Commercial EV Charger Installation in Silver Lake
Silver Lake's creative corridor—stretching from Sunset Junction to the paths around the Silver Lake Reservoir—welcomes customers, tenants, and employees who increasingly drive electric. Shaffer Construction, Inc. designs and installs reliable, code-compliant commercial EV charging that fits tight parking lots, historic storefronts, and modern mixed-use properties alike. From indie coffee shops and boutique retail to multifamily garages and studios, we tailor load management, networking, and ADA-ready layouts to your site. Our team handles everything end-to-end: power studies, panel and conduit work, permitting through LADBS, and final commissioning—so your chargers work flawlessly on day one and keep your business moving.
Our Work
Benefits
About This Area
Silver Lake blends mid-century bungalows, hillside contemporary homes, and early 20th-century Craftsman and Spanish Revival structures—many adapted for commercial use along Sunset Boulevard, Hyperion Avenue, Rowena Avenue, and Glendale Boulevard. The neighborhood’s audience is eco-minded and tech-forward: artists and creative firms, boutique retailers near Sunset Junction, destination dining, fitness studios, and multifamily properties catering to young professionals and families. Parking configurations vary widely—from compact lots behind storefronts to podium garages and tandem spaces—making thoughtful charger placement essential. Commercial properties in Silver Lake must balance aesthetics with functionality. Facades on older buildings, tight utility rooms, and shared parking among tenants can complicate electrical routing. With hot summers and high AC loads, capacity planning is crucial to avoid nuisance trips or costly demand charges. Professionally installed EV charging supports customer dwell time, attracts EV drivers, raises tenant satisfaction, and aligns with the area’s sustainability values, while meeting LA’s evolving green building requirements.
Local Electrical Challenges
Many Silver Lake commercial spaces occupy buildings with aging infrastructure: undersized 60–100A panels, aluminum branch wiring from past remodels, and limited electrical rooms retrofitted over decades. Mixed-use buildings often have 120/208V three-phase service with little spare capacity, and meter banks can be at practical limits. Long conduit runs from rear panels to front-lot parking increase voltage drop and installation complexity. Historic storefronts may require minimally invasive routing to preserve façades. Heat waves (85–95°F) push HVAC demand, so intelligent load management becomes essential. We frequently encounter missing GFCI protection near exterior receptacles, unlabeled panels, and grounding/bonding deficiencies that must be corrected to pass inspection and support NEC Article 625-compliant EVSE.
Permits & Compliance
In Silver Lake, commercial EV charger permits are issued by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Typical plan review and permit issuance runs 2–4 weeks, with the final inspection scheduled after installation and commissioning. Projects within older or character-sensitive buildings may involve coordination with the City of Los Angeles Planning Department for exterior work. If work extends into sidewalks or public right-of-way, additional clearances from StreetsLA/Public Works may apply. HOAs in hillside or mixed-use communities can require design submittals and sign-offs. Shaffer Construction prepares stamped drawings, one-line diagrams, load calcs, and accessibility layouts compliant with CALGreen and CBC Chapter 11B.
What We Offer
Frequently Asked Questions
Do older Silver Lake buildings have enough capacity for multiple chargers?+
Often they don’t—many have limited spare capacity and 120/208V services shared with HVAC and lighting. We perform detailed load studies and can use networked load sharing to add 2–8+ ports without a full service upgrade. If an upgrade is needed, we’ll plan it with LADWP and phase the project to keep downtime minimal.
How do you handle tight parking lots behind storefronts on Sunset or Hyperion?+
We map efficient conduit routes, often from rear electrical rooms to pedestal mounts near head-in parking. We use compact pedestals, bollard protection, and cable management to reduce clutter. Where trenching is impractical, we consider wall-mounted units, shared dual-port pedestals, or phased installations to maintain customer access during construction.
What’s the difference between 240V and 208V charging at my site?+
Most commercial/multifamily buildings in Silver Lake have 120/208V three-phase service. Level 2 chargers there operate at 208V, which can reduce output slightly compared to 240V. We size conductors, breakers, and EVSE models accordingly, and can specify higher-amp units or multiple ports with load management to meet your charging needs.
Are there incentives for commercial EV chargers in Los Angeles?+
Incentives vary by program cycle. LADWP and state programs have offered rebates for Level 2 chargers and make-ready infrastructure. We help identify current opportunities, prepare documentation, and ensure equipment meets eligibility criteria. Our designs and metering strategies are tailored to streamline applications and verification when funding is available.
How do you ensure ADA compliance for EV charging spaces?+
We design layouts to meet CBC Chapter 11B EVCS requirements, including the required number of accessible and van-accessible spaces, clear floor area, reach ranges, and path-of-travel. We provide striping, signage, and equipment placement details in the plan set, and coordinate with inspectors to verify compliance during final inspection.
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