installed in the right-of-way.

What does the permitting process look like?

EV charging companies must first:

• Obtain a Right-of-Way Utility License with the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. Please visit their website for more information.
• Sign the Master Lease Agreement with the Portland Bureau of Transportation. This requires signature by both the EV charging company and the City. The Master Lease Agreement has already been negotiated (see below section) and is not subject to change.

Once the above steps are complete, companies may follow the below process to apply for permits site by site:

• Reserve a site to conduct due diligence: Companies may reserve a site where they would like to install a charger for up to 60 days while they determine that location's feasibility. Sites will be released after the 60-day reservation expires. If a company wants to submit permits for that site, they should do so before the reservation expires.
• Submit a Street Opening Permit (SOP): If a company decides to move forward with a site, they must apply for a standard Street Opening Permit, which will permit them to install their infrastructure at that location. The fee for the SOP depends on if the charger is utility pole-mounted or ground mounted and can be found on this Utility Permitting website.
• Submit a Site License Agreement (SLA): Concurrently with the SOP, a company must prepare and submit a Site License Agreement that enables them to lease that site for their charger. The fee for the SLA can be found in TRN-3.450, the Transportation Fee Schedule, Exhibit C.
• Permits are approved: The City should approve and send the SOP and SLA back to the charging company. Companies must have both the approved SOP and SLA in hand before beginning any installation activities.
• Submit a Temporary Street Use Permit (TSUP): Once companies have construction scheduled for their installation, they must apply for and obtain a Temporary Street Use Permit to close the parking space adjacent to their installation.
• Charger installation: Once the company has a Right-of-Way Utility License and a signed Master Lease Agreement, as well as a site-specific Street Opening Permit, Site License Agreement, and Temporary Street Use Permit, they may proceed to install a charger at that location.
• PBOT installs signage & striping: After the charger is installed, PBOT will paint a white box around the parking space adjacent to the EV charger and add signage designating that space for EV charging only.
• Charger energization: Company activates their charger and opens it to the public.

Are you interested in installing EV chargers in the right-of-way?

Any EV charging company interested in installing EV chargers in the right-of-way can reach out to our point of contact on the right side of the screen.

Negotiation Process (closed)

The City of Portland conducted extensive outreach to EV charging companies in spring of 2025 to set a table for joint negotiations of the Master Lease Agreement (MLA). Several EV charging companies engaged in negotiations through summer 2025 that resulted in changes to the MLA. No further changes to the MLA will be considered in order to ensure fairness in standards across companies.

City of Portland - EV charging company negotiation meeting, March 2025: PowerPoint linked here

City of Portland - EV charging company negotiation meeting PowerPoint, April 2025: PowerPoint linked here

City of Portland - EV charging company negotiation meeting PowerPoint, June 2025: PowerPoint linked here

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Can I install a L2/DC fast pedestal charger curbside in front of my residence for personal use?  

Answer: At this time, only utilities and charging companies that meet City requirements will be allowed to install EV chargers in the public right-of-way, not businesses, private groups, or individual residents. There are several factors that contributed to this decision, including health, life, and safety issues, liability concerns; and, state utility location requirements, among others. Additionally, private citizens are generally prohibited from installing infrastructure for their private use in the public right-of-way, which could essentially privatize a public space. Having private assets in a public space also raises several difficult policy questions, including who is responsible for the asset if the owner relocates. 

Another concern is that the infrastructural requirements of siting charging stations and the multidisciplinary coordination necessary to connect to the grid and install the asset in a public space are complex and costly and present substantial barriers. While navigating this space and financing the process might be attainable for some individuals, groups, or businesses, it is not attainable for all and could exclude many Portlanders.   

Question: Can I install a Level 2 or DC fast pedestal charger curbside in front of my residence or business if I allow it to be used by the public?  

Answer: At this time, that is not permitted. In addition to the concerns listed in the above answer, the challenges presented by privately-owned, publicly available infrastructure in public spaces are numerous and difficult to reconcile. Many difficult policy questions are raised by a privately-owned, publicly available asset in public space: who is responsible for maintaining the charger in a state of good repair; should the City cite the owner if a charger remains out-of-service for an unreasonable amount of time; who is responsible for the asset if the owner relocates; and, who sets and collects the parking meter and charging rate. While these questions may have conceivable answers, considering the other barriers to participation in the program, PBOT has decided that limiting the permit to the charging station vendors who are best equipped to navigate and finance this process creates a practical regulatory environment to effectively manage the program.