Commercial Electric Vehicle (EV) Requirements

The below definitions are abbreviated. See DEC and DCBC sections for the full definitions of defined terms.

• EVSE – Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment for plug-in power transfer between a premises wiring and an electric vehicle.
• EVSE Installed Space – Parking space that is provided with an EVSE connection.
• DCFC EVSE Installed Space – Parking space that is provided with a Direct Current Fast Charging EVSE.
• EV Capable Space – Parking space provided with electrical infrastructure for future EVSE, such as conduit. No electrical service or panel capacity is required.
• EV Ready Space (2022 DEC only) – Parking space provided a branch circuit to an outlet, junction box or receptacle for future EVSE.
• Electrical Vehicle Charging Station – Vehicle spaces served by an electrical vehicle charging system (i.e., EVSE Installed space or DCFC EVSE Installed space).
• Accessible EVSE Installed Space – Parking space provided for an electric vehicle charging station that is designed to be accessible to and usable by people with physical disabilities and complies with Section 1107 of the DCBC and ICC A117.1.
• Universal Vehicle Charging Station – Parking space provided for an electric vehicle charging station that can be utilized for all users and complies with Section 1107 of the DCBC and ICC A117.1.
• New Parking Facility (2025 DEC only) – A new parking facility or the area of expansion of an existing parking facility that is greater than 30% of the existing parking facility.

DEC Section C405.13.1 and Table C405.13.1 provide detailed requirements for determining the number of required EVSE Installed Spaces, EV Capable Spaces, and EV Ready Spaces based on the occupancy served by the parking facility. Detailed electrical requirements for each type of space is also provided.

2025 DEC Table C405.13.1 Required EV Charging Infrastructure

2022 DEC Table C405.13.1 Required EV Charging Infrastructure

^a. Where all parking spaces serving R-2 occupancies are EV ready spaces, requirements for EVSE spaces for R-2 occupancies shall not apply.

• EV requirements apply to new parking facilities only
• Parking facilities serving other than Group R-2 with fewer than 10 parking spaces are exempt from EV requirements
• EV requirements are based on total number of parking spaces provided (even if they are not required by zoning)
• For other than Group R-2 occupancies (or Group R occupancies in 2022 DEC), EVSE Installed Spaces required can be reduced by 10 for each DCFC EVSE Installed Space provided (with a maximum reduction of 50 spaces)
• For 2025 DEC, number of EV space types must be rounded to the nearest whole number, but not less than one each
• For 2022 DEC, number of EV spaces must be rounded up to the nearest whole number

The following is a summary of EV requirements for commercial, multifamily, and R-3 and R-4 projects.

• (DEC) EVSE Installed, EV Ready (2022 DBC only) and EV Capable spaces as required by DEC C405.13
• (DCBC) Accessible EVSE Installed Spaces
  • 1107.2.1 Number: 5% of provided EVSE Installed Spaces
  • 1107.2.2 Space Size: 11’ wide space with 5’ wide access aisle
  • 1102.1: All features of accessible space and charging stations must comply with applicable provisions of ICC A117.1 (Sections 502.3-502.8 and 502.11)
  • 1112.4: “Use Last” signage required unless only one accessible EVSE Installed space is provided and no Universal Vehicle Charging Stations are provided
  • 1106: Accessible parking spaces required by DCBC 1106 are in addition to the accessible EVSE Installed Spaces and must have signage with the International Symbol of Accessibility
• (DCBC) Universal Vehicle Charging Stations
  • 1107.2.3 Number: All required EVSE Installed Spaces that are not accessible EVSE Installed Spaces. Exception for larger parking facilities (100 total spaces or 200 total spaces for Group I) allows reduction to 10 plus 5% of required EVSE Installed spaces with a maximum of 40
  • 1107.2.3 Space Size: 11’ wide space with 5’ wide access aisle
  • 1107.2.3 Features: Comply with ICC A117.1 Sections 502.3-502.5 and 502.11, except that EVSE is permitted at end of access aisle opposite drive aisle
  • 1107.2.3: Signage with International Symbol of Accessibility prohibited

• 350 parking spaces serving Group R-2
  • 2025 DEC Required EV Spaces (DEC C405.13):
    • 53 EVSE Installed (15% of 350)
    • 158 EV Capable (45% of 350)
  • 2022 DEC Required EV Spaces (DEC C405.13):
    • 53 EVSE Installed (15% of 350)
    • 18 EV Ready (5% of 350)
    • 140 EV Capable (40% of 350)
  • Required accessible EVSE Installed Spaces (DCBC 1107): 3* (5% of 53)

    *Base on the actual number of EVSE Installed Spaces provided, if more than required

  • Required universal EVSE Installed Spaces (DCBC 1107): 13 (10 + 5% of 53)
  • Required accessible parking spaces (DCBC 1106): 7, including 2 van spaces (2% of 350)

• 60 parking spaces serving Group R-2 
  • 2025 DEC Required EV Spaces (DEC C405.13):
    • 9 EVSE Installed (15% of 60)
    • 27 EV Capable (45% of 60)
  • 2022 DEC Required EV Spaces (DEC C405.13):
    • 9 EVSE Installed (15% of 60)
    • 3 EV Ready (5% of 60)
    • 24 EV Capable (40% of 60)
  • Required accessible EVSE Installed Spaces (DCBC 1107): 1* (5% of 9)

    *Base on the actual number of EVSE Installed Spaces provided, if more than required

  • Required universal EVSE Installed Spaces (DBCC 1107): 8 (all EVSE Installed that are not accessible)
  • Required accessible parking spaces (DCBC 1106): 2, including 1 van spaces (2% of 60)

• 520 parking spaces serving Groups M, A, and B with DCFC EVSE
  • 2025 DEC Required EV Spaces (DEC C405.13):
    • 52 EVSE Installed (10% of 520), OR 
      • 5 DCFC EVSE Installed + 2 EVSE Installed (example continues with this), OR
      • 7 DCFC EVSE Installed
    • 104 EV Capable (20% of 520)
  • 2022 DEC Required EV Spaces (DEC C405.13):
    • 52 EVSE Installed (10% of 520), OR 
      • 5 DCFC EVSE Installed + 2 EVSE Installed (example continues with this),OR
      • 7 DCFC EVSE Installed
    • 26 EV Ready (5% of 520)
    • 52 EV Capable (10% of 520)
  • Required accessible EVSE Installed Spaces (DCBC 1107): 1* (5% of 7)

    *Base on the actual number of EVSE Installed Spaces provided, if more than required.

  • Required universal EVSE Installed Spaces (DBCC 1107): 6 (all EVSE Installed that are not accessible)
  • Required accessible parking spaces (DCBC 1106): 11, including 2 van spaces (2% of 520)

1. When is EV parking required?
   Only when a new parking facility is being constructed (either a standalone, or as part of a new building). Also see questions 5 and 6. 
2. Can I retrofit a site with a previously approved Site Development Plan or Planned Building Group?
   Proposed EV installations at sites with previously approved Site Development Plans or Planned Building Groups will need to be reviewed for consistency with those plans. Depending on the impact, the EV installation may require Modifications to previously approved plans.
3. What is the Electric Vehicle charging requirement for my existing building (Commercial) where I am planning to add a new parking facility?
   Please refer to Denver Energy Code (DEC) section C405.13 for EV charging requirements for new parking facilities. The exact number of EVSE, EV Ready (2022 DEC only), and EV Capable spaces will vary based on the total quantity of parking spaces being added, as well as the occupancy type of your specific project.
4. I want to add EV charging stations to my existing parking facility. What are Denver’s requirements?
   New EV charging stations added to existing parking facilities shall comply with accessibility requirements found in DCBC section 1107.2 unless technically infeasible, then refer to IEBC section 306.7. There are no requirements to add universal vehicle charging stations to existing parking facilities since EVSE Installed spaces are not required for existing facilities. Refer to DCBC section 1107.2.3. Refer to DEC C405.13.3.2 and C405.13.3.3 for electrical requirements for new EVSE installed on existing Infrastructure.
5. If I re-stripe my existing parking lot and add new parking spaces that increases the area of the lot, am I required to meet the EV requirements?
   For 2025 DEC: Re-striping an existing parking lot, including the addition of new parking spaces up to a 30% increase in area of the lot, does not trigger compliance with EV requirements. Where the addition of new spaces increases the area greater than 30%, the new spaces are required to comply with EV requirements. Refer to “new parking facility” definition in section 2025 DEC C202 and EV requirements in section C405.13. 
   For 2022 DEC: Re-striping an existing parking lot, including the addition of new parking spaces, does not trigger compliance with the EV requirements in the DEC. Only new parking facilities are required to meet the EV charging requirements, and only a new parking lot or a new parking structure is considered to be a new parking facility. Refer to the 2022 DEC section C405.13.
6. What constitutes a new facility? For example, if I have a single parking space and add four spots to it, is this a new facility? What if I have an existing parking lot on a site and add another lot but connected to with a drive?
   For 2025 DEC: “Parking facility” is defined as a contiguous parking area that can be accessed by a vehicle from a single entrance, so another lot connected with a drive is the same parking facility. However, “new parking facility” definition includes the area of expansion of an existing parking facility having an area greater than 30% of the existing parking facility. In both of the examples above, the expansion areas would be new facilities and would be subject to EV requirements if the parking area is increased greater than 30%.
   For 2022 DEC: Neither of the two examples above would be considered a new facility. This is reviewed on a site-specific basis.
7. Can accessible EVSE installed spaces count towards accessible parking spaces?
   No, because the signage requirements are different. Accessible parking spaces require signage or markings with the International Symbol of Accessibility and accessible EVSE installed spaces require ‘Use Last’ signage instead. The regulations do not intend to limit the use of EVSE spaces to those that are allowed to park in accessible parking spaces.
8. Can the EVSE be located in the access aisle of an accessible EVSE Installed space?
   No, because ICC A117.1 requires the access aisle to be the full length of the parking space.
9. Where are accessible and universal EVSE installed spaces required to be located?
   The only location requirements are that access aisles shall adjoin an accessible route per ICC A117.1 Section 502.4.1 and the spaces and access aisles cannot be on a slope of more than 2% per ICC A117.1 Section 502.5.
10. Where do EV spaces (other than accessible and universal ESVE installed spaces) need to be located?
    There are no location requirements for EV spaces.
11. I’m designing a parking lot for a new building with a Group F-1 occupancy and Group B occupancy. How do I calculate the required quantity of EV spaces?
    Where one shared parking lot serves multiple building occupancies, the required number of spaces shall be determined proportionally based on the floor area of each building occupancy. Refer to DEC section C405.13.1 item 2.
    For example, if the Group B occupancy is 20% of the floor area and the remainder of the floor area is a Group R-2 occupancy, then the shared parking lot shall provide 20% of the percentages required for Group B occupancies in DEC Table C405.13.1 and 80% of the percentages required for Group R-2.
12. Can an Electric Vehicle Energy Load Management Systems be used to show compliance with the requirements of DEC C405.13?
    Yes, DEC section C405.13 allows Load Management Systems to be used provided that the requirements of C405.13 are met. Documentation for the Load Management System will be required at the time of plan submittal to demonstrate compliance.
13. Are EV parking requirements based on the number of parking spaces required or the number provided?
    The EV parking requirements in DEC section C405.13 are based on the total number of parking spaces provided. Accessible EVSE Installed space quantities in DCBC section 1107 are based on the number of provided EVSE Installed spaces. Universal EVSE Installed space quantities in DCBC section 1107 are based on the number of required EVSE Installed spaces.
14. Will a zoning permit be required for an EV charging station?
    In most cases, yes. For more information, refer to the Denver Zoning Code or contact the commercial zoning plan review team at zoning.review@denvergov.org or (720) 865-3000. For sites subject to a Site Development Plan, Planned Building Group, or similar, changes and modifications to off-street parking areas need to be evaluated for any potential impacts to approved plans and may require a modification to an approved plan in addition to a permit. Please contact developmentservices@denvergov.org to discuss what may be required.