San Francisco Introduced Legislation Creating the City’s First Permanent Curbside EV Charging Program

San Francisco could soon give residents without a driveway or garage a reliable way to charge their EVs on the street. Mayor Daniel Lurie, alongside Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, introduced legislation on March 10, 2026, to create the city’s first permanent curbside EV charging program, building on a temporary pilot launched in April 2025.

The proposal establishes a permitting pathway for charging stations at city curbs, with a goal of installing 100 curbside chargers across San Francisco by 2030. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority will lead the program and begin accepting applications from charging providers this summer. Companies would first apply to become approved vendors, then apply for permits at specific locations, a streamlined approach designed to cut through what has historically been a complicated process.

“For the first time, San Francisco will have a clear process to allow curbside EV chargers to be built across our neighborhoods,” Lurie said.

The initiative is aimed squarely at renters and apartment dwellers, who make up a large share of the city’s population but often lack access to home charging. San Francisco already has one of the highest EV adoption rates in the country, and curbside charging is intended to close the gap for those who have been left out. Local EV driver Ashkan Javaherian said he nearly sold his electric vehicle before discovering a pilot charger near his home, calling the expansion a step toward making EV ownership more accessible citywide.

Labor groups are ready to support the rollout. John Doherty of IBEW Local 6 noted that more than 700 union members are already certified through the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program.

San Francisco is also expanding charging elsewhere. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) recently secured a $5 million state grant to add off-street charging for its fleet vehicles, and expects public chargers in city garages to grow from 55 today to roughly 305 by fiscal year 2027.

Curbside EV Charging Comes to San Francisco, Thanks to innovative company it’s electric

San Francisco has already taken its first step toward neighborhood-level EV charging, with innovative curbside charging company it’s electric installing the city’s inaugural curbside chargers in the Duboce Triangle on April 25, 2025, closing out San Francisco Climate Week with a ribbon cutting ceremony. See EVinfo.net’s article.

The timing reflects real urgency. Roughly one in three new car sales in the city over the past two years has been electric, and public charging infrastructure has struggled to keep pace. Since 2019, San Francisco has grown its public charging ports by 470% to a citywide total of 1,152, yet the city has set an ambitious target of 1,760 public chargers by 2030.

Reaching that goal will require smarter deployment strategies that extend into more neighborhoods. Curbside charging is seen as a critical piece of that puzzle, opening the door to EV ownership for thousands of residents who lack access to a private garage or a conveniently located charging station.

First Mover for Curbside EV Charging in the US

it’s electric is a clear first mover for curbside EV charging in the United States. What distinguishes it’s electric’s approach is the installation method. Rather than cutting into streets, waiting on utility hookups, or placing additional strain on the grid, the company connects directly to a building’s existing electricity supply.

This allows chargers to go in without major construction or utility involvement, dramatically compressing timelines and reducing costs. Property owners pay nothing for installation or maintenance and can earn passive monthly income from hosting a unit. City agencies handle coordination, meaning no out-of-pocket expenses for building owners or local governments.

Mayor Daniel Lurie called the installation the first of many, crediting a new Emerging Technology Permit for streamlining the permitting process and accelerating deployment. it’s electric COO Tiya Gordon said the company is actively collecting and sharing pilot data with the city to inform a comprehensive, scalable curbside charging policy across all neighborhoods.

it’s electric offers innovative EV charging solutions like its Brooklyn-718, the first public EV charger with a detachable cable certified under UL standards. Detachable cables help prevent equipment damage, reduce cable theft, and keep sidewalks clear, solving major challenges in public charging.

San Francisco building owners, EV drivers, and aspiring EV drivers eager to bring curbside EV charging to their block can now join it’s electric’s waitlist.