Electric Vehicles

Charging an electric vehicle at home is convenient, but installing a charger in your garage or driveway is an electrical alteration. Before any work begins, you'll need approval from the strata council and a licensed electrician working under a valid City of Surrey permit.

Strata Approval Comes First

Installing an EV charger adds load to your unit's electrical system and may involve work that affects common property, so it requires an alteration request approved by the strata council before you proceed. Refer to Bylaw 5.1 for the alterations that require approval.

Your request should describe the charger you intend to install, where it will be mounted, and the electrician you plan to use. The more detail you provide, the faster council can review it. See the Alterations page for what to include, and submit your request to our strata agent.

Work Must Be Done by a Licensed Electrician

EV charger installations must be carried out by a Licensed Electrical Contractor working under a valid City of Surrey electrical permit. This protects both you and your neighbours: adding a charger increases the demand on your panel, and the work has to be assessed and inspected to ensure it's safe.

What the City of Surrey Requires

Each unit at Imperial has its own electrical meter, so the City treats an EV charger installation here the same as it would for a townhouse with a separate meter:

• Service and load assessment. Before applying for a permit, a Licensed Electrical Contractor must assess your service capacity and complete a load calculation to confirm your panel can handle the additional draw.
• Electrical permit. Your contractor applies for an Electrical Contractor Installation Permit. Work may only begin once the permit is approved.
• Inspection. The completed installation is inspected by the City to confirm it meets code.

Full details, including current forms and fees, are available on the City of Surrey's Electric Vehicle Charger Installation page. Questions can be directed to the City's electrical department.

Putting It Together

1. Get a quote from a Licensed Electrical Contractor and have them confirm your service capacity with a load calculation.
2. Submit an alteration request to the strata council with the charger details and your contractor's plan.
3. Once council approves, have your contractor obtain the City of Surrey electrical permit.
4. The contractor completes the installation, and the City inspects the finished work.