Local Law 55 of 2024 requires many New York City parking garages and open parking lots to install or prepare for electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment.

Facilities with 10 or more parking spaces that are licensed by the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) must:

• Install EV charging equipment in at least 20% of parking spaces, and

• Make 40% of spaces EV-ready (able to support charging equipment in the future) by January 1, 2035.

The law allows waivers or adjustments in certain cases, such as structural limitations.

For lots not licensed by DCWP, city agencies will study and recommend installation levels within two years of the law taking effect. The Department of Buildings (DOB) must then publish official rules by January 1, 2027 and report each year on EV charger installations across the city.

• Licensed facilities: must meet the 20 % EVSE installation and 40 % EVSE-capable requirements by January 1, 2035.

• Unlicensed facilities: compliance rules will be set by DOB by January 1, 2027, after the city’s inter-agency study and report.

The law applies to:

• Parking garages and open parking lots with 10 or more spaces that are licensed by DCWP.

• Parking facilities not licensed by DCWP will be subject to forthcoming requirements once DOB issues its rules (EN-POWER GROUP will provide updates on this information as soon as the DOB updates its ruling).

While specific penalties are not defined in the legislative text, failure to comply would place a facility in violation of the local law and subject it to enforcement actions determined by the city’s implementing agencies once final rules are published (EN-POWER GROUP will provide updates on this information as soon as the DOB updates its ruling).

For licensed facilities:

1. Assess total parking spaces and electrical capacity.

2. Plan for EVSE installation in at least 20 % of spaces.

3. Design and prepare infrastructure so 40 % of spaces are EVSE-capable.

4. Confirm eligibility for adjustments or waivers if structural infeasibility applies.

5. Complete installations and documentation before the 2035 deadline.

For unlicensed facilities:

• Await DOB’s rules (due by 2027) following the inter-agency study.

DOB will collect and report annually on EVSE installations citywide.

EVSE stands for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment and refers to the charging hardware and supporting electrical infrastructure used to charge electric vehicles.

Yes. The law allows for adjustments or waivers if compliance is not feasible, such as when building structure or site conditions prevent installation.

The city’s inter-agency study will issue recommendations within two years of the law’s effective date. DOB must then publish official rules by January 1, 2027.

Since 2003, EN-POWER GROUP has guided building owners and operators through local-law compliance, energy planning, and sustainable-design strategies.

Planning the infrastructure for compliance and implementing EV chargers takes time.

Click here to contact our team of engineers and start the process now to get ahead and plan your capital accordingly.