NSW Strata EV Charger Rules: What Apartment Owners Need to Know in 2026
Since 2021 an EV charger has counted as sustainability infrastructure under NSW strata law — the resolution passes unless more than half the votes cast are against it, not the old 75% special resolution — and from 1 July 2025 committees can no longer block installations on aesthetic grounds. Here’s the updated process, what happened to the NSW EV Ready Buildings Grant (closed to new applications in December 2023), and what documentation your electrician needs to provide for strata approval.
Primary sources: NSW Fair Trading strata living.
Strata-heavy suburbs where we handle the by-law paperwork as part of the job: EV charger installation in Bondi Junction · North Sydney · Chatswood.
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:
- Sustainability infrastructure resolution. EV charger installations pass unless more than 50% of the votes cast are against them (Strata Schemes Management Act 2015, s132B, in force since 2021) instead of the old special resolution (75% required). This is a large 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. The resolution passes unless more than half the votes cast are against it. 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 — closed
Many strata committees still ask about the NSW Government's EV Ready Buildings grant. It closed to new applications on 15 December 2023 and nothing has replaced it. While it ran, it funded strata schemes to install shared EV infrastructure in two stages:
- Stage 1: a flat $2,000 grant to assess and plan EV readiness for the building
- Stage 2: co-funding of up to 80% of installation costs, capped at $80,000 per building
If your building missed that window, the realistic position in 2026 is that the owners corporation funds the shared infrastructure itself — and there is no NSW rebate for a home charger either. The good news is that the approval hurdle is lower than for other common-property works: the resolution passes unless more than half the votes cast are against it. Stage the works (assessment and load study first, submains and distribution later) so the committee is voting on a costed plan rather than an open-ended commitment.
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 the model the (now closed) EV Ready Buildings Grant was built around.
- 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 is a sustainability infrastructure resolution — it fails only if more than half the votes cast are against it — rather than a 75% special resolution.
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.
Is the NSW EV Ready Buildings Grant still open?
No — it closed to new applications on 15 December 2023 and has not been replaced. While it ran it paid a $2,000 Stage 1 assessment grant and up to 80% co-funding, capped at $80,000 per building, for shared strata infrastructure. There is also no NSW rebate for a home charger. An EV charging proposal is a sustainability infrastructure resolution, so it passes unless more than half the votes cast are against it.
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.