Innovative Low-Cost Charging for Multifamily Housing
Summary
SCH Number
2025121195
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Innovative Low-Cost Charging for Multifamily Housing
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/30/2025
Document Description
This project will install at least 1,603 Level 2 EV chargers on approximately 55 multifamily residential sites throughout California, with over 90% of the ports located in disadvantaged and low-income communities.
Contact Information
Name
Julianne Lea
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Associate Energy Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Anaheim, Auburn, Brawley, Burbank, Burlingame, Chico, Cloverdale, Coalinga, Culver City, Duarte, El Monte, Elk Grove, Fresno, Glendale, Grass Valley, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lakeport, Lemoore, Los Angeles, Madera, Ontario, Paso Robles, Ridgecrest, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, Santa Ana, Sebastopol, South San Francisco, Ukiah, Wheatland, Windsor
Counties
Butte, Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Lake, Los Angeles, Madera, Mendocino, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Yuba
Regions
Statewide
Other Information
The EVSE will be installed in existing parking lots or existing parking structures.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sec. 15301 and 15303
Reasons for Exemption
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, Section 15301 Existing Facilities provides that the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment or topographical features which involve negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the responsible agency's determination, are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. This project will install at least 1,603 Level 2 (L2) charging ports at or within 0.25 mile of multi-family housing properties throughout the greater Chico Area. Approximately 3 to 99 L2 charging ports will be installed at each location. The electric vehicle charging stations will be installed at existing parking lots or parking structures. Minor trenching and modification of existing electrical panels may be necessary. Therefore, this project is exempt under California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15301 and will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sec. 15303 provides that projects which consist of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure, are categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA. This project consists of installation of new, small equipment to existing sites. The charging equipment to be installed is approximately 7.9”L x 11”W x 47”H for Level 2 charging equipment. In addition, the electric vehicle charging stations will be installed at existing, paved parking spaces. Minor trenching and modification of existing electrical panels may be necessary. Therefore, the project falls within section 15303 and will not have a significant effect on the environment.?
The project will not impact an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies; does not involve any cumulative impacts of successive projects of the same type in the same place that might be considered significant; does not involve unusual circumstances that might have a significant effect on the environment; will not result in damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway; the project site is not included on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5; and the project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Therefore, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply to this project, and this project will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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