23.54.034

New parking spaces provided on a lot when a new building is constructed shall be EV-ready as specified in this Section 23.54.034 . The required number of EV-ready parking spaces shall be determined by whether the parking is for a residential or nonresidential use. Parking that is clearly set aside and reserved for residential use shall meet the standards of subsection 23.54.034.A; parking for all other uses within the structure shall meet the standards of subsection 23.54.034.B. A. Residential uses 1. Private parking for individual dwelling units. When parking for any individual dwelling unit is provided in a private garage, carport, or parking area, separate from any parking facilities serving other units, at least one parking space for each unit in that garage, carport, or surface parking area shall be EV-ready. 2. Surface parking for multiple dwelling units. When parking for multiple dwelling units is provided in a surface parking area serving multiple dwelling units, the number of parking spaces that shall be EV-ready shall be as follows: a. When up to 25 parking spaces are provided, the first 12 parking spaces shall be EV-ready; and b. When more than 25 parking spaces are provided, 45 percent of all parking spaces shall be EV-ready. 3. Parking garages for multiple dwelling units. When parking for multiple dwelling units is provided in a parking garage serving multiple dwelling units, a minimum of 45 percent of those parking spaces shall be EV-ready. B. Nonresidential uses 1. When parking is provided for nonresidential uses, a minimum of 30 percent of those spaces shall be EV-ready, except as provided in subsection 23.54.034.B.2 and subsection 23.54.034.B.3. 2. For the uses listed in subsection 23.54.034.B.3, the following requirements apply: a. Where fewer than ten parking spaces are provided for the use, one EV-ready space is required. b. Where ten or more parking spaces are provided for the use, 10 percent of parking spaces shall be EV-ready. 3. The following uses are subject to the alternative requirements in 23.54.034.B.2: a. The following institutional uses: 1. Community club or center; 2. Child care center; 3. Community farm; 4. Library; 5. Museum; 6. Private club; 7. Religious facility; and 8. School, elementary or secondary; b. Entertainment uses; c. Eating and drinking establishments; d. Automotive sales and services; e. Multipurpose retail sales; f. Heavy sales and services, except heavy commercial services; and g. Marine sales and services. C. Rounding. When calculating the number of required EV-ready parking spaces, any fraction or portion of an EV-ready parking space required shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. D. Reductions 1. The Director may, in consultation with the Director of Seattle City Light, reduce the requirements of this Section 23.54.034 as a Type I decision if there is substantial evidence that the added electrical load that can be attributed to meeting the requirements will: a. Alter the local utility infrastructure design requirements on the utility side of the legal point of service, so as to require on-property power transformation; or b. Require an upgrade to an existing residential electrical service. 2. In cases where the provisions of subsection 23.54.034.D.1 have been met, the maximum quantity of EV charging infrastructure required to be installed shall be reduced to the maximum service size that would not require the changes to transformation or electrical service in subsection 23.54.034.D.1. The Director may first reduce the required level of EV infrastructure at EV-ready parking spaces from 40-amp to 20-amp circuits. If necessary, the Director may also then reduce the number of required EV-ready parking spaces or otherwise reduce the level of EV infrastructure at EV-ready parking spaces. 3. The Director may establish by rule the procedures and documentation required for a reduction request. E. All EV charging infrastructure shall be installed in accordance with the Seattle Electrical Code. Where EV-ready surface parking spaces are located more than 4 feet from a building, raceways shall be extended to a pull box or stub in the vicinity of the designated space and shall be protected from vehicles. F. Accessible parking. Where new EV-ready parking spaces and new accessible parking are both provided, parking facilities shall be designed so that at least 20 percent of the accessible parking spaces or two accessible parking spaces, whichever is greater, shall be EV-ready. The accessible parking EV-ready infrastructure may also serve adjacent parking spaces not designated as accessible parking. The EV-ready accessible parking spaces, rounded up to the next whole number, are allowed to be included in the total number of electric vehicle parking spaces required under 23.54.034.A. and 23.54.034.B. G. Nothing in this Section 23.54.034 shall be construed to modify the minimum number of off-street motor vehicle parking spaces required for specific uses or the maximum number of parking spaces allowed, as set forth in Section 23.54.015 or elsewhere in this Title 23 . H. This Section 23.54.034 does not require EV supply equipment, as defined by Article 100 of the Seattle Electrical Code, to be installed. (Ord. 127376 , § 64, 2026 [renumbered from 23.54.030.L and amended]; Ord. 127219 , § 28, 2025; Ord. 125815, § 4, 2019.)