LGD Electric / EV Chargers / Strata & Right to Charge
EV Charger in a BC Strata: your rights under Right to Charge.
British Columbia's Strata Property Act and its regulations establish a framework commonly called Right to Charge, which limits a strata council's ability to unreasonably refuse a resident's request to install a Level 2 electric vehicle charger at their assigned parking stall. The legal posture matters, but the electrical engineering also matters: running a dedicated circuit from a parking stall back to an individual unit's panel or to a shared building service requires a load calculation, a conduit pathway approved by the building's management and an electrical permit. City of Vancouver permit for buildings inside the City of Vancouver. Technical Safety BC (TSBC) permit for buildings in Burnaby, Richmond, North Vancouver and every other Metro Vancouver municipality. LGD Electric handles both sides.
What Right to Charge actually means in BC
BC's Strata Property Act prevents strata councils from unreasonably refusing a Level 2 EV charger request. The Act does not guarantee approval. Stratas can still refuse on specific grounds: inadequate electrical capacity, pre-existing bylaws or fire-code issues. A council refusing a well-engineered request with documented capacity is the uphill case. LGD does not provide legal advice. For specific disputes, consult a BC strata lawyer.
Two technical paths for a strata install
Two technical paths for a strata EV charger: (1) a dedicated circuit from the owner's unit panel through the building envelope to the assigned parking stall, or (2) a connection to a shared building service (either a new sub-panel in the parkade or the existing house service). Path 1 makes the owner solely responsible for the electricity cost. Path 2 requires strata agreement on cost allocation, metering and responsibility for ongoing maintenance. LGD designs for both.
- Path 1 (owner panel): dedicated circuit from the owner's unit panel through common property to the stall. Bills to the owner's utility account. Cleanest but not always feasible in older buildings.
- Path 2 (shared service): new sub-panel in the parkade fed from the house service. Shared metering requires strata agreement on cost allocation.
The electrical engineering
- Load calculation under CEC Section 8. The single most important document for the strata vote.
- Conduit routing through parkade ceilings, cable trays, envelope penetrations (EMT or RMC by fire rating).
- Fire stopping at every envelope penetration. Non-negotiable in multi-unit.
- Metering on Path 2: revenue-grade sub-meter per stall so billing is defensible.
City of Vancouver vs TSBC permits
Buildings inside the City of Vancouver go through the City permit system. Every other Metro Vancouver municipality uses Technical Safety BC. LGD handles both. See our permit authority guide.
CleanBC multi-unit rebate
The CleanBC Go Electric program offers Level 2 charger rebates for multi-unit residential buildings. Verify current amounts at betterhomesbc.ca before a strata vote. LGD provides the invoice, permit reference and inspection record for the application.
LGD process
- 01 Site visit (stall, unit panel, parkade routing, electrical room).
- 02 CEC Section 8 load calculation.
- 03 Written scope for strata council meeting minutes.
- 04 Permit pulled (City of Vancouver or TSBC).
- 05 Install: conduit, fire stopping, 240V branch, charger termination.
- 06 Final inspection closes the permit.
- 07 CleanBC rebate paperwork.
LGD's process includes a written scope document that strata councils can attach to meeting minutes, a description of the parkade routing with cable tray and fire stopping details, the permit-holder declaration and a proposed schedule. Most strata votes go smoother when the technical plan is already documented and priced.
Strata EV charger FAQ
Can a strata legally refuse my EV charger request?
Not unreasonably. BC's Strata Property Act framework limits unreasonable refusal. Refusals tied to inadequate electrical capacity or pre-existing bylaws may still apply. Consult a BC strata lawyer on specific disputes.
Who pays for the electricity?
Path 1 (owner's unit panel) bills the owner's account. Path 2 (shared service) requires strata agreement on metering and allocation.
Strata approval on limited common property parking?
Yes. Limited common property is still strata-owned. The council must sign off on routing and fire stopping.
What if the building's main service can't handle more chargers?
Options: load management devices, a lower-amperage shared sub-panel, or a building service upgrade. LGD runs the CEC Section 8 calc before the vote.
How long does strata approval take?
Councils with a written EV policy: one meeting. Without one: two or three meetings to draft and pass a bylaw amendment.
Will the charger work during a building power outage?
No. Level 2 chargers need live building power. Shared-service chargers follow whatever standby generator coverage the building has.