Electric car charging in multi-unit residential buildings will be in high demand in the near future. Condo boards and property management companies that are prepared will stay ahead of the curve and attract EV drivers as tenants and owners. Installing charging in condos can present unique challenges but planning and proper placement will eliminate risks and help keep costs down. Rules came into effect May 1, 2018, for installing an electric vehicle charging system at your building as a condo owner or corporation.
Condo unit owners
If you are submitting an application to install an electric vehicle charging system on common elements of a condo property, the condo corporation must provide you with the information and/or permissions you reasonably need to complete the application, such as schematics or electrical room access.
The condo corporation must respond to your application within 60 days, unless another time period is agreed upon in writing with you.
Condo corporation boards are not allowed to reject your application unless the installation is assessed as:
• not meeting some legal requirements (for example, it violates the Electrical Safety Code)
• posing a serious risk of damaging or adversely affecting the structural integrity of the condo property or any assets of the condo corporation
• posing a serious health and safety risk to an individual
The condo board’s assessment must be based on the opinion or report of a qualified professional obtained by the corporation. The condo board must provide this opinion or report to you when they respond.
The condo corporation can require that the installation be carried out in another manner or location, only if it:
• would not cause you unreasonable additional costs
• is necessary to meet other criteria
Entering into an agreement
If the application is not rejected or abandoned, the condo corporation must enter into an agreement with you within 90 days unless another time is agreed upon in writing with you.
The agreement must outline any terms, conditions, roles and responsibilities between you and the corporation relating to the charging system, including:
• installation
• ownership
• costs (maintenance, repairs, insurance, etc.)
Condo corporations
Condo corporations looking to install an electric vehicle charging system are exempt from some approval requirements under the Condominium Act, if the following conditions are met:
• the estimated total cost of the installation is 10% or less of the annual budget for common expenses in the current fiscal year
• the condo corporation board agrees that owners would not see the installation as having a significant reduction in the use or enjoyment of their units, the common areas or assets of the condo corporation
• at least 60 days have passed since owners were given written notice of the proposed installation
If any of the first two conditions are not met, the corporation must provide a notice to owners informing them that owners have the right to hold a meeting within 60 days to vote on the proposed installation.
The corporation will then only be able to proceed with the installation without having to comply with some approval requirements of the Condominium Act if the:
• owners of at least 15% of the units do not request a meeting within 60 days
• meeting is requested but quorum is not present at the first attempt to hold the meeting
• meeting is held and a quorum is present at the first attempt to hold the meeting, and the owners do not vote against the proposed installation
This full article can be found: https://www.ontario.ca/page/owning-a-condo#section-5E-
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