Power from SCE
EV charger installation in Long Beach
In Long Beach the permit is the quick part of a charger job. The slower questions are panel room, the rate plan and, for many households, who owns the parking space.
Ask about the checklist before you book
Long Beach has a fast track for one or two chargers on an existing one- or two-family home, and whether a job fits it depends on the answers on the city’s form. Before you sign, ask the electrician to run through that form with you and say which answers might be no. A third charger, a service change or an unusual layout can push the job to full plan review, and the city does not publish how long that takes. Contractors with a city PIN can file online, so ask whether yours has one. The AB 1236 permit guide explains the state rule behind the process.
Panel room in an older housing stock
Long Beach is old for Southern California. About 65% of homes were built before 1970, and the median year built is 1959. That does not mean every panel is a problem, but it is a reason to ask for a load calculation before buying a 48 amp unit. Many drivers settle on a lower-amp charger once the numbers are in, which can avoid a service change. The charger cost page shows the typical range with and without panel work.
Rate plan and heat
SCE supplies the power as well as delivering it, and the council has not set up a community choice program, so there is no second supplier to compare. The plan to look at is TOU-D-PRIME, offered to customers with an EV, home battery or heat pump. Prices change, so use the time-of-use guide and run your own usage through SCE’s current table. Coastal and downtown ZIPs are in climate zone 6, while 90805, 90807 and 90808 are in the hotter zone 8, where air conditioning leaves less room on the panel in summer evenings.
Condos, apartments and rented parking
Only 45% of homes here are single-family, so many drivers park in a shared garage or on a lot they do not own. Owners in an association are covered by Civil Code 4745, explained in the HOA and condo guide and the Civil Code 4745 guide. Tenants are covered by Civil Code 1947.6, which requires a landlord to approve a qualifying written request. Start the paperwork early, since the landlord or board may ask for plans, insurance and proof of a licensed electrician. Local background is on the Long Beach city page.
Charger permit path
Long Beach adopted EV ordinances that follow Government Code (AB 1236). One or two EVSE on an existing one- or two-family home, multi-family or non-residential site can use an Express Permit by completing an express checklist (FORM-019, FORM-037 or FORM-038); if every answer is yes the permit can be issued on the same day at the Permit Center. One- and two-family jobs with no more than 2 EVSE can also be applied for and paid online, with automatic issuance. Anything else goes to submitted plan review.
Permit lines that can apply
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Electrical permit minimum fee | $104 per permit |
| Special outlet on an individual circuit, 15 to 30 amp (an EV circuit up to 50A uses the 31 to 50 amp line at $8) | $7 per outlet |
| Express electrical permit for EVCS (total, including surcharges and filing fees) | $193.32 |
| Electrical plan review minimum | 100% of the permit fee, not less than $216 |
City of Long Beach Development Services (Community Development Department), Building and Safety Bureau, Permit Center. Confirm the current amount at the counter.
Questions people ask
What stops a Long Beach charger from using the fast-track permit?
Any no on the city's checklist for one- and two-family homes. A third charger, a service change that needs plan review, or an unusual layout can also move the job to submitted plan review, and the city has not published review days. Ask the electrician to run the checklist with you before the job is booked.
Can the electrician apply for the Long Beach permit online?
For qualifying jobs, yes. Licensed California contractors who hold a city PIN can apply and pay online for jobs with no more than two chargers on a one- or two-family home. Homeowners without a PIN use the Permit Center. Ask your electrician whether they already have a PIN.
I rent in Long Beach. Can my landlord say no to a charger?
Often not. Under Civil Code 1947.6, a landlord must approve a tenant's written request for a charger at the tenant's assigned space if the request meets the law and the landlord's process. It applies to leases signed or renewed after July 1, 2015, and exceptions exist, such as lots with fewer than five spaces.
Does Long Beach have a community choice option for EV charging rates?
No. SCE supplies and delivers electricity in Long Beach, and the city council has not set up a community choice program. That means one price list to compare. SCE offers TOU-D-PRIME for homes with an EV. Prices change, so check the current table before switching plans.
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