Burnaby took another step towards its climate action goals on July 8, as new bylaw changes introducing requirements for electric vehicle (EV) charging for all new non-residential developments officially came into effect. The updated zoning bylaw requires a minimum of 45% of the required parking spaces in new non-residential developments to be equipped to provide Level 2 or higher charging for electric vehicles, including vehicle charging available at all accessible parking spaces. 

This update lays the foundation for the larger shift to electric vehicles, a broader societal change which will make a significant contribution towards Burnaby's progress to carbon neutrality by 2050. It's estimated that 20% of the total reductions in community-wide greenhouse gas emissions needed for Burnaby to reach carbon neutrality will come from the shift to EVs. As of 2020, almost half of the total carbon footprint of Burnaby's population comes from transportation. Demand for EV-charging infrastructure is expected to grow exponentially in the coming decades, and by making this change, Burnaby is equipping the city's businesses, schools, and facilities with the resources to support the electrification of our vehicles, making it convenient for residents to charge on the go' and at work as EVs become increasingly more prevalent. These changes also correspond to similar legislation ¬¬at the federal and provincial levels, as well as trends in market demand, as BC has Canada's highest EV adoption rate.

These new requirements apply to all new non-residential developments. Projects which have applied for a building permit or have an active rezoning application that has advanced past First Reading prior to July 8, 2024 are exempt. These changes also do not apply to new parking spaces created for existing non-residential use. 

Learn more: Electric Vehicles in Burnaby