Preparing Los Angeles Buildings for the EV Charging Boom: What Owners, Developers, and Businesses Need to Know

The number of electric vehicles (EVs) and public charging ports in California is growing fast. Statewide infrastructure milestones, new policies encouraging chargers at commercial and residential sites, and emerging charging technologies are changing how property owners, developers, and businesses should plan electrical work. This post explains the current landscape, practical infrastructure steps, incentives and planning tips, and how a local Los Angeles electrical and general contractor like Shaffer Construction, Inc. can help you prepare.

Why act now: what the numbers and policy signals show

California recently announced it has surpassed 200,000 publicly available and shared EV charging ports statewide. That milestone — documented by the Office of the Governor — highlights a rapid expansion of charging access across cities, workplaces, retail centers and multi-family properties. The state also reports that most Californians are geographically close to a charger, and electric truck and fleet electrification efforts are accelerating.

Local governments are responding with policies that encourage or require chargers for new construction and certain commercial projects. For example, a proposed climate action plan in Manteca calls for requiring EV charging installations at commercial locations and new residential developments to meet local electrification goals. Those policy directions are not limited to smaller cities — they reflect a statewide trend toward requiring or incentivizing EV readiness as new buildings are planned and older buildings are retrofitted.

Emerging charger types and technologies to consider

Charging technology is evolving. Most public and workplace charging today is Level 2 (AC), which is effective for overnight and long-dwell charging. New plug-and-charge experiences — where a vehicle authenticates and pays automatically at compatible chargers — are being rolled out by automakers and networks, simplifying public charging for drivers.

Urban and curbside charging solutions are also emerging. Lamppost-mounted Level 2 chargers can be installed on existing street poles or utility poles to serve vehicles parked on the street, a useful option where on-site parking is limited. These modular, retrofit-friendly devices reduce sidewalk disruption and can be a lower-cost addition to dense neighborhoods or commercial districts.

Taken together, these shifts mean property owners should think beyond a single charger type. Designing electrical capacity, conduit pathways, and permit-ready documentation for a range of chargers (Level 2, DC fast for high-turnover locations, and future plug-and-charge capable hardware) delivers the most value.

Which properties should prioritize EV infrastructure

Prioritize projects where EV charging will deliver the most operational and competitive benefit:

Multi-family buildings: Residents without private garages need accessible on-site charging to adopt EVs.

Workplaces: Employers offering charging attract and retain employees and can shift charging to off-peak hours.

Retail, hospitality and mixed-use developments: Charging extends dwell time and appeals to EV-driving customers.

Fleet depots and delivery hubs: Commercial vehicles and trucks require higher-capacity solutions and different charging strategies.

Practical steps to make a building EV-ready (and cost-effective)

Planning early dramatically reduces installation cost and disruption. Here are practical steps to make a building EV-ready:

1. Conduct a site electrical assessment

Start with a load study and service capacity evaluation. Determine whether the existing electrical service, transformers, and meter infrastructure can support additional EV load. If upgrades are required, utility coordination and meter sizing are typically the most time-consuming items.

2. Design for flexibility and future growth

Install raceways, conduit, and extra capacity to accommodate more chargers later. It’s far cheaper to trench and run conduit during construction or during a single site mobilization than to retrofit later. Consider centralized AC-to-DC rooms for future DC fast chargers if you expect high turnover demand.

3. Choose the right mix of hardware

Match charger types to user needs: Level 2 for overnight and long-stay parking, DC fast for public sites and high-turnover locations, and modular lamppost or curbside chargers for street parking. Plan for networked chargers and modern authentication (such as plug-and-charge) so that hardware remains useful as vehicle and network standards evolve.

4. Coordinate with utilities and permitting

Early utility engagement avoids surprises. Utilities review load increases and may require service upgrades, demand charges, or time-of-use rate planning. Permitting timelines vary across jurisdictions, so submit electrical and civil plans early and use experienced local contractors who know municipal requirements.

5. Prepare for smart load management

Smart load management systems and managed charging software let multiple chargers share limited electrical capacity. These load-sharing solutions reduce the need for expensive utility upgrades while enabling more charging spots to operate safely. They also enable load shifting to off-peak hours, saving on energy costs.

How incentives and state programs can lower costs

California and many local governments offer incentives, rebates, and grant funding for EV charging infrastructure, especially for multi-family housing, low-income communities, and fleets. Incentive programs can offset hardware, installation, and even utility upgrade costs. Contact your local utility and check state program pages for current funding rounds, eligibility, and timelines.

Common challenges and how to avoid them

The most common challenges are underestimating electrical capacity needs, failing to plan conduit and routing early, and not accounting for permitting or utility timelines. Avoid these by:

Doing a full load analysis before finalizing charger counts.

Installing oversized conduit and pathways for future expansions.

Engaging the utility and permitting authority early in the design process.

Specifying networked hardware and open standards where possible to avoid vendor lock-in.

Case examples: what the trends mean for Los Angeles sites

Large-scale adoption in California means many LA properties will see rising EV demand from residents, customers and employees. For example:

Apartment buildings: Installing a combination of resident-dedicated Level 2 chargers and shared visitor chargers can raise property value and tenant satisfaction.

Office campuses: A managed charging system with time-of-use optimization keeps peak demand manageable and supports employee charging benefits.

Retail destinations: A mix of Level 2 and DC fast chargers supports longer shopping visits and quick stops, respectively.

New technologies to watch

Keep an eye on two technology trends that are making chargers easier to deploy and use:

Lamppost and curbside chargers

Lamppost-mounted Level 2 chargers enable charging where curb parking is common and reduce the need for new concrete or heavy civil work. These modular devices can be installed quickly and are useful in dense urban neighborhoods.

Plug-and-Charge and simplified payments

Automakers and networks are rolling out plug-and-charge capabilities that let vehicles authenticate and pay automatically at compatible chargers. This reduces friction for drivers and improves the public charging experience; property owners should specify chargers with modern authentication standards to future-proof their installations.

How Shaffer Construction, Inc. helps Los Angeles clients

Shaffer Construction, Inc. is an LA-based electrical and general contractor specializing in EV charger installations and infrastructure. We work with owners, property managers, developers and municipalities to:

Perform electrical load studies and service assessments.

Design conduit, raceway, and equipment layouts for current and future chargers.

Coordinate utility upgrades, metering, and permitting across LA jurisdictions.

Install Level 2 and DC fast charging solutions, site lighting integration, and curbside/lamppost chargers where appropriate.

Implement load management systems and integrate network features like plug-and-charge readiness.

Next steps checklist for property owners

If you’re responsible for a property in Los Angeles, use this short checklist to begin:

Request an electrical service and site assessment from a qualified contractor.

Decide the target charger mix (resident, employee, customer, fleet) and desired user experience (networked, payment methods).

Engage your utility early to understand service capacity and potential upgrade costs.

Include conduit and pathway planning in your next renovation or construction project to reduce future costs.

Explore federal, state and local incentives to offset installation expenses.

Sources and further reading

For the latest numbers, policy developments and technology context we relied on the following authoritative reports and news items:

California exceeds 200,000 EV chargers (Office of the Governor) — statewide milestone and context for public charging access.

California surpasses 200,000 public & shared EV chargepoints (EV Infrastructure & Energy News) — analysis and industry perspective on infrastructure growth.

Climate plan calls for Manteca to mandate more EV charging stations (Manteca Bulletin) — example of a local climate action plan pushing for charger requirements in new developments.

This small lamppost charger could make owning an EV in big cities a lot easier (InsideEVs) — overview of lamppost-mounted charging innovations and urban deployment use cases.

Kia advances EV mobility experience with new Plug & Charge technology (PR Newswire) — example of automaker-driven plug-and-charge rollout improving the user experience.

Contact Shaffer Construction, Inc.

If you’re planning EV infrastructure or want a site assessment in Los Angeles, contact Shaffer Construction, Inc. We provide expert electrical design, permitting support, and turnkey installation of EV charging systems.

Phone: 323-642-8509 Email: hello@shaffercon.com Address: 325 N Larchmont Blvd. #202, Los Angeles, CA 90004 Website: www.shaffercon.com

Prepared by Shaffer Construction, Inc. — licensed electrical and general contractor in Los Angeles focusing on EV charger installations and infrastructure planning.