Politics
Ringwood Council Approves EV Charging Mandate for New Construction, Matching Standards in Peer Municipalities
Developers and property owners in Ringwood will face new installation requirements for electric vehicle chargers on projects permitted after January 2027 following the July 8 council vote.
How we reported this
Ringwood City Council passed a building code amendment on July 8 that requires one electric vehicle charging station for every ten parking spaces in new commercial and multifamily developments. The 5-2 vote applies the rule to permits issued after January 1, 2027, and brings Ringwood into line with ordinances already operating in three adjacent municipalities.
The change follows the council's receipt of updated regional planning data showing that 18 percent of Ringwood commuters now drive vehicles that could use Level 2 chargers. Council staff presented the item during the regular meeting at Ringwood City Hall, noting that the same percentage threshold had triggered similar rules in neighboring jurisdictions two years earlier.
Impacts for Ringwood property owners and builders
Local developers will need to include the chargers in site plans submitted after the cutoff date. A typical 200-space retail project would require 20 stations, with conduit and panel upgrades estimated in the project engineering documents. Homeowners adding accessory dwelling units on existing lots remain exempt unless the unit creates more than four new parking spaces.
Residents who rent or own units in future buildings covered by the rule will gain access to on-site charging without separate utility applications. The ordinance also directs city staff to publish an annual map showing charger locations so drivers can plan routes within Ringwood limits.
Budget figures and next steps
The 2026 capital improvement plan already lists $1.4 million for public charger installations at three municipal lots. The new private-sector requirement is expected to reduce demand on that public fund by shifting costs to developers, according to the staff report attached to the July 8 agenda packet.
City planning staff will begin reviewing draft design guidelines next month and must return with a final enforcement checklist by October. Building permits issued before the January 2027 date will follow the previous code, giving current projects a six-month window to avoid the added requirement.