What AB 1820 does
An act to add and repeal Chapter 7.7 (commencing with Section 66015.5) of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code, relating to local government.
Existing law requires a city, county, or city and county to administratively approve an application to install an electric vehicle charging station through the issuance of a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit, and requires every local government to adopt an ordinance that creates an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations, as provided. Existing law defines “electric vehicle charging station” to mean any level of electric vehicle supply equipment station that is designed and built in compliance with specified provisions, and delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle.
Existing law requires fees charged by a local agency for specified purposes, including permits, to not exceed the estimated reasonable cost of providing the service for which the fee is charged, unless a question regarding the amount of the fee charged in excess of this cost is submitted to, and approved by, 23 of the electors. Existing law, until January 1, 2034, prohibits a city, county, city or county, or charter city from charging a permit fee for a solar energy system that exceeds the estimated reasonable cost of providing the service for which the fee is charged, which cannot exceed $450 plus $15 per kilowatt for each kilowatt above 15kW for residential solar energy systems, and $1,000 plus $7 per kilowatt for each kilowatt between 51kW and 250kW, plus $5 for every kilowatt above 250kW, for commercial solar energy systems, unless the city, county, city and county, or charter city provides substantial evidence of the reasonable cost to issue the permit as part of a written finding and an adopted resolution or ordinance, as provided.
This bill, until January 1, 2036, would prohibit a city, county, city or county, or charter city from charging a permit fee for an electric vehicle charging station that exceeds the estimated reasonable cost of providing the service for which the fee is charged, which cannot exceed $500 plus $5 per kilowatt for each kilowatt between 51kW and 250kW, plus $2 for every kilowatt above 250kW, for a level 2 electric vehicle charging station installed at a new or existing multifamily housing development, unless the city, county, city and county, or charter city provides substantial evidence of the reasonable cost to issue the permit as part of a written finding and an adopted resolution or ordinance, as provided. The bill would make its provisions operative on July 1, 2027, but for every city, county, city and county, or charter city with a population of fewer than 200,000 residents, the provisions would apply beginning on January 1, 2028. By requiring local agencies to perform additional duties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would make related findings and declarations.
The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Summary from the Legislative Counsel's Digest of the enrolled text, August 26, 2026. Read the full text on leginfo.
How it got here
Assemblymember Schiavo introduced AB 1820 on February 10, 2026. The text was amended 3 times, 1 in the Assembly and 2 in the Senate, and heard in 3 committee hearings before its final floor votes.
- Assembly Floor, May 26, 2026: 72 ayes, 0 noes.
- Senate Floor, August 20, 2026: 27 ayes, 10 noes.
- Assembly Floor, August 24, 2026: 71 ayes, 1 noes.
Committee votes along the way:
- Assembly Local Government, April 15, 2026: Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations], 6-0.
- Assembly Appropriations, May 6, 2026: Do pass., 13-0.
- Senate Local Government, July 1, 2026: Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations], 5-2.
Who supports and opposes AB 1820
The Senate Floor Analyses analysis dated August 5, 2026 lists 26 organizations in support and 16 in opposition. When Assembly Local Government first listed positions on April 14, 2026, the count was 22 in support and 6 opposed. By the Senate Floor Analyses analysis of August 5, 2026 it was 26 to 16.
In support: Electric Vehicle Charging Association (sponsor); Coalition for Clean Air (sponsor); Abb E-mobility, INC; Alliance for Automotive Innovation; The American Ev Jobs Alliance; American Lung Association of California; Autel; California Apartment Association; and 18 more.
Opposed: California Building Officials; California Contract Cities Association; California Municipal Utilities Association; California State Association of Counties; City of Camarillo; City of Glendora; City of La Mirada; City of Lakewood; and 8 more.
Read the Senate Floor Analyses analysis.
What happens next
It reached the Governor's desk on August 28, 2026. Bills presented after the Legislature adjourned on August 31 must be signed or vetoed within thirty days.
The Governor can sign the bill, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Until the decision, sign and veto request letters are the remaining channel, and the Department of Finance's enrolled bill report carries weight on anything with a fiscal effect. If signed, most provisions take effect January 1, and implementation moves to the agencies named in the bill.
What it means for data center organizations
Two decisions follow from a bill at this stage. The first is whether to weigh in with the Governor's office before the thirty-day window closes. The second is how to prepare for implementation if it becomes law: which agency writes the rules, when the comment period opens, and which obligations begin January 1.
The data centers group at Capitol Axis handles that for data center clients.
Questions about AB 1820
What does AB 1820 do?
This bill, until January 1, 2036, would prohibit a city, county, city or county, or charter city from charging a permit fee for an electric vehicle charging station that exceeds the estimated reasonable cost of providing the service for which the fee is charged, which cannot exceed $500 plus $5 per kilowatt for each kilowatt between 51kW and 250kW, plus $2 for every kilowatt above 250kW, for a level 2 electric vehicle charging station installed at a new or existing multifamily housing development, unless the city, county, city and county, or charter city provides substantial evidence of the re
Has AB 1820 passed the California Legislature?
It reached the Governor's desk on August 28, 2026. Bills presented after the Legislature adjourned on August 31 must be signed or vetoed within thirty days.
Who supports and opposes AB 1820?
The Senate Floor Analyses analysis dated August 5, 2026 lists 26 organizations in support and 16 in opposition. Supporters include Electric Vehicle Charging Association (sponsor); Coalition for Clean Air (sponsor); Abb E-mobility, INC. Opponents include California Building Officials; California Contract Cities Association; California Municipal Utilities Association.
What happens next with AB 1820?
The Governor can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Until then, sign and veto request letters are the remaining channel, and the Department of Finance's enrolled bill report carries weight on anything with a fiscal effect.