The rules for new construction are evolving across California. The 2025 CALGreen Building Code now requires most new constructions to dedicate a higher percentage of parking spaces to being EV-ready or equipped with chargers. For some property owners, this may come as a surprise, but it directly underscores broader industry trends. As EV adoption continues to rise, California remains a leader in green building funding programs, charger accessibility, and forward-thinking building standards. As EV ownership grows, so does demand for reliable, safe charging solutions. Residential and commercial properties are well positioned to meet these demands while supporting their business operations.
What is the 2025 CALGreen Building Code?
Created by the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) and published on July 1, 2025, the CALGreen Building Code outlines new and existing construction in California, effective January 1, 2026. CALGreen is the first state-mandated green building code in the nation. It covers five core divisions of building construction to guarantee safer, greener buildings: planning and design, energy efficiency, water efficiency and conservation, material conservation and resource efficiency, and environmental quality.
What Does EV-Capable vs. EV-Ready vs. EVSE-Installed Mean?
Fully understanding CALGreen’s EV mandates requires knowing the tiers of charging infrastructure for parking spaces. These terms often appear in the code, and their differences directly affect properties’ charging plans. As outlined below, many developments require a mixture of two or more types of parking spaces, so knowing their meanings is crucial.
EV-Capable: Parking spots with reserved electrical capacity for future charging, but without sufficient infrastructure required to support a charger yet.
EV-Ready: Means everything is in place for the station to be functional; the only thing missing is an installed charger.
EVSE (electric vehicle service equipment) Installed or EVCS (Electric Vehicle Charging Stations) Installed: Indicates that a parking space is now equipped with a fully functional EV charger.
What Are the New CALGreen EV Charging Requirements?
Starting earlier this year, most new construction and building upgrades require a higher percentage of parking spaces to be EV-capable, EV-ready, or equipped with chargers. The required amounts differ by property type.
Multifamily: Constructions must feature at least one EV-ready space per dwelling unit, plus 25% of additional common spaces must be equipped with functional Level 2 chargers and be made accessible for use by all residents or guests.
What this looks like: A newly constructed apartment complex with 20 units, each with its own parking spot, and an additional 10 communal spots, must feature 20 EV-ready parking spaces (one per unit), and of the 10 communal spots, 3 (≥25%) must have EV stations installed.
Hotels and Motels: 40% of the total number of parking spaces must be EV-ready, and 25% of parking spaces must be equipped with Level 2 stations.
What this looks like: A hotel with 300 parking spaces must offer 120 (40%) EV-ready spaces and 75 (25%) EV stations.
Commercial Properties: Requirements depend on the number of parking spaces, ranging from no EV requirements for lots with 1-9 spaces to up to 20% EV-capable spaces for lots with 201+ spots, where 75% of those EV-capable spaces must have chargers installed. Office and retail spaces require a higher charger count than other commercial properties, with 75% of spaces required to be EV-capable at larger office and retail properties, compared to 50% for other building types.
What this looks like: A retail property with 200 parking spaces would require 40 EV-capable spaces (20%). Of those spaces, 75%, equivalent to 30 spaces, would need installed chargers. The remaining 10 spaces must remain EV-capable for future expansion.
Upgrades and Alterations: Building upgrades and alterations to parking facilities are typically required to have newly added or modified spaces include EV-ready infrastructure or installed stations, unless determined infeasible.
Why These Changes Matter for Property Owners
For property owners, failing to comply with CALGreen building codes or following outdated requirements can be detrimental to strict building schedules and tight budgets. Planning ahead and including EV charging in construction can help avoid costly redesigns and delays.
Benefits of EV Chargers for Properties
Meeting CALGreen requirements isn’t just about compliance, it offers properties an opportunity to meet growing demand, strengthen their businesses, and stay competitive in a growing market. Properties investing in EV charging can gain increased foot traffic, stronger tenant satisfaction and retention, and greater online visibility. For new builds, installing adequate charging infrastructure during construction can save significant time and money compared to retrofitting down the line. Properties can also benefit from local, state, and federal incentives and rebates, which can significantly offset installation costs, making EV chargers an easy choice.
How Chargie Can Help
Chargie has installed 22,000+ chargers across 1,200+ properties to ensure our partners’ buildings comply with all state-wide standards. Whether you’re starting a new construction or planning upgrades to an existing property, our team can help you navigate the requirements and design a charging solution that fits your needs. Connect with one of our team members to get started.
