There is no single form called an EV charging station application. In practice you apply four times, to four different bodies: the property owner for permission, the electric utility for a connection, the local authority for permits, and a funding programme if you want public money. Each application asks for different evidence, and the utility one usually takes longest — start it first.
Key Takeaways
- There is no single application — expect four: site permission, utility connection, local permits and funding.
- Start with the property owner’s written permission; every other application leans on it.
- File the utility application early: its capacity answer shapes the design and often takes longest.
- Funding is a commitment, not just money — NEVI terms include 150 kW ports, 24/7 opening, contactless payment and uptime above 97%.
The Four Applications, in Order
| Application | Who receives it | What it asks you to show |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Site permission | Property owner, landlord or site manager | That you may install and operate chargers on the site, for how long, and who pays for power, upkeep and removal at the end |
| 2. Utility connection | Local electric utility | The load you plan to add, the site layout and when you need it; the utility answers with available capacity, connection terms and any upgrade work |
| 3. Local permits | City or county permitting office | Drawings, the electrical design and the licensed contractor who will do the work, checked against the code your area has adopted |
| 4. Funding programme | Programme administrator — a state agency, the utility or a national programme | Site and equipment eligibility, project costs, and the operating commitments the programme requires in return |
What Each Application Needs From You
- Site permission comes first because everything else hangs on it. A tenant or operator needs the owner’s written agreement before a utility or a funder will take the project seriously.
- The utility application is a capacity question. You state the chargers, their power and your timetable; the utility’s written answer fixes the connection point and any network work, and that answer shapes the design.
- Permits judge the design, not the business plan. Your licensed contractor normally prepares and files them, and the work is inspected before the station opens.
- Funding applications judge eligibility. Programmes publish their own manuals with current rules and dates — read the manual for the round you are applying to, not last year’s.
For the U.S. approvals list in depth — business registration, zoning, and the metering rules that apply when you sell energy by the kilowatt-hour — see our guide to EV charging station licenses, permits and approvals.
Funding Applications: The NEVI Example
The best-documented funding route is the U.S. NEVI programme, run by states under 23 CFR Part 680. Corridor stations funded this way must offer DC ports of at least 150 kW, open 24/7, accept contactless card payment with no membership required, and keep average annual uptime above 97%. An application that cannot commit to those terms is not ready to file. Other programmes — state, utility and local — set their own terms; the DSIRE database is the standard place to find what is open in your state. Note that tax credits are claimed on a return, not applied for — and the federal 30C credit is closed for property placed in service after June 30, 2026.
Hardware an Applicant Can Specify
Applications ask what equipment you will install, so name models whose stated facts match the site’s job. For workplaces, retail and fleets, the EVDANCE EV-AC03201T is a dual-connector AC station with two Type 2 connectors, up to 43 kW shared, OCPP 1.6J and RFID, at IP54. The EVDANCE EV-RHDC30K-L is a compact DC charger at 22 kW DC with OCPP 1.6J — a destination and fleet unit, not a 150 kW corridor unit, and an honest application says so. Our commercial charging page sets out the range, and application questions can start via contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there one licence I apply for?
Usually not. There is no single charging-station licence in most places; the permission, utility, permit and funding route described here is how a project gets approved, piece by piece.
How long do the applications take?
It varies by project and by authority, and no honest guide can promise a timeline. The utility capacity answer is often the longest step, which is why it goes in first.
Can I apply for funding before the permits are granted?
Each programme sets its own order in its current manual. Some want permits in hand, others fund earlier stages. Read the manual for the round you are applying to before you sequence the work.
Related Reading
- How to Get an EV Charging Station License: Permits and Approvals
- How Much Does It Cost to Install a Commercial EV Charging Station?
- OCPP Explained: What Charge Point Operators Need From EV Charger Hardware
