New Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure requirements came into effect in Saanich on September 1, 2020.
Development and Building Permit applications for new buildings applied for on or after September 1, 2020 need to demonstrate compliance with the following Bylaws related to Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure requirements:
- Zoning Bylaw 8200, section 7: Off-Street Parking, which establishes electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure requirements for parking in new residential, institutional, commercial and industrial buildings.
- Electric Vehicle Off-Street Parking Bylaw, 2020, No. 9644, which establishes requirements for performance of Electric Vehicle Energy Management Systems and building and occupancy permit requirements.
Please see the most recent version of the EV Infrastructure Requirements Technical Bulletin, dated October 22, 2020.
The EV infrastructure requirements apply only to new buildings. Specifically, they will not apply to a building or development:
- for which an occupancy permit was issued prior to September 1, 2020;
- for which an application for a building permit was submitted in accordance with the requirements of the Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529 prior to September 1, 2020; or
- for which an application for a development permit was submitted in accordance with the requirements of the Land Use and Development Procedures Bylaw, 2007, No. 8857 prior to September 1, 2020.
Requirements - Residential
Intent: Enable all new residential development to be equipped with electrical infrastructure that facilitates easy and cost-effective access to electric vehicle charging at home.
Requirement: Table 7.1 of the Zoning Bylaw specifies EV infrastructure requirements for various residential building uses. Generally, the requirements are as follows:
| Single-Family, Duplex and Townhouse | Multi-Unit Development |
|
One on-site parking space per unit must have an energized outlet capable of providing Level 2 charging.
|
All off-street parking spaces must have energized outlets capable of providing Level 2 charging, excluding visitor parking.
|
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) is not required at the time of development but may be installed post-occupancy by the building or EV owner.
Note: The electric vehicle infrastructure requirement applies to new construction only, not to renovations, additions or a change of use to an existing building. As such, if you are undertaking a renovation to add a secondary suite to an existing building, you will not be required to provide an energized outlet as part of that work. If, however, you were to build a new garden suite (a separate building) or a secondary suite in a new house, electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the form of an energized outlet capable of providing Level 2 charging would be required as part of the parking provided for that new construction only.
Requirements - Institutional, Commercial and Industrial (ICI)
Intent: Increase available public and workplace charging for EV owners on the go or without access to charging at home. For Institutional, Commercial and Industrial (ICI) building types, the installation of some EVSE at time of development is intended to accelerate the public and workplace charging network in the short term.
Requirement: Table 7.1 of the Zoning Bylaw specifies EV infrastructure requirements for various ICI building uses. Requirements range from 0- 5% of required spaces to have energized outlets capable of providing Level 2 charging, with a specified number of these energized spaces having EVSE installed at time of development.
Minimum performance requirements must be met when an Electric Vehicle Energy Management System (EVEMS) is employed (see Electric Vehicle Energy Management Systems below).
In buildings with shared parking areas, EV electrical infrastructure should be separately metered from the common areas so that stratas, building owners and BC Hydro can distinguish between common area electrical usage and EV charging electrical usage.
Electric Vehicle Energy Management Systems
Where use of an Electric Vehicle Energy Management System (EVEMS) is permitted to fulfill the requirements of Section 7 of the Zoning Bylaw, the maximum number of EVSE that may be connected to the same electrical circuit in the building, for various circuit ratings, is specified in Table 1, Schedule A of the Electric Vehicle Off-Street Parking Bylaw (copied below).
Table 1
| Minimum Circuit Breaker Rating (AMPS) | Maximum Number of EVSE Per Circuit |
| 20 | 1 |
| 30 | 2 |
| 40 | 4 |
| 50 | 5 |
| 60 | 6 |
| 70 | 7 |
| 80 | 8 |
| 90 | 10 |
| 100 | 11 |
| 125 | 14 |
| 150 | 17 |
Additionally, when using an EVEMS to meet the requirements of Section 7 of the Zoning Bylaw, the owner will need to:
- provide and install all communications equipment, control systems, and other devices required to operate the EVEMS; and
- ensure that all necessary permits, authorizations and variances under the Safety Standards Act, SBC 2003, c. 39, and the Electrical Safety Regulation, BC Reg. 50/2017, have been obtained for the installation and operation of the EVEMS.
Background & Direction
The EV infrastructure requirements will ensure that new Saanich buildings are equipped for the legislated Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate in BC – this requires automakers to meet an increasing annual percentage of new light-duty ZEV sales and leases:
- By 2025, 10% of new light-duty vehicles (cars and trucks) sold or leased will be zero-emission;
- By 2030, 30% will be zero-emission; and
- By 2040, 100% will be zero-emission.
The Province of BC has legislated these targets in the “Zero-Emission Vehicles Act”. With no fossil fuel-based light duty cars and trucks projected to be sold in BC beyond 2040, local governments have an important role to play in the development of policies that ensure our buildings and transportation sectors are prepared and equipped with the charging infrastructure needed for this market transition.
The District of Saanich Bylaws related to EV charging infrastructure requirements respond to the following Council directions:
- Council Motion, passed January 11, 2018, for staff to “develop an approach to requiring electric vehicle charging infrastructure within new development”; and
- Council Motion, passed March 25, 2019, outlining that “The District of Saanich declare a climate emergency and work towards achieving carbon neutrality in the municipality by 2030”.
- Council Motion, passed September 30, 2019, “That Council:
- Adopt the recommended requirements for electric vehicle charging infrastructure in new developments, as detailed in Attachment 1 of the report.
- Direct staff to prepare the necessary amendments to the Zoning Bylaw to bring the recommended requirements for electric vehicle charging infrastructure in new developments (all new Part 9 residential buildings, institutional, commercial and industrial buildings, and Part 3 multi-unit residential buildings) into force on June 1, 2020.’
- Council approval of Zoning Bylaw Amendment and Electric Vehicle Off-Street Parking Bylaw (Council Report, June 2020).
The EV infrastructure requirements have been informed by engagement with stakeholders and the public between May 2018 and May 2019. Read the full EV Infrastructure Requirement Engagement Summary.
More Information and Resources
Compliance forms will be available online after September 1, 2020 at https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/inspections-bylaw-services.html
For more detailed information regarding definitions and application requirements see the most recent version of the EV Infrastructure Requirements Technical Bulletin, dated October 22, 2020.