San Jose EV Charger Permit Guide

San Jose publishes residential EV charging rules for Level 1 and Level 2 chargers.

Permit takeaway

San Jose says Level 1 charging from an existing standard outlet does not require a permit, but installing a new 120V outlet requires an electrical permit.

Zoning and placement

Residential properties may use Level 1 or Level 2 charging stations; Level 3 chargers are not allowed on residential properties.

Building and trade review

Level 2 charging, new outlets, panel work, and other electrical changes should be treated as electrical permit work.

Call before applying when

Call before applying if the charger needs a new circuit, panel upgrade, exterior equipment, trenching, or shared parking installation.

Documents to prepare

• EVSE specifications
• Panel and circuit information
• Load calculation if requested
• Site or parking layout if relevant

Inspection planning

• Electrical inspection
• Panel inspection if changed
• Final inspection

Official sources

• San Jose Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

This guide is a planning summary. Always verify the current requirements with the local office before starting work.