EV charging in a strata: how owner requests and approvals work
BC changed the Act to make electric vehicle charging easier to approve. The vote dropped from 3/4 to a majority, owners gained a formal request process, and the strata lost the ability to refuse without a good reason.
Last reviewed November 10, 2026, against the current Strata Property Act, Strata Property Regulation and Standard Bylaws on BC Laws.
The short answer
An owner may ask the strata to approve alterations to common property needed to install EV charging at a parking stall (Strata Property Act, section 90.1). The strata must not unreasonably refuse, must decide within three months, and may attach reasonable conditions. The owner pays unless otherwise agreed. Where owner approval is needed, a majority vote is enough for significant changes to common property and for reserve fund spending on EV charging (sections 71 and 96).
The owner's request
A request under section 90.1 must include the information the Regulation prescribes (Regulation 5.3):
- the owner's contact information and strata lot number,
- a description of the proposed EV charging infrastructure,
- its proposed location,
- the number or location of the parking stall where it would be used,
- the name and contact information of a contractor qualified to make the alterations,
- the contractor's description of the work required, and
- the contractor's estimate of the cost and of the time needed.
When a request can be made. If the strata is required to obtain an electrical planning report, a request may be made on or after the earlier of the date the strata first obtains that report and the date by which it must obtain it. If the strata is not required to obtain one, requests may be made from December 31, 2026 (Regulation 5.4).
What the strata must consider
The strata may approve a request if:
- any significant change in the use or appearance of common property has been approved by the owners (by majority vote, for EV charging),
- the proposed equipment is in the prescribed class, meaning it displays the label or mark required by BC's electrical safety rules,
- where the stall is common property, the owner has a right, permission or privilege to use it to the exclusion of other owners, and
- any other prescribed criteria are met.
In deciding, the strata may consider compatibility with existing and planned EV charging in the building and with any system it uses to manage electricity for charging, and the capacity of and demands on the electrical system. The electrical planning report is the main source for that.
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The decision
- The strata must not unreasonably refuse to approve a request (section 90.2(4)).
- It must decide within three months after receiving the request (Regulation 5.6).
- It may require the owner to agree in writing to reasonable conditions, including approval of equipment, contractors and materials, modifying or replacing the equipment if the strata later installs shared charging infrastructure, and joint liability where several owners apply together.
Refusals should be in writing with reasons grounded in the Act's criteria, such as insufficient electrical capacity that cannot practicably be managed, not simply a preference against chargers.
Who pays
If the request is approved, the strata may make the alteration itself or allow the owner to do it, and the owner is responsible for the expenses unless the owner and strata agree otherwise (section 90.3). If the strata does the work, the owner must pay in advance the amount the strata considers sufficient, pay any shortfall on request, and is refunded any excess. Electricity used is normally recovered through a user fee, which may be based on consumption and must be reasonable and set out in a bylaw or ratified rule (Regulation 6.9).
The votes
| Decision | Vote |
|---|---|
| Significant change to common property related to EV charging infrastructure or managing its electricity | Majority (section 71) |
| Spending from the contingency reserve fund on EV charging infrastructure, managing its electricity, or related reports | Majority (section 96) |
| Other operating spending not in the budget | As for any expenditure |
| Bylaws on EV charging use and fees | 3/4 |
Not every single charger is a "significant change". Where the strata has already approved a building-wide approach, individual installations that follow it may need only council's decision.
Parking stall rights
Many stalls are common property assigned for up to a year at a time. To protect an owner's investment, a stall at which EV charging infrastructure was installed as a result of an owner's request may be assigned for up to five years (section 76 and Regulation 5.101). Where stalls are limited common property or part of a strata lot, the owner's right already continues. See parking and storage rules.
A building-wide plan beats one-off approvals
The first few chargers are easy. The problem comes when capacity runs out and later owners are refused. Councils do better to plan early:
- Obtain the electrical planning report.
- Decide on an approach: individual chargers on a managed system, or strata-installed infrastructure that owners connect to.
- Take the approach to the owners for the majority votes.
- Adopt bylaws or rules on equipment standards, load management, user fees and responsibility for maintenance.
- Use a standard application and agreement for every request.
Rebates for EV-ready plans and infrastructure have been offered through provincial and utility programs. Check current availability before budgeting.
Recording decisions
Sample minute wording: Strata lot 31: request under section 90.1 for approval to install a Level 2 charger at limited common property stall 12. Council reviewed the contractor's description and estimate and the electrical planning report. MOVED and SECONDED that the request be approved on the conditions that the charger connects to the building's load management system, that the work is done by the named licensed contractor under permit, and that the owner signs the strata corporation's EV charging agreement and pays all expenses of the alteration. CARRIED (5 in favour, 0 opposed).
Questions councils and owners ask
Can a strata refuse an EV charger in BC?
It must not unreasonably refuse an owner's request that meets the Act's requirements.
How long does the strata have to decide?
Three months after receiving the request.
Who pays for an EV charger in a strata?
The owner who requests it, unless the owner and the strata agree otherwise.
What vote is needed for EV charging?
A majority vote for significant changes to common property and for reserve fund spending related to EV charging.
Can I keep my parking stall after installing a charger?
A common property stall with a charger installed at an owner's request may be assigned for up to five years at a time.
EV approvals carry conditions that last for years
StrataMinutes records each request, decision and condition by strata lot number, so nothing depends on memory.
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This page is general information for BC strata corporations, not legal advice. Your strata's own filed bylaws may differ from the Standard Bylaws. See the current text of the Strata Property Act and the Strata Property Regulation on BC Laws.
Related guides
Electrical Planning Reports
Parking and Storage Rules
Renovation Approval
Reserve Fund Spending Rules
Common Property
Strata Property Act 2026