Arlington provides suggestions for EV charger selection and site design for multi-family residences here(PDF, 282KB).
An Electrical Permit is required for adding, removing, or relocating fixtures, appliances, or wiring for any electrical work. The installation of new EV charging infrastructure (charging station, new or expanded electrical panel, new outlet, etc.) will require an electrical permit. However, if EV charging simply involves plugging the car into an existing outlet, a permit is likely not required. If you are unsure whether an Electrical Permit is required, contact the Inspection Services Division by email (ISDTradePermits@arlingtonva.us) or phone: 703-228-3800. More information about electrical permits can be found on Arlington’s permit site.
If a charger will be installed in a parking garage that requires changes to the building structure, the changes must comply with relevant building codes. The full text of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC) can be found at the Building Code webpage. Additional information about building code compliance can be found at the Inspection Services Division (ISD) webpage and anyone can set up a free Code Consultation if there are further questions.
If the zoning ordinance provides too much of a limitation on siting EV Chargers, the BZA process may be an option. The BZA can modify zoning requirements for a specific lot or parcel of land and the process for obtaining a variance is described on the BZA’s site. More specifically, the BZA can modify the placement of EV chargers by allowing buildings and structures to encroach into the required street and lot setbacks. However, the BZA cannot grant modifications to the size or number of parking spaces.
An administrative change is any minor modification of a board-approved site plan, that is approved by the Zoning Administrator and continues to meet the intent of the existing plan. If the EV chargers create any small change to what was approved in an existing site plan, an Administrative Change Request is required.
A list of all the possible permits required in Arlington County are included in the Permit Library. Additional permits or applications may be required for a small percentage of properties on a site-specific basis.