HOA EV Charger Request Letter
Fill in the highlighted fields to create an HOA letter asking to install an electric vehicle charger, with the location, installer and insurance details. In California the association must approve or deny the application in writing within 60 days. It is free and needs no account: copy the finished letter or download it as a Word file.
[Date]
[Name of Homeowners Association]
Attn: Architectural Review Committee
[Association Address]
Re: Request to install an electric vehicle charging station, [Your Property Address]
Dear Architectural Review Committee,
I request approval to install an electric vehicle charging station at [Location, for example "my garage" or "my assigned parking space, number NUMBER"]. The charger is a [Charger Type and Model]. A licensed electrician, [Electrician Name and License Number], will install it.
I agree to:
- comply with the association's architectural standards;
- use a licensed contractor;
- provide a certificate of liability insurance naming the association within [Insurance Days] days of approval;
- pay for installation, maintenance, repair and the electricity used; and
- disclose the station and these responsibilities to any future buyer.
I have attached [Attachments, for example "the installation plan, a diagram of the electrical route and the charger specification sheet"]. Please send a written decision to [Email or Mailing Address] by [Response Date].
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Property Address]
[Phone or Email]
[Signature]
What this letter does
An HOA EV charger request letter asks the association to approve installing a vehicle charging station and shows that you accept the responsibilities that normally come with it. Because chargers involve electricity, insurance and shared parking, associations often want these commitments in writing.
California's rule
California Civil Code section 4745 voids restrictions that effectively prohibit or unreasonably restrict EV charging stations in an owner's unit or designated parking space. Where approval is needed, the association must treat the application like an architectural modification request and cannot willfully avoid or delay it. It must approve or deny in writing within 60 days of receiving the application, and if it does not, the application is deemed approved, unless the delay results from a reasonable request for more information.
For stations in common areas or exclusive-use common areas, the association must approve the installation if the owner agrees in writing to comply with its architectural standards, hire a licensed contractor, provide a certificate of insurance within 14 days of approval, and pay for installation and electricity. The owner and successive owners are responsible for damage, maintenance, repair, restoration and disclosure to buyers. The owner must keep liability coverage, and the certificate is due annually. A willful violation by an association can lead to actual damages plus a civil penalty up to $1,000, and a prevailing plaintiff is awarded attorney's fees. The section does not apply to reasonable restrictions that do not significantly raise cost or lower efficiency.
Other states
Many states have EV charging rights for HOA or condominium owners, but the terms differ and some give owners no statutory right. Read the declaration, check your state's statute, and ask the board for its EV policy. This page does not summarize other states because the rules change often.
What to include
- Location and charger details.
- A licensed electrician and permit plan.
- Insurance certificate commitment.
- Cost and electricity responsibility.
- A disclosure commitment for future sales.
- A response date.
Related letters
Use the architectural request letter for other exterior changes, the solar panel request letter for solar, and an HOA Violation Appeal Letter if you are denied. A refusal arrives as an HOA denial letter, and are HOA rules legally binding explains where state law limits what governing documents can enforce. An approval comes as an HOA approval letter.
Common questions
Can an HOA stop me from installing an EV charger?
In California, only through reasonable restrictions that do not significantly raise the cost or lower the performance of the charger. Other states vary.
Who pays for the electricity?
Usually the owner. California's rule says the owner pays for installation and electricity usage where a common area is used.
This page gives general information and sample wording. It is not legal advice, and requirements differ by state and by association.