Local Government EV Charging Permitting
Local Government EV Charging Permitting
Encouraging local governments to adopt land use codes for a more streamlined EV charging permitting process.
Contact Information:
Jaxon Fagan, jaxon.fagan@state.co.us
Background
The 2023 Colorado EV Plan estimates that Colorado needs about 7,500 electric vehicle (EV) charging ports by 2025 to achieve our EV goals. To enable this robust charging network, local governments may need to adjust their permitting processes to facilitate this new type of land use. To support local governments in this work, the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) held a series of meetings with local governments and charging developers in 2023 to discuss permitting challenges and solutions and published the findings in a study.
View EV Charging Permitting Study
By December 31, 2025, many Colorado local governments will need to take action to comply with state law regarding local permitting of EV charging projects. CEO will provide technical assistance and training to help local governments comply with the law.
Electric Vehicle Charging System Permits Law
In 2024, Colorado passed the Electric Vehicle Charging System Permits law (HB24-1173) in 2024. This law encourages local governments to adopt land use permitting processes and standards for public charging projects to foster more streamlined, transparent, and consistent permitting processes.
Municipalities with 10,000 or more people and counties with 20,000 or more people as of the 2020 Federal Census are required to take at least one of the following compliance actions by December 31, 2025:
- Adopt the permitting processes and standards from the EV Charging Model Land Use Code developed by CEO;
- Adopt the permitting processes and standards prescribed by HB24-1173;
- Adopt an ordinance or resolution stating that the local government does not wish to change its existing land use codes and opts out of revising its codes.
Subject jurisdictions are also required to submit two reports to the Colorado Energy Office.
- Compliance Report: By March 1, 2026, a report that confirms the compliance action completed (i.e. which of the three compliance options outlined above the jurisdiction has implemented).
- Outcomes Report: By January 31, 2027, a report that outlines the permitting durations and final decision for each EV charging development application received between December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2026.
View list of local governments subject to the law
Resources to support reporting, including the reporting methods and report templates, will be available on this website well in advance of the reporting deadlines.
EV Charging Model Land Use Code
In coordination with representatives from local governments, disproportionately impacted communities, electric utilities, and other stakeholders, CEO has developed an EV Charging Model Code as required by HB24-1173. The code includes recommended land use permitting standards and processes and guidance to help local governments integrate its recommendations into their existing land use codes.
View EV Charging Model Land Use Code
Local governments may use the Model Code to comply with the law or as a resource to update their land use regulations to streamline the EV charging permitting process and support EV charging in their communities.
Support for Local Government Model Code Adoption
CEO will support local governments with Model Code adoption and implementation. CEO will offer code adoption support and staff training.
Request code adoption support and sign up for training
Code Adoption Support
Beginning in July 2025, CEO will provide on-call land use code adoption support to local governments through a land use code consultant, who will be available to help local governments adopt the Model Code into their existing land use codes. Local governments may request a variety of types of support, such as:
- Review of existing local government codes to identify appropriate locations to integrate model code standards
- Suggested revised code language
- Guidance on messaging for the general public, local government staff, and elected officials to support acceptance and adoption of codes
- Attendance at local government staff and/or elected body meetings
This support is primarily for local governments that are planning to adopt the model code in order to comply with the Electric Vehicle Charging System Permits law. Support is also available for local governments making significant changes to their land use regulations to improve EV charging permitting.
Staff Training
Beginning in July 2025, CEO will also provide staff training materials to help local government planning staff learn how to interpret and apply the permitting standards and processes of the model code to EV charging projects. Training methods will include a staff training manual, online webinars with planning staff, and downloadable training presentations. The training materials will cover topics like:
- Basics of EV charging projects (where they are typically sited, typical dimensions and appearance, typical amount of users per day)
- What kinds of charging projects are subject to land use permitting under the model code
- The types of standards and processes required by the model code
- How to apply the standards and processes of the model code to charging permit applications
- Common permitting challenges and how to resolve them
- Community context considerations (rural, suburban, rural)
Implementation Timeline:
- March 31, 2025: CEO published the model code guidance
- Summer 2025 - End of 2025: CEO to provide on-call code adoption support and staff training to local governments
- December 31, 2025: Local governments subject to the law to complete compliance action
- March 1, 2026: Local governments subject to the law to submit compliance reports to CEO
