Examples of Local Laws and Incentives

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger Pilot - New Orleans, LA

In partnership with Entergy New Orleans, the City of New Orleans (City) administers a pilot program featuring free publicly accessible EV chargers. Entergy New Orleans provides 30 chargers at 25 locations across New Orleans, primarily located at New Orleans Recreation Development Commission Facilities, public libraries, and public parks. For more information, see the City’s EV website.

Electric Vehicle Charger Rebate – Palo Alto, CA

The City of Palo Alto Utilities offers EV charger rebates to eligible customers that own or operate a school or non-profit, as well as multifamily and mixed-use properties, up to $80,000. Rebates may be used to purchase and install EV chargers that will be available to multiple users. For more information, including additional eligibility requirements, see the Palo Alto Utilities EV Chargers for Multi-Family Properties and Organizations website.

Fleet Electrification Incentives – Seattle, WA

Seattle City Light offers advisory services to fleets to analyze fleet electrification opportunities. Additionally, Seattle City Light provides per-port rebates for Level 2 and direct current (DC) fast chargers. Customers located in environmental justice communities may receive electric vehicle charger make-ready rebates. For more information, see the Seattle City Light Fleet Electrification Program website.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging and Parking Incentives - Sacramento, CA

Individuals and businesses that own or lease qualifying EVs are eligible for a 50% discount in monthly charging fees at certain City of Sacramento (City) parking garages. Daily parking rates still apply. Eligible EVs must have an EV Monthly Parking Permit. For more information, see the City’s EV Parking website.

Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) and Electric Vehicle (EV) Parking Incentive – San Antonio, TX

The City of San Antonio offers free parking at certain street parking meters and pay stations for EVs and HEVs displaying an authorized placard. Parking meters and pay stations may have time limits and access restrictions. For more information, see the City of San Antonio Public Parking website.

Low-Emission Vehicle Parking Incentive – Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake City offers free parking at metered spaces for vehicles that meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency SmartWay Elite Program standards. For more information, see the Salt Lake City Green Vehicle Parking Permit website.

Residential Parking Permit Discounts – Miami Beach, FL

Owners of electric vehicles (EVs), low-emission vehicles, or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency SmartWay certified vehicles may receive a 50% discount on Miami Beach residential parking decals. Non-Miami Beach residents may receive a 50% discount on monthly parking permits at city garages and lots. For more information, see the Miami Beach Citywide Vehicle Parking Permit website.

Electric School Bus Mandate - New York City, NY

School buses operating in New York City must be electric by September 1, 2035. This mandate is subject to the availability and reliability of electric school buses and associated infrastructure. The New York City Department of Education must publish a report every five years to update the Mayor and City Council on the progress toward this goal. For more information, see New York City Administrative Code 24-163.9.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Municipal Fleet Requirements - Nashville, TN

The Nashville Department of General Services provides EVs to qualified employees to use for business purposes as part of a commitment to electrify all non-emergency fleet vehicles. For more information, see the City of Nashville Sustainable Mobility website.

Fleet Vehicle Purchasing Requirements – Louisville, KY

Louisville Metro Government agencies and departments must prioritize the purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles, green equipment, and necessary infrastructure to support the vehicle fleet’s transition to electric vehicles. For more information, see Executive Order 2021-005.

Green Fleet Policy – Minneapolis, MN

The City of Minneapolis (City) is implementing a policy to minimize the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and economic costs associated with current and future fleet vehicles. The overall objectives of the policy include:

• Measuring and reporting fleet-wide GHG emissions;
• Optimizing fleet size through the elimination or reassignment of underused vehicles;
• Reducing tailpipe emissions through advanced emissions controls;
• Purchasing new vehicles that provide the best available net reduction in life-cycle emissions; and
• Educating city staff on efficient driving behaviors and promoting carpooling across departments.

The City Fleet Services Division provides annual inventory reports and recommendations to other Departments in the City to reduce emissions. For more information, see the City Green Fleet Vehicles website.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Rideshare Program – Virginia Beach, VA

The City of Virginia Beach offers a free app-based rideshare service using five city-owned EVs. For more information, see the Virginia Beach Resort Area Mobility Plan and Freebee Rideshare website.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Solar Charging Pilot - San Diego, CA

The City of San Diego (City) launched a pilot program in 2021 to charge the municipal EV fleet using solar canopies placed over each parking stall. Solar EV charging is intended to fulfill mobility, land use, and decarbonization priorities established in the City’s Climate Action Plan. For more information, see the San Diego EV Pilot Program website.

Electric Vehicle (EV) and Infrastructure Initiatives – Phoenix, AZ

The City of Phoenix (City) developed a Transportation Electrification Action Plan that includes the following recommendations:

• Adopt guiding principles for City action;
• Support accelerated EV adoption in the community;
• Expand access to public EV charging;
• Support access to home, business, and workplace EV charging;
• Develop and pilot a local model of e-mobility investment in an underserved community; and,
• Lead by example.

The City also established a goal to develop 500 City-hosted public chargers by 2030 and will adopt an EV purchasing policy for municipal fleet vehicles. For more information, see the City’s EV website.

Multifamily Housing Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure Support – Seattle, WA

The City of Seattle and Seattle City Light provide free assessments to residents of multifamily housing to review properties and plan for the installation or upgrade of EV charging infrastructure. Assessments may also identify eligibility for funding opportunities offered by Seattle City Light. For more information, see the Seattle City Light Multifamily EV Charging Program website.

Idle Reduction Requirement - Philadelphia, PA

The City of Philadelphia prohibits the idling of any heavy-duty diesel motor vehicle for more than two minutes. Failure to comply may result in fines. Exceptions apply when the ambient temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below or when the ambient temperature is equal to or greater than 75 degrees Fahrenheit and the heavy-duty vehicle is a bus equipped with air conditioning and non-openable windows. For more information, see the City of Philadelphia Air Management Regulation IX.

Idle Reduction Requirement – Cleveland, OH

The City of Cleveland prohibits the idling of any vehicle for more than five minutes in any one-hour period. Vehicles may idle for up to ten minutes when the outdoor temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or above 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This prohibition does not apply to emergency or law enforcement vehicles, vehicles idling to prevent a safety or health emergency, vehicles forced to remain motionless due to traffic or law enforcement, vehicles powering mechanical or electrical operations, vehicles undergoing maintenance or repair, or vehicles engaged in work on the surface of a highway. For more information, including additional exemptions, see the City of Cleveland Code of Ordinances 431.44.

Alternative Fuel Sales Requirement – Portland, OR

Under the City of Portland’s Renewable Fuel Standard, 99% of petroleum diesel fuel sold within the city will be replaced with biodiesel or renewable diesel by July 1, 2030. Retail diesel sales must currently contain at least 15% biodiesel or renewable diesel, with additional blend requirements taking effect on July 1, 2026. For more information, see the City of Portland Renewable Fuel Standard website.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Design Guidance – Columbus, OH

The City of Columbus (City) developed design guidelines for EV chargers. Guidance covers the installation of EV chargers and all accessories when used in public roadways, parking lots, parking stalls, and sidewalks. For more information, see the City’s Design Resources website.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Right of Way Permit Requirements - Cambridge, MA

The City of Cambridge (City) offers permits for Level 1 charging cables to be extended across the public right-of-way. Residents must hold a valid parking permit and use a cord ramp to ensure continued sidewalk accessibility. Residents within one eighth mile of a city-owned streetside EV charging station are ineligible for the permit. Additional requirements apply. For more information, see the City’s EV website.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Ready Building Requirements – Middletown, CT

New developments that require 25 or more parking spaces in Middletown must have a minimum of 3% of the total number of spaces established as EV parking spaces. EV parking spaces must have a Level 2 or direct current (DC) fast charger or connection. Developments that exceed the minimum 3% requirement for EV parking spaces may request a reduction in the total number of required parking spaces. This reduction may be equal to the number of EV parking spaces above the 3% minimum requirement, but the reduction may not exceed 10% of the total amount of parking spaces for the proposed development. For more information, see the Middletown Planning and Zoning website and Planning and Zoning Code Section 40.02.01.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Ready Building Requirements – Portland, OR

The City of Portland requires new multifamily properties with five or more units to install electrical conduit and secure sufficient electrical capacity for EV charging at 50% of parking spaces or 100% of parking spaces for developments with six or fewer parking spaces. Additional requirements may apply. For more information, see the City of Portland EV Ready Code website and City of Portland Ordinance No. 191164.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Ready Building Requirements – San Jose, CA

The City of San Jose (City) requires new multifamily housing, residential parking facility, hotel, and motel developments to install EV charging stations at 10% to 20% of parking spaces. These building types must also include panel capacity and conduit for future EV charging stations in up to 40% of parking spaces, and full circuit installations at 20% of parking spaces. Additional requirements may apply. For more information, see the City’s Code of Ordinances 24.10.200.

Sustainable Development Building Requirements - Lakewood, CO

The City of Lakewood developed a point-based system for sustainable development features required in new developments. Building developers may earn points for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and public EV charging infrastructure. For more information, see the City of Lakewood Enhanced Development Menu and Zoning Ordinance Sec. 17.13.2 and 17.8.