The St. Paul City Council on Wednesday approved new requirements that future surface parking lots spanning at least 15 stalls be developed with electrical conduit or raceway connections readying them for electric vehicle charging stations.

The new rules do not require the actual installation of the chargers themselves, in recognition that the technology will evolve with time. Instead, 80% of the stalls in residential lots must be conduit-ready, though an amendment introduced by Council President Mitra Jalali last week reduces the requirement in commercial lots to 20% of all stalls, with the expectation that most drivers will not be charging their cars in business lots overnight.

Council Member Rebecca Noecker said she was “especially glad to be able to balance both our needs for preparing our climate resilient future and also the needs of some of our smaller businesses.”

The new requirements were approved 5-0. Council members Anika Bowie and Nelsie Yang were absent.

Minneapolis, Bloomington and St. Louis Park currently all require the installation of actual chargers, though the number varies.

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