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Chapter 4 — RESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES

Section 4.106 — SITE DEVELOPMENT

2025 California Green Building Standards Code (Title 24, Part 11) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · California

4.106.1 General. Preservation and use of available natural resources shall be accomplished through evaluation and careful planning to minimize negative effects on the site and adjacent areas. Preservation of slopes, management of storm water drainage and erosion controls shall comply with this section.

4.106.2 Storm water drainage and retention during construction. Projects which disturb less than one acre of soil and are not part of a larger common plan of development which in total disturbs one acre or more, shall manage storm water drainage during construction. In order to manage storm water drainage during construction, one or more of the following measures shall be implemented to prevent flooding of adjacent property, prevent erosion and retain soil runoff on the site.

  1. Retention basins of sufficient size shall be utilized to retain storm water on the site.

  2. Where storm water is conveyed to a public drainage system, collection point, gutter or similar disposal method, water shall be filtered by use of a barrier system, wattle or other method approved by the enforcing agency.

  3. Compliance with a lawfully enacted storm water management ordinance.

Note: Refer to the State Water Resources Control Board for projects which disturb one acre or more of soil, or are part of a larger common plan of development which in total disturbs one acre or more of soil.

(Website: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater/construction.html)

4.106.3 Grading and paving. Construction plans shall indicate how the site grading or drainage system will manage all surface water flows to keep water from entering buildings. Examples of methods to manage surface water include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Swales

  2. Water collection and disposal systems

  3. French drains

  4. Water retention gardens

  5. Other water measures which keep surface water away from buildings and aid in groundwater recharge.

Exception: Additions and alterations not altering the drainage path.

4.106.4 Electric vehicle (EV) charging for new construction. New construction shall comply with Section 4.106.4.1 or 4.106.4.2. Electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) shall comply with the California Electrical Code.

Exceptions:

  1. On a case-by-case basis, where the local enforcing agency has determined EV charging and infrastructure are not feasible based upon one or more of the following conditions: 1.1. Where there is no local utility power supply or the local utility is unable to supply adequate power.

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RESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES

1.2. Where there is evidence suitable to the local enforcing agency substantiating that additional local utility infrastructure design requirements, directly related to the implementation of Section 4.106.4, may adversely impact the construction cost of the project. 2. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADU) without additional parking facilities.

4.106.4.1 New one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses with attached private garages. For each dwelling unit, install a listed raceway to accommodate a dedicated 208/240-volt branch circuit. The raceway shall not be less than trade size 1 (nominal 1-inch inside diameter). The raceway shall originate at the main service or subpanel and shall terminate into a listed cabinet, box or other enclosure in close proximity to the proposed location of an EV charger. Raceways are required to be continuous at enclosed, inaccessible or concealed areas and spaces. The service panel and/or subpanel shall provide capacity to install a 40-ampere 208/240-volt minimum dedicated branch circuit and space(s) reserved to permit installation of a branch circuit overcurrent protective device.

Exception: A raceway is not required if a minimum 40-ampere 208/240-volt dedicated EV branch circuit is installed in close proximity to the proposed location of an EV charger at the time of original construction in accordance with the California Elec- trical Code .

4.106.4.1.1 Identification. The service panel or subpanel circuit directory shall identify the overcurrent protective device space(s) reserved for future EV charging as “EV CAPABLE”. The raceway termination location shall be permanently and visibly marked as “EV CAPABLE”.

4.106.4.2 New multifamily dwellings, hotels and motels and new residential parking facilities. When parking is provided, parking spaces for new multifamily dwellings, hotels and motels shall meet the requirements of Section 4.106.4.2.2. Calculations for spaces shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. A parking space served by electric vehicle supply equipment or designed as an EV charging space shall count as at least one standard automobile parking space only for the purpose of complying with any applicable minimum parking space requirements established by a local jurisdiction. See Vehicle Code Section 22511.2 for further details.

4.106.4.2.1 Reserved.

4.106.4.2.2 Multifamily dwellings.

  1. EV ready parking spaces with receptacles. a. Multifamily parking facilities with assigned parking. Where dwelling units are provided with assigned parking spaces equal to or greater than the number of dwelling units, at least one low power Level 2 EV charging receptacle shall be provided at an assigned parking space for each dwelling unit.
  2. Where the total number of dwelling units exceeds the number of assigned parking spaces, all assigned parking spaces shall be provided with one low power Level 2 EV charging receptacle. Exception: Areas of parking facilities served by parking lifts, including but not limited to, automated mechanical-access open parking garages as defined in the California Building Code ; or parking facilities otherwise incapable of supporting electric vehicle charging. b. Multifamily parking facilities with unassigned parking. Where dwelling units are provided with unassigned parking spaces equal to or greater than the number of dwelling units, at least one low power Level 2 EV charging receptacle shall be provided at an unassigned parking space for each dwelling unit.
  3. Where the total number of dwelling units exceeds the number of unassigned parking spaces, all unassigned parking spaces shall be provided with one low power Level 2 EV charging receptacle. Exception: Areas of parking facilities served by parking lifts, including but not limited to, automated mechanical-access open parking garages as defined in the California Building Code ; or parking facilities otherwise incapable of supporting electric vehicle charging. c. Multifamily parking facilities with assigned and unassigned parking. Where multifamily buildings are provided with both assigned and unassigned parking spaces equal to or greater than the number of dwelling units, at least one low power Level 2 EV charging receptacle shall be provided for each dwelling unit at either the assigned or unassigned parking space, but not both. d. Receptacle power source. EV charging receptacles in multifamily parking facilities at assigned parking spaces shall be provided with a dedicated branch circuit connected to the dwelling unit’s electrical panel, unless determined as infeasible by the project builder or designer and subject to concurrence of the local enforcing agency. Exception: Areas of parking facilities served by parking lifts, including but not limited to, automated mechanical-access open parking garages as defined in the California Building Code ; or parking facilities otherwise incapable of supporting electric vehicle charging. e. Receptacle configurations. 208/240V EV charging receptacles shall comply with one of the following configurations:
  4. For 20-ampere receptacles, NEMA 6-20R
  5. For 30-ampere receptacles, NEMA 14-30R
  6. For 50-ampere receptacles, NEMA 14-50R

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  1. EV ready parking spaces with EV chargers. a. Multifamily parking facilities with unassigned or common use parking. In addition to the low power Level 2 EV charging receptacle requirements of Section 4.106.4.2.2 (1), twenty-five (25) percent of unassigned or common use parking spaces not already provided with low power Level 2 EV charging receptacles, pursuant to Section 4.106.4.2.2 (1), shall be equipped with Level 2 EV chargers and shall be made available for use by all residents or guests. b. Ev charger connectors. EV chargers shall be equipped with J1772 or J3400 connectors. c. An automatic load management system (ALMS) may be used to reduce the maximum required electrical capacity to each space served by the ALMS. The electrical system and any on-site distribution transformers shall have sufficient capacity to deliver at least 3.3 kW simultaneously to each EV charging station (EVCS) served by the ALMS. The branch circuit shall have a minimum capacity of 40 amperes, and installed EV chargers shall have a capacity of not less than 30 amperes.

4.106.4.2.2.1 Electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS). Electric vehicle charging stations required by Section 4.106.4.2.2, Item 2, with EV chargers installed shall comply with Section 4.106.4.2.2.1.1.

Exception: Electric vehicle charging stations serving public accommodations, public housing, motels, and hotels shall not be required to comply with this section. See California Building Code, Chapter 11B, for applicable requirements.

4.106.4.2.2.1.1 Electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) spaces with EV chargers installed; dimensions and loca- tion. EVCS spaces shall be designed to comply with the following:

  1. The minimum length of each EVCS space shall be 18 feet (5486 mm).
  2. The minimum width of each EVCS space shall be 9 feet (2743 mm).
  3. One in every 25 EVCS spaces, but not less than one, shall also have an 8-foot (2438 mm) wide minimum aisle. A 5-foot (1524 mm) wide minimum aisle shall be permitted provided the minimum width of the EVCS space is 12 feet (3658 mm). Surface slope for this EVCS space and the aisle shall not exceed 1 unit vertical in 48 units horizontal (2.083 percent slope) in any direction. These EVCS spaces shall also comply with at least one of the following: a. The EVCS space shall be located adjacent to an accessible parking space meeting the requirements of the California Building Code, Chapter 11A, to allow use of the EV charger from the accessible parking

space. b. The EVCS space shall be located on an accessible route, as defined in the California Building Code, Chapter 2, to the building.

Exception: Electric vehicle charging stations designed and constructed in compliance with the California Building Code, Chapter 11B, are not required to comply with Section 4.106.4.2.2.1.1.

4.106.4.2.2.1.2 Accessible electric vehicle charging station spaces. In addition to the requirements in Section 4.106.4.2.2.1.1, all EV chargers, where installed, shall comply with the accessibility provisions for EV chargers in the Califor- nia Building Code, Chapter 11B. EV ready spaces and EVCS in multifamily developments shall comply with California Building Code, Chapter 11A, Section 1109A.

4.106.4.2.3 Reserved.

4.106.4.2.4 Reserved.

4.106.4.2.5 Electric vehicle ready space signage. Electric vehicle ready spaces shall be identified by signage or pavement markings, in compliance with Caltrans Traffic Operations Policy Directive 13-01 (Zero Emission Vehicle Signs and Pavement Markings) or its successor(s).

4.106.4.2.6 Hotels and motels.

  1. EV ready parking spaces with receptacles. a. Hotels and motels. Forty (40) percent of the total number of parking spaces shall be equipped with low power Level 2 EV charging receptacles. Exception: Areas of parking facilities served by parking lifts, including but not limited to automated mechanical-access open parking garages as defined in the California Building Code ; or parking facilities otherwise incapable of supporting electric vehicle charging. b. Receptacle configurations. 208/240V EV charging receptacles shall comply with one of the following configurations:
  2. For 20- ampere receptacles, NEMA 6-20R
  3. For 30- ampere receptacles, NEMA 14-30R
  4. For 50- ampere receptacles, NEMA 14-50R
  5. EV Ready parking spaces with EV chargers. a. Hotels and motels. Twenty-five (25) percent of the total number of parking spaces shall be equipped with Level 2 EV chargers.

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b. EV charger connectors. EV chargers shall be equipped with J1772 or J3400 connectors. Exception: Areas of parking facilities served by parking lifts, including but not limited to, automated mechanical-access open parking garages as defined in the California Building Code ; or parking facilities otherwise incapable of supporting electric vehicle charging. c. An automatic load management system (ALMS) may be used to reduce the maximum required electrical capacity to each space served by the ALMS. The electrical system and any on-site distribution transformers shall have sufficient capacity to deliver at least 3.3 kW simultaneously to each EV charging station (EVCS) served by the ALMS. The branch circuit shall have a minimum capacity of 40 amperes, and installed EV chargers shall have a capacity of not less than 30 amperes.

4.106.4.3 Electric vehicle charging for additions and alterations of parking facilities serving existing multifamily buildings, hotels and motels. When existing parking facilities are altered or new parking spaces are added to existing parking facilities, and the work requires a building permit, each parking space added or altered shall have access to either a low power Level 2 EV charging receptacle or Level 2 EV charger, unless determined as infeasible by the project builder or designer and subject to concurrence of the local enforcing agency.

existing parking facilities are altered or new parking spaces are added to existing parking facilities, and the work requires a building permit, each parking space added or altered shall have access to either a low power Level 2 EV charging receptacle or Level 2 EV charger, unless determined as infeasible by the project builder or designer and subject to concurrence of the local enforcing agency.

Exception: Where work requiring a permit is being performed for the installation of 120-volt electrical receptacle(s) for level 1 EV charging.

4.106.4.4. Bicycle parking. Bicycle parking shall comply with Sections 4.106.4.4.1 through 4.106.4.4.3.

4.106.4.4.1 Short-term bicycle parking for multifamily buildings, hotels and motels. Provide on-site bicycle parking at a ratio of one parking space for every 10,000 square feet, but not less than two spaces. Short-term bicycle parking shall be located within 200 feet of building entrances, and readily visible to passers-by. Acceptable parking facilities shall be conveniently accessed from the street and may include, but not be limited to:

  1. Permanently anchored bicycle parking devices, racks, or lockers in an unsheltered, open area.
  2. Covered or uncovered enclosures with permanently anchored bicycle parking devices or racks.

4.106.4.4.2 Long-term bicycle parking for multifamily buildings. Provide on-site bicycle parking at a ratio of one parking space for every two dwelling units. Acceptable parking facilities shall be conveniently accessed from the street and may include, but not be limited to:

  1. Covered, lockable enclosures with permanently anchored bicycle parking devices or racks.
  2. Lockable bicycle storage rooms with permanently anchored bicycle parking devices or racks.
  3. Lockable, weatherproof, permanently anchored bicycle lockers.

4.106.4.4.3 Long-term bicycle parking for hotel and motel buildings. Provide one on-site long-term bicycle parking space for every 25,000 square feet, but not less than two. Acceptable parking facilities shall be conveniently accessed from the street and may include, but not be limited to:

  1. Covered, lockable enclosures with permanently anchored bicycle parking devices or racks.
  2. Lockable bicycle storage rooms with permanently anchored bicycle parking devices or racks.
  3. Lockable, weatherproof, permanently anchored bicycle lockers.

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