NSW Strata EV Charger Rules: What Apartment Owners Need to Know in 2026
Law changed significantly from July 2025 — a simple majority now replaces the old 75% special resolution for EV charger approvals. Committees can no longer block installations on aesthetic grounds. Here’s the updated process, the NSW EV Ready Buildings Grant, and what documentation your electrician needs to provide for strata approval.
Primary sources: NSW Fair Trading strata living.
What Changed in NSW Strata Law From July 2025
The Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 was amended to include EV charging as sustainability infrastructure. Key changes:
- Simple majority vote. EV charger installations now pass with a simple majority (more than 50% in favour) instead of the old special resolution (75% required). This is a massive reduction in the approval barrier.
- No aesthetic blocking. Strata schemes can no longer create by-laws that block EV charger installation on aesthetic grounds alone. Safety and structural concerns remain valid objections — but "it doesn't look nice" is no longer a basis for refusal.
- Sustainability infrastructure resolution. EV chargers fall under the new sustainability infrastructure category, which has its own streamlined approval process distinct from general common-property modifications.
The Strata Approval Process — Step by Step
- Get an electrical assessment. A licensed electrician inspects the building's main switchboard, submains capacity, and your parking bay. They produce a report showing what work is needed and how it connects to the building's electrical infrastructure. Cost: $300–$800.
- Prepare the application package. Include: electrical assessment report, proposed charger specs, cable route plan, CCEW certification commitment, and any metering solution (if shared infrastructure). Your installer usually prepares this.
- Submit to the strata committee. The committee tables your application at the next general meeting — or calls an extraordinary general meeting if timing is urgent.
- Vote. Simple majority passes the resolution. If passed, the committee registers the sustainability infrastructure decision.
- Installation. Licensed electrical work, commissioned and tested. CCEW issued. Charger goes live.
Timeline: typically 4–8 weeks from application to commissioned charger, with most of that being the committee meeting schedule.
The NSW EV Ready Buildings Grant
The NSW Government's EV Ready Buildings Program funds strata schemes to install shared EV infrastructure:
- Stage 1: Flat $2,000 grant to assess and plan EV readiness for the building
- Stage 2: Co-funds up to 80% of installation costs, capped at $80,000 per building
If your building has 10+ parking spaces and hasn't done this yet, Stage 1 is essentially free planning. The grant covers the electrical assessment, load study, and infrastructure design — which is the most expensive part of getting a strata building EV-ready.
Details: energy.nsw.gov.au/strata
Common Areas vs Private Parking — Who Pays?
Three models exist in NSW strata:
- Individual charger, individual cost. You install a charger at your own parking spot, connected to your own electricity meter. You pay for install and running costs. Most common for single-bay installs.
- Individual charger, shared infrastructure. The OC installs shared electrical infrastructure (submains, distribution board) to a group of bays. Individual owners then connect their own chargers to the shared infrastructure. The OC pays for the shared part; owners pay for their individual charger. This is what the EV Ready Buildings Grant supports.
- OC-owned shared chargers. The OC installs chargers on common property for shared use by all residents. Usage is metered and billed back to users. Most complex to set up but fairest for buildings where not everyone wants a dedicated charger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my strata committee still block my EV charger in 2026?
Not on aesthetic grounds. Under the July 2025 amendments, strata schemes cannot block EV chargers as sustainability infrastructure based on appearance. They can only raise legitimate safety or structural concerns. And the approval threshold dropped from 75% special resolution to a simple majority.
How long does strata EV charger approval take in NSW?
Typically 4–8 weeks from application to installation. Most of that time is the committee meeting schedule. If an extraordinary general meeting is called specifically for the EV application, it can be faster. The installation itself takes 1 day.
What is the NSW EV Ready Buildings Grant?
A NSW Government program funding strata buildings to install shared EV infrastructure. Stage 1: $2,000 for assessment and planning. Stage 2: up to 80% co-funding, capped at $80,000 per building. Available for buildings with 10+ parking spaces.
Do I need my own electricity meter for an EV charger in strata?
For individual chargers on your own bay: ideally yes — a dedicated meter or sub-meter ensures you pay for your own charging, not the OC's common electricity bill. For shared charger setups: the OC manages metering and cost allocation. Your electrician can advise on the simplest metering solution for your building's setup.
Can I install a charger at my strata parking spot without approval?
No — even if the parking spot is allocated to your lot, the electrical infrastructure runs through common property (submains, risers, distribution boards). Any connection to the building's electrical system requires OC approval. Installing without approval risks a removal order and damages your relationship with the committee.
What does my electrician need to provide for strata approval?
An electrical assessment report showing: building switchboard capacity, proposed cable route, load impact on existing infrastructure, charger specifications, compliance with AS/NZS 3000, and a commitment to issue a CCEW on completion. Most EV charger installers prepare this as part of a strata assessment service.
Planning an EV charger install in your strata building?
We handle the full strata process — electrical assessment, application documentation, OC presentation support, compliant installation, and CCEW certification.