Rhode Island § 31-28-12 - Parking Facilities and Privileges

§ 31-28-12. Installation of electric vehicle charging stations — Designated parking spaces.

(a) All new parking lots and existing lots that undergo an expansion of the number of parking spaces by fifty percent (50%) or more, shall create designated parking spaces for electric vehicles.

(b) Each electric vehicle parking space shall have either an EV-ready, or EV-capable public level 2, or DC fast charger, or a dual port charger to be shared by two (2) parking spaces.

(c) Projects awarded or under development prior to January 1, 2024, are exempt from the requirements of this section. Beginning January 1, 2024, the installation of electric vehicle charging stations and the designation of parking spaces shall be required when there is:

(1) Construction of a parking lot for a new building or new off-street parking facility;

(2) An additional parking lot added to an addition for an existing building; or

(3) A parking lot increased in size to add fifty percent (50%) or more parking spaces.

(d) Commercial, municipal, large employer, and housing parking lots shall designate electric vehicle parking spaces based on the number of parking spaces provided in accordance with the following table below. Calculations for the required number of EV spaces shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number.

(e) Electric vehicle parking restrictions and violations shall be enforced pursuant to the provisions of §§ 31-21-18 and 31-41.1-4 relating to the fine imposed for electric vehicle charging station restrictions.

(f) The owner of any facility or business that fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be subject to a penalty set and enforced by the local or state authorities on public or private property when the location of the parking spaces is within the purview of the state building code, chapter 27.3 of title 23.

(g) The office of energy resources shall provide recommendations to improve electric vehicle charging infrastructure in underserved communities. In the development of these recommendations, the office of energy resources may request and be furnished with information from municipalities, an electric distribution company, the Rhode Island department of transportation, community boards, and nonprofits representing municipal interests. The office of energy resources shall develop these recommendations by January 31, 2024.

(h) Municipalities shall provide the office of energy resources with semiannual reports on the number of installed public charging stations, location of the charging stations, and total number of charging stations in the community. The office of energy resources shall make this information available to the public on the agency’s website.

(i) The provisions of this section shall only apply to new projects awarded subsequent to January 1, 2024, that receive any form of public funding.