Public EV Charging: What Property Owners and Developers in Los Angeles Need to Know

Electric vehicles (EVs) are moving from early adopters into the mainstream—and that means more demand for reliable charging where people live, work and shop. For building owners, developers and commercial property managers in Los Angeles, planning and installing EV chargers is now an essential part of asset management and tenant services.

Why public and destination charging still lags

Nationwide, public charging growth has accelerated but gaps remain. High-profile examples like limited chargers in national parks show that, even where demand is obvious, deployment can be slow and uneven. As reported by InsideEVs, many popular destinations still don’t have enough chargers to meet visitor demand, which creates range anxiety and inconsistent user experience for drivers planning longer or leisure trips: InsideEVs: Why America’s National Parks Still Don’t Have Enough EV Chargers.

For local owners and managers in Los Angeles, the same basic challenges appear at a smaller scale: site electrical capacity, permitting, costs, available parking layout, and ensuring chargers are reliable and accessible. Understanding the regulatory and funding landscape helps property owners turn those challenges into a competitive advantage.

Federal funding and program changes that matter

Large federal programs like the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula funds play a major role in station planning on highways and corridors—but state and local decisions shape where money flows and how projects move forward. Recent reporting shows some states paused or adjusted buildouts while federal guidance was reviewed, but many are resuming work under updated direction. New Hampshire’s experience walking back into its NEVI plan is an example of how federal guidance influences state timelines and project priorities: Keene Sentinel: NH plans to resume EV charging buildout based on new federal guidance.

Why this matters to Los Angeles property owners: federal and state funding programs often prioritize highway corridors and public-access sites. That can free up state and local funds and encourage private-public partnerships—making more robust charger deployments more affordable for commercial property owners when coordinated with local agencies.

Local policy developments: fees, requirements, and inspections

Municipal and county policies are changing quickly. Some cities are moving to kWh-based pricing and idle fees to improve charger turnover and fairness for users. Rochester, Minnesota, for example, is considering a per-kWh rate and idle fees to better align public charging with home electricity costs and discourage stalls at public chargers: KTTC: Rochester eyes new EV charging fees.

On the regulatory side, counties and municipalities are adding new obligations for developers. In Summit County (Snyderville Basin), code amendments now require a percentage of parking in new multifamily and commercial developments to be served by installed chargers or be EV-ready/wired. These rules include carve-outs for affordable housing to avoid making projects infeasible: KPCW: Bicycle parking, EV chargers required in new Snyderville Basin developments. Similar local ordinances are increasingly common in California jurisdictions and are something all LA developers should anticipate.

Finally, accuracy and safety inspections are becoming part of the enforcement landscape. Bucks County, PA recently authorized equipment to inspect and test EV chargers for safety and billing accuracy—similar to how gas station pumps are checked. This shows regulators want consumers to get what they pay for and for chargers to meet safety standards: NewtownPANow: County becomes first in PA to inspect electric vehicle charging stations.

What these trends mean for Los Angeles property owners

Expect increasing local code requirements for EV-capable parking in new construction and major renovations.

Plan for pricing policies—kWh billing is becoming the norm, and idle fees may be used to improve turnover.

Prepare for inspections and compliance checks that can affect revenue and liability if your chargers are inaccurate or unsafe.

Leverage potential funding or incentives by coordinating with city and state EV programs and by siting chargers where public access or demand aligns with funding priorities.

Technical and site-planning considerations

Installing EV chargers is more than bolting a pedestal to a slab. Proper planning avoids costly change orders and helps future-proof an investment:

1) Electrical capacity and load analysis

Assess your existing service, meter capacity, and main distribution. Some sites will require transformer upgrades, service increases, or on-site distribution changes to support Level 2 or DC fast chargers. Early utility engagement can identify incentives, interconnection requirements and potential demand charges.

2) Choose the right mix: Level 2 vs. DC fast charging

Consider how your property is used. Multifamily and workplace locations often benefit from Level 2 chargers for longer dwell times. Retail, hospitality and high-turnover public sites may need DC fast chargers to meet customer expectations. A balanced strategy often includes a mix and wiring additional stalls to be EV-capable in the future.

3) Parking layout and accessibility

Design charger locations for clear access, ADA compliance, safe pedestrian paths, and convenient cable management. Plan placement to avoid blocking other cars and to allow for future expansion.

4) Metering, billing and software

Decide whether you’ll offer free charging, per-kWh billing, or session/time-based pricing. Modern chargers support networked billing and management platforms that enable energy reporting, payment, and dynamic pricing. If your site will charge users, pick a platform interoperable with common roaming networks and compliant with local price reporting or inspection requirements.

5) Maintenance, uptime and warranties

Reliability matters. Networked chargers report faults remotely, but you still need a local maintenance plan. Choose equipment with good warranty terms and ensure service partners can respond quickly to minimize downtime.

Cost considerations and incentives

Upfront costs include equipment, sitework, electrical upgrades, trenching, permits and signage. But incentives and tax credits can significantly reduce net costs. Work with an experienced installer to map available federal, state and local incentives and to structure projects to capture them. Also consider phasing: wire additional parking spaces for future chargers to lower immediate capital expense while enabling growth.

Practical checklist for property owners and developers in LA

Conduct a preliminary site assessment: parking inventory, typical dwell times, and electrical capacity.

Engage the utility early to discuss service, interconnection, and potential demand charges.

Decide pricing and operational model: free, per-kWh, per-session, or subscription-based?

Plan for ADA compliance and local permitting requirements; check Los Angeles city and county EV ordinances.

Select hardware that supports remote monitoring, payment platforms and roaming networks.

Budget for maintenance and set a service-level agreement with a local technician or contractor.

Wire additional spaces to be EV-capable to support growth without major repaving or trenching later.

How Shaffer Construction helps local owners succeed

At Shaffer Construction, Inc., we design and build EV charging infrastructure from initial site analysis through final commissioning. Our services include utility coordination, electrical upgrades, trenching, concrete work, charger procurement, network setup and ongoing maintenance programs. We focus on minimizing downtime, ensuring code compliance and delivering projects on schedule.

Why work with a local general and electrical contractor?

Local permitting and code knowledge to speed approvals.

Established relationships with regional utilities and vendors.

Turnkey project delivery to reduce coordination headaches.

Ongoing service options to protect uptime and revenue.

If you’re planning a new development, a retrofit, or want to add public or tenant charging to your property in Los Angeles, our team will help you create a cost-effective, code-compliant and future-ready solution.

Next steps and contact

Start with a no-obligation site assessment. We’ll help you understand demand, costs, timelines and incentives so you can make an informed decision.

Contact Shaffer Construction, Inc.: 325 N Larchmont Blvd. #202 Los Angeles, CA 90004 Phone: 323-642-8509 Email: hello@shaffercon.com Web: www.shaffercon.com

Sources and further reading

InsideEVs: Why America’s National Parks Still Don’t Have Enough EV Chargers — context on destination charging gaps.

Keene Sentinel: NH plans to resume EV charging buildout based on new federal guidance — how federal guidance affects state NEVI deployment.

NewtownPANow: County becomes first in PA to inspect electric vehicle charging stations — local inspections for safety and billing accuracy.

KPCW: Bicycle parking, EV chargers required in new Snyderville Basin developments — example of development code requiring EV-ready parking.

KTTC: Rochester eyes new EV charging fees — example of pricing policy changes (per-kWh and idle fees) to improve fairness and turnover.

Installing EV chargers is an investment in tenant satisfaction, customer convenience and future property value. With the right planning, your project can be compliant, cost-effective and ready for the next wave of EV drivers. Reach out to Shaffer Construction to get started.

Shaffer Construction, Inc. | Electrical & General Contractor | Los Angeles