RCW 64.90.513
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Electric vehicle charging stations
WUCIOA provision on electric vehicle charging station installations. Restricts associations from unreasonably prohibiting or regulating EV charging stations, with special exemptions for single-family homes, site condominiums, and planned use developments where units are not immediately adjacent.
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Statutory Text
Verified Apr 19, 2026 · LEG_WA_GOV
*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2354-S.SL ) *** (1)(a) A unit owners association may not adopt or enforce a restriction, covenant, condition, bylaw, rule, regulation, provision of a governing document, or master deed provision that: (i) Effectively prohibits or unreasonably restricts the installation or use of an electric vehicle charging station in compliance with the requirements of this section and for the personal noncommercial use of a unit owner, within the boundaries of a unit or in a designated parking space; or (ii) Is in conflict with the provisions of this section. (b) Nothing in this section prohibits an association from imposing reasonable restrictions on electric vehicle charging stations. However, it is the policy of the state to promote, encourage, and remove obstacles to the use of electric vehicle charging stations. (2) A unit owners association may require a unit owner to submit an application for approval for the installation of an electric vehicle charging station before installing the charging station. (3)(a) If approval is required for the installation or use of an electric vehicle charging station, the application for approval must be processed and approved in the same manner as an application for approval of an architectural modification. (b) The approval or denial of an application must be in writing and must not be willfully avoided or delayed. (c) If an application is not denied in writing within 60 days from the date of receipt of the application, the application is deemed approved, unless that delay is the result of a reasonable request for additional information. (d) An association may not assess or charge a unit owner a fee for the placement of an electric vehicle charging station. An association may charge a reasonable fee for processing the application to approve the installation of an electric vehicle charging station, but only if such a fee exists for all applications for approval of architectural modifications. (4) If approval is required for the installation or use of an electric vehicle charging station, a unit owners association must approve the installation within the boundaries of a unit or in a designated parking space if the installation is reasonably possible and the unit owner agrees in writing to: (a) Comply with the association's reasonable architectural standards applicable to the installation of the electric vehicle charging station; (b) Engage an electrical contractor familiar with the standards for the installation of electric vehicle infrastructure to assess the existing infrastructure necessary to support the proposed electric vehicle charging station, identify additional infrastructure needs, and install the electric vehicle charging station; (c)(i) Provide, within the time specified in (c)(ii) of this subsection, a certificate of insurance naming the association as an additional insured on the unit owner's insurance policy for any claim related to the installation, maintenance, or use of the electric vehicle charging station in a common interest community other than an association of single-family homes, site condominiums, or a planned use development where the units are not immediately adjacent; (ii) A certificate of insurance …
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Governance
| Ref | Requirement |
|---|---|
| (1)(a) | A Washington HOA cannot ban or unreasonably restrict an EV charging station that a unit owner wants to install for personal use on their unit, balcony, parking space, or other area they exclusively control. Limited common-element parking is also fair game. |
| (1)(b) | HOAs CAN require permits, professional electricians, additional insurance, and restoration agreements. What they cannot do is layer those requirements so heavily that installation becomes practically impossible. Reasonableness is the standard. |
| (1)(c) | For single-family-home subdivisions where each owner holds fee title to their lot, EV charging installation is purely a property-rights question — the HOA cannot interject itself unless the station crosses into a common element. |
| (8) | The owner pays — installation, electricity, upkeep, and any restoration when they sell or remove the station. The HOA does not bear the cost burden, only the prohibition limit. |
Other sections in this chapter
- RCW 64.90
- RCW 64.90.365
- RCW 64.90.370 — Election of preexisting common interest communities, plat communities, miscellaneous communities
- RCW 64.90.410 — Board members, officers, and committees
- RCW 64.90.445 — Board Meetings — Notice and Conduct
- RCW 64.90.450 — Quorum
- RCW 64.90.455 — Unit owner voting
- RCW 64.90.470 — Insurance
- RCW 64.90.480 — Assessments and capital contributions
- RCW 64.90.485
- RCW 64.90.490 — Other liens
- RCW 64.90.495 — Association records
Articles Citing This Statute
Legal references last verified May 23, 2026.
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