Politics
Salinas City Council Approves EV Charging Mandate Ordinance, Aligning With Monterey County Standards
New developments in Salinas must include charging stations for at least 20 percent of parking spaces under rules effective January 2027.
How we reported this
The Salinas City Council voted 6-1 on July 7 to adopt an ordinance requiring electric vehicle charging infrastructure in all new residential projects with 10 or more units. The rule applies citywide and sets minimum installation rates at 20 percent of total parking spaces.
State rules under the Advanced Clean Cars II program require local governments to update building codes by the end of 2026. Salinas joins Monterey and Seaside, which passed similar measures in 2025, while differing from San Jose where the threshold sits at 25 percent of spaces.
Effects on Housing Costs and Daily Travel
Builders of apartment complexes along North Main Street or in the East Salinas neighborhood will need to budget for wiring and equipment at roughly $4,500 per station. Tenants in those buildings gain direct access to Level 2 chargers without relying on public stations at the Salinas Transit Center.
Local advocates note that current public chargers number only 42 across the city, according to the 2025 Monterey Bay Air Resources District inventory. The new rule projects an additional 180 stations by 2029 based on housing permit trends reported in the city’s latest general plan update.
Next Steps for Enforcement
City staff will incorporate the requirements into permit reviews beginning August 1. The planning department expects the first projects under the ordinance to reach the building stage in early 2027, with compliance checked during final inspections.
Developers may apply for state grants administered through the California Energy Commission to offset up to 60 percent of installation costs. The council directed staff to report back on uptake rates within 18 months of the effective date.