EV charging infrastructure requirements set

Special rules have been adopted by the Chicago City Council that will require electric vehicle charging infrastructure in new construction building’s parking areas. The rules also require for updated bird-friendly building design policy. The Chicago Cityscape has reported this news.

Along with these changes, an ordinance has also been proposed that would strengthen the review process for certain polluting uses. A virtual meeting was held on April 24 by the City Council. The ordinances were passed by the Councilors that were originally scheduled to be approved in March. However, due to the COVID-19, delays were caused.

As per the new rules, newly built multi-family buildings with more than five or more dwelling units need to have EV charging capacities with on-site parking. One in five of the spaces must be “EVSE-Ready or EVSE-Installed.”

Twenty percent rule applies for buildings with 30 or more parking spaces (regardless if parking is on-site) for non-residential buildings. Later this year, the Chicago Sustainable Development Policy will be modified. The modifications will be carried out to place higher weight on bird-friendly building design strategies.

There also is a proposed change that businesses needing special use and air pollution permits in Planned Manufacturing Districts would have to go through an intensified review process.