SFMTA is launching a new Curbside Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Permit program intended for San Franciscans who don’t have access to a private garage — especially renters and people living in multifamily buildings. The goal of the permit program is to give more residents an “at home” charging experience using public curb space, by allowing qualified vendors to install curbside chargers. These chargers are not private parking spots — they’re shared, public chargers and are first come first served, requiring active charging at all times. All posted parking regulations still apply (e.g., street sweeping and Residential Parking Permit). The program includes requirements for accessible charging stations and stalls.
The city’s goal is to have qualified vendors install 100 curbside chargers in neighborhoods across San Francisco by 2030. While San Francisco already has more than 1,300 public off-street chargers — mostly in garages — on-street curbside charging will add to EV charging options.
How To Apply
To apply for a curbside EV charging project, please start by reviewing the Permit Process Overview, which lists all required steps.
To qualify, applicants must complete two permit applications:
- Curbside Operator Permit – authorizes providers to operate curbside EV charging infrastructure in the City, and to apply for Curbside Site Permits
- Curbside Site Permit – authorizes providers to install curbside charging at a specific site. Neighborhood outreach, utility verification, and a public hearing are key components of the site permit process.
Electrical Power
Curbside EV chargers can be installed using a range of configurations, depending on both the technology used and the available electric service provider.
How to Power Your Curbside EV Charging Station
Curbside chargers in San Francisco may receive electric service from:
- Hetch Hetchy Power is San Francisco's publicly owned electric utility operated by the SFPUC. You can energize your charging station with Hetch Hetchy Power and connect via either:
- The SFPUC-owned electric grid, primarily in redevelopment areas and at City-owned sites
- A Wholesale Distribution Tariff (WDT) service through Hetch Hetchy Power utilizes PG&E's distribution system
- For more information on connecting EV chargers to Hetch Hetchy Power, go to Curbside EV Charging
- CleanPowerSF is San Francisco's Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program operated by the SFPUC
- You can power your charging station with CleanPowerSF in most areas throughout the city.
- Your new electric account for your charging station will be automatically enrolled in CleanPowerSF's Green service for generation, while utilizing PG&E's distribution system.
- You could upgrade your electric account to CleanPowerSF's SuperGreen service to ensure your charger is powered entirely by 100% California-certified renewable energy
- For more information about CleanPowerSF, go to CleanPowerSF webpage
- PG&E
- PG&E partners with CCAs like CleanPowerSF to deliver electricity over PG&E's transmission and distribution system.
- PG&E provides two electric service pathways for curbside or public-right-of-way (PROW) chargers, Electric Rule 29 (EV Power Ready) and Electric Rule 16.
>MORE - PG&E provides three options through which curbside charging projects may access Electric Rule 29, within the tariff's existing contours and limitations
>MORE - For more information on the electric service pathways, go to EV Power Ready Program | PG&E. Please contact PG&E with any questions or concerns at 1-877-743-7782 between Monday and Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., or via email at EVPowerReady@pge.com
Installation and Grid Access Options
Regardless of the service provider mentioned above, curbside chargers can connect to power in one of two ways:
- Using existing electrical capacity at a nearby building or facility (a “behind-the-meter” approach)
- Installing a new, dedicated electrical service connection for the charger
Applicant Next Steps
- Identify a viable site in accordance with SFMTA program rules
- Applicants looking for utility verification of sites should submit a Statement of Interest form in Hetch Hetchy Power for Developers
- For sites attaching to existing service, applicants who already know their current service provider may submit an application directly to that provider and do not require utility verification
- The SFPUC will evaluate the utility provider options for any new service connections
- Please submit one form for each Charging Station
- All requests for new SFPUC service connections for curbside EV charging must be submitted through an Application for Electric Service. The application, more information on the process, and possible fees can be found in Hetch Hetchy Power for Developers
- All requests for new PG&E service connections for curbside EV charging must be submitted through a Service Application in Your Projects. Please include the SFMTA Curbside Operator and Site Permit Application from the SFMTA with your submission. For more information on application requirements, go to: EV Customer Application Requirements
Permit Compliance & Enforcement
The SFMTA will respond to and refer out 311 and other complaints about curbside EV chargers. The SFMTA may cite operators for violations of permit terms and conditions. The SFMTA will also enforce parking restrictions at these curbside charging spots.
Program Background
The Curbside EV Charging program builds on San Francisco’s Climate Action Plan goals to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. San Francisco’s Climate Action Plan and EV Roadmap emphasize reducing pollution in dense neighborhoods and expanding access to clean transportation.
To understand whether curbside EV charging could work here, the city conducted a Curbside Feasibility Study in 2023–2025 with partners, including the San Francisco Environment Department (SFE), San Francisco Public Works (SFPW) and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). The study resulted in several recommendations like expediting the permitting process, siting chargers strategically within the multimodal transportation network, and engaging communities to ensure curbside charging met their transportation needs.
In 2024, the SFMTA, SFE, SFPW and SFPUC launched a Pilot Program to test solutions on the ground and gather data for a permanent program. The pilot resulted in many lessons learned, especially around site selection, utility coordination, and permitting across multiple agencies. Three vendors participated, each using a different approach to power and installation.
In 2026, SFMTA developed a long-term application and permit process to qualify curbside EV charging operators and permit curbside sites.
This permanent permit program was developed with support from SF Environment Department, SF Public Works, SF Public Utilities Commission, PG&E, SF Office on Disability and Accessibility, SF City Attorney’s Office, SF County Transportation Authority, SF Board of Supervisors and the Mayor’s Office.
Curbside EV Charging Mapping Tool
The Curbside EV Charging Mapping Tool is an interactive map that helps identify locations in San Francisco where curbside EV charging may be feasible. It is intended to support applicants in identifying potentially viable locations for curbside EV chargers.
The tool serves as an early planning and screening resource, helping users quickly understand potential opportunities and constraints at the curb. It does not determine whether a charger can ultimately be installed at a specific location. Because the curb data displayed in the map is static and conditions may change, permittees are encouraged to conduct site visits to verify current conditions and make final determinations about the feasibility of a location for curbside EV charging.