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Imperial County · Building on your lot

Solar panels and EV chargers in Imperial County

Imperial County's own rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text for every value.

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Each rule below links to the section of the Imperial County Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Imperial County's code says

Imperial County code What Imperial County's code adds
EV-ready new homes
  • A dedicated 208/240-volt circuit of at least 40 amperes for a future EV charger.
    Applies: Applies to each new single-family home or duplex unit.
    § 90501.19 · code text
    For each new dwelling unit, a dedicated 208/240-volt branch circuit shall be installed in the raceway required by California Green Building Standards Code, Section 4.106.4.1 to allow for future installation of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) to provide electric vehicle charge station (EVCS) readiness.
  • 3% of the parking spaces provided must be ready for future EV chargers.
    Applies: Multifamily buildings with 3 to 16 units; rounded up, and at least 1 space.
    § 90501.19 · code text
    Three percent of the total number of provided parking spaces shall be EVCS capable of future installation of EVSE as required by California Green Building Standards Code, Section 4.106.4.2 to provide EVCS readiness. Calculations for the number of EV charging spaces shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number, and at no case shall the number of dedicated parking space(s) be less than one.
  • 3% of parking spaces must be EV-ready, and at least 50% of those need active chargers.
    Applies: New multifamily buildings with 17 or more units; rounded up, with at least 1 active space.
    § 90501.19 · code text
    MF dwellings, Seventeen (17) or More Units: Three percent of the total number of provided parking spaces provided shall be EVCS capable of future installation of EVSE as required by California Green Building Standards Code, Section 4.106.4.2 to provide EVCS-readiness.
EV charger permit
  • Administrative, nondiscretionary review; incomplete applications get a written correction notice within 10 working days.
    Applies: Applies to EV charging stations; the permit is issued once the application meets all checklist requirements.
    § 90407.06 · code text
    If an application is deemed incomplete, a written plan check correction notice will be available to the applicant within ten (10) working days, detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information or documentation required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance shall be given to the applicant for resubmission.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Imperial County?

Imperial County's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary review; incomplete applications get a written correction notice within 10 working days. (Applies to EV charging stations; the permit is issued once the application meets all checklist requirements.) (§ 90407.06).

General information, not legal advice.

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Ask GoCodebook how Imperial County's solar panels and EV chargers rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

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Imperial County Municipal Code — full text