How to charge an EV when you live in a condo
Most condo owners can charge at home. Whether you can, and how much it costs, comes down to four things: where you park, who has to say yes, whether the building has the power, and how the electricity gets paid for.
1. Parking: what kind of space do you have?
This is the first question because it decides everything after it.
- Deeded or assigned space (limited common element). The best case. Most state right-to-charge laws protect owners who have a space set aside for their use.
- Space inside your own unit's garage. Usually simple. The work is mostly between you, your electrician and the building department, though the association may still have a say over wiring that runs through common areas.
- Unassigned or open parking. The hardest case. No one space is yours to wire, so charging usually depends on the association installing shared chargers. See charging without an assigned space.
2. Authority: who has to approve it?
Almost any condo charger needs association approval, because the wiring crosses common elements: walls, ceilings, conduit runs and the garage itself. What the board can and cannot do depends on your declaration and on state law.
Several states, including Florida, California, Washington, Virginia, New Jersey, Illinois, Oregon and Colorado, have laws that stop a condo association from flatly banning a charger in an owner's assigned space. These laws generally let the board set reasonable conditions, such as a licensed electrician, proof of insurance and the owner paying all costs. See the state-by-state summary.
3. Capacity: does the building have the power?
This is where condo projects get expensive or stall.
- Where the power comes from. Wiring from your own unit's panel means the power is on your meter, but the run from your unit to the garage can be long and costly. Wiring from a common-area (house) panel is often shorter, but then the association needs a way to bill you for what you use: a submeter or a networked charger that tracks usage.
- Building service size. Older buildings may not have spare capacity for many chargers. When several owners ask, a board is wise to get a capacity study before approving them one at a time.
- 208 volts vs. 240 volts. Many condo and commercial-style buildings are served at 208V instead of the 240V typical in houses. A Level 2 charger still works at 208V, but it delivers about 13% less power, so it charges somewhat more slowly. (DOE AFDC lists 208V as typical in commercial settings.)
4. Operations: the ongoing details
- Who pays for electricity and how it is measured.
- Insurance. Many state laws let the association require the owner to carry liability coverage and name the association as additional insured.
- Maintenance and removal. Under most right-to-charge laws the owner pays for repairs, and for removal and restoration if the charger comes out.
- When you sell. Some states require you to tell the buyer about the charger and the duties that come with it.
Do you even need Level 2?
Maybe not. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates Level 1 charging from a standard 120V outlet adds about 5 miles of range per hour. Plugged in for 10 hours overnight, that is roughly 50 miles a day, which covers many commutes. If there is already an outlet at or near your space, asking to use it (with a fair way to pay for the power) is a much smaller request than a new 240V circuit. Compare Level 1 and Level 2.
Next step
Find the guide for where you live. Choose your living situation and read the charging guide written for it. Ready for an electrician? Request an installation quote.
Choose your charging guideGet an installation quoteCommon questions
Can my condo association stop me from installing an EV charger?
In states with right-to-charge laws, an association generally cannot ban a charger in an owner's assigned or deeded space, but it can set reasonable conditions such as a licensed electrician, insurance and the owner paying all costs. In states without such a law, your declaration and board rules control. Check your state on our state law page.
Who pays for a condo EV charger?
Under most state laws the unit owner pays for installation, electricity, maintenance, insurance and eventual removal. Some associations install shared chargers and charge users a fee instead.
Is Level 1 charging enough in a condo?
Often, yes. Level 1 adds about 5 miles of range per hour of charging according to the U.S. Department of Energy, so an overnight charge can cover a typical daily commute.