Electrification Program
Electrification is an important part of reaching our climate and transportation goals. The Seattle Department of Transportation works in partnership with Seattle City Light and other departments to increase access to public electric vehicle (EV) charging and create programs that help Seattle residents and visitors use EVs throughout the city.
Expanding the program with the Seattle Transportation Levy
Seattle voters passed the Seattle Transportation Levy in 2024, marking a $1.55 billion investment in our transportation network over the next eight years. As a part of this, the Electrification Program will invest $32 million in public EV charging and new program offerings to support EV drivers. Current program offerings and support for EV drivers can be found below.
Curbside EV Charging Program
Many Seattle residents who live in apartments or rely on street parking often don’t have access to at-home EV charging. To address this gap, Seattle City Light and the Seattle Department of Transportation are partnering to install up to 200 new Level 2 curbside charging stations so more people can make the switch to EVs and have a reliable place to charge close to home.
We want to hear where you would like to see curbside EV chargers in your neighborhood. To learn more about the program and to apply for a charger in your neighborhood, visit the full Curbside Charging Program Webpage.
Charging at Seattle Parks, Community Centers, and Libraries
With Levy funding, we are working with City Light, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and Seattle Public Libraries to site EV chargers at local parks, community centers, and libraries. As new charging locations are selected and installed, you can find an updated list of locations below. Check out our map of all city-owned public chargers.
Upcoming Locations:
- University Branch Library, coming in December 2026
Cord Crossing Guidance for Residents using Level 1 Chargers
Many EV drivers do not have reliable charging solutions at home, especially residents who rely on street parking. To address this need, the Seattle Department of Transportation allows EV drivers to charge on-street with Level 1 (110-120V) chargers in single-family and multi-family zones. This guidance does not allow for Level 2 charging or permanent installation of equipment at the curb.
- A Street Use permit is not required to charge an EV on the street.
- If you have off street parking, please leave street space for other residents. This guidance applies to properties with an adjacent sidewalk.
- Please use a compliant ramp to safely cover your cord while it is on the sidewalk and charging your car.
- After you are done charging, remove your cord, ramp, and other equipment from the sidewalk space.
The image above shows a cross-section of an electrical vehicle charging cord covered by a ramp. The height dimension of the covered cord is .5", and the ramp extends 1” on either side of the cord to illustrate a 1:2 gradient. This illustrates the following guidance from our Client Assistance Memo:
If the total height of the equipment (both cord and ramp) does not exceed ½ inch, the following requirements apply:
- The ramp shall cover the charging cord completely across the sidewalk and can be no less than 4 feet in length.
- The ramp shall be no steeper than a 50% grade or 1:2 gradient.
To review the full guidance on acceptable cord covers and regulations, refer to our Client Assistance Memo for more information.
Creating Electrification with Community
We are working in partnership with other city departments to learn from our residents where electrification resources would support community need. If you are a community organization or stakeholder that have ideas on where charging would benefit Seattle, please reach out to SDOT staff at sdotelectrification@seattle.gov