2025 CALGreen · Section 5.106.5.3 and Table 5.106.5.3.1
Planning a new office, retail, or other nonresidential building in California? The number of parking spaces determines how many spaces must support future EV charging and how many must have chargers installed now. The 2025 CALGreen requirements distinguish between office/retail and other nonresidential uses.
Two numbers to know
EV-capable spaces have the infrastructure planned for future charging, including the required raceway and electrical capacity. They do not necessarily have a charger installed.
EV charging stations (EVCS) are spaces with installed charging equipment. These spaces count toward the total EV-capable requirement. Do not add the EVCS count to the EV-capable total.
How many spaces are required?
Under Table 5.106.5.3.1, the requirements for new construction are:
| Total parking spaces | EV-capable spaces total | Installed EVCS: other nonresidential | Installed EVCS: office/retail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10–25 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| 26–50 | 8 | 4 | 6 |
| 51–75 | 13 | 6 | 8 |
| 76–100 | 17 | 8 | 13 |
| 101–150 | 25 | 12 | 19 |
| 151–200 | 35 | 18 | 26 |
| 201 or more | 20% of parking spaces | 50% of EV-capable total | 75% of EV-capable total |
For 201 or more parking spaces, round each calculated count up to the next whole space. Installed EVCS are included in the EV-capable total.
At least one required EVCS must be a Level 2 charging station.
Example: 40-space office parking lot
An office project with 40 parking spaces falls in the 26–50 range. The table requires 8 EV-capable spaces in total. Of those, 6 need installed chargers, leaving 2 EV-capable spaces without chargers.
Total: 6 charger spaces + 2 EV-capable spaces without chargers = 8 spaces.
Example: 250-space building other than office or retail
For 250 parking spaces, 20% equals 50 EV-capable spaces. Half of those, or 25 spaces, need installed chargers. The remaining 25 spaces are EV-capable without chargers.
Before finalizing the design
This is the statewide new-construction parking-space method. Additions or alterations, the alternative power-allocation method, local amendments, accessibility rules, and project-specific exceptions may change the design. Confirm the adopted requirements with the local authority having jurisdiction and coordinate the parking plan with the electrical design.
Calculate your nonresidential project: Open ZigTech’s nonresidential EV calculator
Code reference: 2025 CALGreen, Section 5.106.5.3 and Table 5.106.5.3.1
