Is a permit required for an EV charger in a Vancouver condo parkade?

Yes, a permit is almost certainly required — and in a Vancouver condo parkade, you're actually dealing with two separate approval processes before a single wire gets run.

The first hurdle is your strata corporation. Before any electrical work begins, you need written approval from your strata council. Under the Strata Property Act, the parkade is common property, which means you cannot make alterations to it — including running conduit or installing a dedicated circuit — without strata authorization. Many stratas in Metro Vancouver now have EV charging policies in place (or are developing them), so start by reviewing your bylaws and submitting a written request to your strata council. Some stratas have negotiated bulk EV charging programs with providers like FLO, ChargePoint, or Swtch Energy, which can be more cost-effective than individual installations.

The second approval is the electrical permit itself. In BC, all EV charger installations require a permit and inspection through Technical Safety BC (TSBC). This is non-negotiable — it's not optional even for a Level 2 charger. The work must be performed by a licensed electrical contractor registered with TSBC. A homeowner cannot pull their own electrical permit for a strata parkade (and frankly, even on your own house, EV charger wiring is not a DIY job given the dedicated 240V circuit requirements). Once the work is complete, TSBC will inspect and approve the installation before it's energized.

On the City of Vancouver building permit side, a standalone EV charger installation in an existing parkade typically does not require a separate City building permit — the TSBC electrical permit covers it. However, if the project involves significant panel upgrades, structural penetrations, or is part of a larger parkade retrofit, your electrical contractor should confirm with the City's building department (call 311 to verify).

Typical costs in Metro Vancouver for a single Level 2 EV charger (240V, 40-50A circuit) in a condo parkade run roughly $1,500–$3,500 installed, depending on how far your stall is from the electrical panel, whether the panel has capacity, and conduit routing complexity. If the parkade panel needs upgrading to accommodate multiple chargers, costs can climb significantly — a full multi-unit EV charging infrastructure retrofit can run $20,000–$80,000+ for the building, sometimes shared across owners or funded through a special levy.

Your next steps: First, check your strata bylaws for any existing EV charging policy. Second, submit a written request to your strata council for approval. Third, once approved, get 2-3 quotes from licensed electrical contractors who have experience with strata EV installations — ask specifically if they'll handle the TSBC permit. You can find qualified electricians through the Vancouver Construction Network directory. Also worth checking: CleanBC Better Homes (betterhomesbc.ca or 1-844-881-9790) occasionally has rebates or programs related to EV charging infrastructure that may apply to your situation.