Tucson Reviews EV Charging Regulations One Year Post-Implementation

Published on July 17, 2024

The City of Tucson Planning and Development Services Department (PDSD) has conducted a comprehensive review of its electric vehicle (EV) readiness regulations one year after the adoption of the ordinance mandating EV infrastructure in new commercial, multi-family, and office developments. This review follows the Mayor and Council's request during the public hearing on August 23, 2022, when the ordinance was initially approved.

The EV readiness ordinance, Effective December 1, 2022, ensures that new developments in Tucson are equipped with EV infrastructure. The regulations specify the percentage and types of EV supply equipment, levels of readiness, and best practices for location and design. This is in addition to the June 2021 local amendment to the International Residential Code, which requires EV charging provisions for new single-family homes.

The ordinance aims to increase access to EV charging infrastructure through a phased approach, ensuring that new developments accommodate current and future EV users. By installing EV infrastructure during construction, the city seeks to reduce the overall cost of transitioning to electric vehicles, avoiding the expense of future retrofits.

To assess the effectiveness of the EV charging regulations, PDSD conducted a survey targeting those affected by the new regulations and the general public. The survey received 56 responses, with 13 specifically related to EV infrastructure projects.

Key findings included:

• There is a need for flexibility in applying the standards to various situations
• Concerns about installation costs, particularly in affordable housing projects
• A call for clearer guidelines on applying EV requirements to site expansions
• Suggestions to increase incentives for installing Level 3 chargers, which are faster but more expensive than Level 2 chargers
• Strong support for single-family residential EV regulations

Over the past year, PDSD staff reviewed development packages for commercial and multi-family projects to identify those that included EV charging infrastructure. Fourteen projects were found to incorporate EV infrastructure, covering 10 multi-family sites and 4 commercial/restaurant sites.

Based on survey feedback and staff reviews, the following resources and ordinance adjustments are proposed:

• Clarify that EV requirements apply only to newly developed parking areas in site expansions, reducing future retrofitting costs
• Establish a path to reduce EV requirements when appropriate, using methods like the Individual Parking Plan
• Adjust incentives for Level 3 chargers, proposing an 8 to 1 ratio compared to Level 2 chargers to reflect cost and charging speed better

PDSD staff will explore ways to address these adjustments through the corridor redevelopment code package, which includes public input. Updates to EV parking standards will align with other proposed changes to commercial parking requirements, with completion anticipated by the end of 2024.