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Charge Up Fairfax Resources

This page has information about community EV charging, such as community and organization benefits, Fairfax County environmental benefits, permitting and zoning guidance for EV infrastructure, resources for choosing electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment, and incentive programs and resources.

Communities with available EV charging stations are more attractive to home buyers and renters. Communities with EV charging are more competitive than those without charging capabilities because once an individual owns an EV, they are likely to rule out buying or renting in any communities that do not offer EV charging.

Organizations offering green amenities, like EV charging, are more welcoming to all community members and become preferred places to visit and live. For example, reducing tailpipe emissions creates healthier communities, an attractive benefit for families.

EVs can be less expensive to fuel and maintain than gas vehicles. The convenience of charging at home or in places where people spend time makes EV ownership more practical and means lower cost of driving for members of the community.

Electric vehicles have no tailpipe pollution emissions.

The Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination leads the development and implementation of Fairfax County’s environmental and energy policies, goals, and programs, including the Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP). Completed in September 2021 and accepted by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, CECAP is a community-developed plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. The burning of fossil fuels in transportation vehicles is the source of nearly 45 percent of the county’s carbon emissions, and a major source of air pollution that causes respiratory problems. Therefore, reducing emissions from cars and trucks is a major focus of Fairfax County's environmental and climate programming.

To that end, the county aims to increase the use of battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to 15 percent of vehicle registrations by 2030. During the CECAP planning process, the community expressed its support for equitable vehicle electrification efforts, recognizing that residents in condominiums and apartments face greater barriers to EV adoption than residents who occupy single-family housing. Charge Up Fairfax advances county transportation electrification goals by directly addressing these at-home charging barriers.

Even though electric vehicles may use power generated at electric-generating power stations and batteries that contain heavy metals, EVs are much cleaner than vehicles with internal combustion engines due to three primary factors:

Electric motors are much more efficient at using energy to move a vehicle than internal combustion and the drivetrain of conventional fossil-fueled vehicles.
Electricity generation has become much cleaner nationwide, and especially in Virginia, where most power is now generated by efficient natural gas plants, nuclear power plants, renewable energy sources. Coal now generates less than 10 percent of Virginia’s electricity.
There are no tailpipe emissions from electric vehicles, which means cleaner air to breathe along roadways and in neighborhoods.

Organizations must comply with all Fairfax County Zoning Ordinances and permitting requirements, as set forth by Fairfax County’s Department of Planning and Development and Land Development Services.

Zoning

The Zoning Administration Division (ZAD) in the Department of Planning and Development enforces, maintains, and administers the provisions of the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance.

Common interest communities must complete and submit the Electric Vehicle Charging Space Review Checklist. A licensed and qualified contractor may submit the checklist on behalf of the organization.

The checklist must be submitted to ZAD through the PLUS system, as an Interpretation of Zoning Ordinance record (please use the filled-out checklist as your request letter). Once approved by ZAD, the signed and approved checklist must be submitted to Land Development Services via the Plus system, with any electrical, building, or site applications.

Land Development Services

Fairfax County’s Land Development Services has developed a Guide to Permitting for Homeowner Associations Installing Electric Vehicle Charging Stations. Additionally, LDS offers guidance on how hire a contractor.

A licensed electrical contractor with experience installing EVSE can help select and obtain equipment based on the features that will meet your needs.

Charging station manufacturers offer both single and dual-head charging stations that can be used as shared chargers. Some companies offer customized solutions and help organizations identify the charging equipment that best meets their need.

Not sure how to find a qualified contractor? Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) provides training and certification for electricians installing EVSE. Find an EVITP-certified contractor using their online database. Additionally, Dominion Energy maintains a Trade Ally Network for firms that work on Dominion programs, which includes companies with experience in commercial EV Charging installations. While the Trade Allies are located throughout Dominion Energy’s service area, Bowerbird Energy has confirmed that they serve Fairfax County.

Examples of terms and conditions agreements for EV charging equipment follows:

Blink Charging Terms and Conditions
Fairfax County’s contract with National Car Charging, which includes Terms and Conditions for ChargePoint equipment.

Some of the features community associations may like to consider in charging equipment include:

Access via a smart phone app
A reservation system
The ability to charge guests a different rate than residents (for Community Associations Only)
Utilizing a keypad, PIN, fob, or card to access the charging equipment (for Community Associations Only)
Connectivity via WIFI or cellular service
Retractable cable management system
The length of the warranty
The terms of the service agreement
- Including how quickly the equipment will be serviced if it needs to be repaired
- Whether a provider will make repairs to the equipment onsite

The U.S. Department of Energy website provides information to support Charging Electric Vehicles at Home:

"Most Level 2 products have standard safety features and status lights. More advanced, "smart" Level 2 products have features such as data collection, user interface systems, enhanced displays, charging timers, communications capabilities, and keypads. Purchasing safety-certified equipment is recommended, such as the products certified under the ENERGY STAR label, which are tested by a nationally recognized testing laboratory."

Grant and Incentive programs for the purchase of EVs or installation of charging equipment are tracked by Plug in America. Plug Star tracks incentives available by zip code.
The U.S. Department of Energy webpage includes resources for Electric Vehicle Charging for Multifamily Housing.
Charge Point has compiled resources for HOA communities.
The Reston Association has developed design guidelines for use by Reston Association Clusters, and they have made the document available as a resource for all HOA communities.
A 2012 report on Siting and Design Guidelines for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment is available for reference.

The Department of Energy (DOE) provides information on Operation and Maintenance costs.

DOE advises: Maintenance contracts should include both a response time, time for a given repair, and an overall uptime requirement. While actual maintenance costs vary based on the charging level and whether the station is networked or non-networked, station owners should estimate average maintenance costs of up to $400 annually, per charger. Most networks also offer a maintenance plan for an additional annual fee.

Policies are important to ensure the charging stations are properly used. Organizations are encouraged to create a parking policy for the charging stations.

Considerations may include:

Are there time limits for charging?
Is there a fee if a vehicle is not moved once charging is complete?
Are drivers allowed to unplug another driver’s vehicle once charging is complete?
Is there an enforcement mechanism in place for non-EV drivers who park in the charging spaces?
Will there be notifications sent to residents if the stations are down?

Once the charging stations are installed, it is important to notify users about their availability and to share the policies that have been adopted.

Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination

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Benefits of Installing EV Chargers

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Recurring Costs

Policies and Etiquette

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