Do ADUs require EV charger conduit?

In most California ADU projects, yes — new residential construction, including ADUs, is generally required to provide for electric-vehicle charging on the electrical plans. The minimum is usually EV-ready infrastructure: a conduit pathway from the panel to a designated charging location plus a reserved breaker space. Some jurisdictions require more.

The three levels of requirement

Which tier applies depends on your city's reach code, so this is a verify-with-your-jurisdiction item. Missing EV provisions is one of the more frequent electrical plan-check corrections in California, which is why we show the conduit run, the charging location, and the reserved circuit on every set.

Why it affects panel sizing

A Level 2 charger runs at 240V and typically needs a 40–50A dedicated circuit. If your jurisdiction requires EV-capable or an installed charger, that load is included at full rating in the Article 220 calculation — which is a major reason all-electric ADUs with EV charging trend toward 150–200A service. Reserving the space and sizing for it up front avoids re-running the load calc and upgrading the panel later.

Install during construction, not after

• During construction: roughly $500–$1,500 to run conduit and reserve capacity while walls are open.
• As a retrofit: typically $2,000–$5,000 once walls are closed and finishes are in.

Beyond the cost gap, retrofitting risks running out of panel capacity: if the load calc was done without the charger, adding 40–50A later can force a panel or even a service upgrade that a little foresight would have avoided.

Plan-set checklist

• Reserved two-pole breaker space shown on the panel schedule.
• Conduit routed from the panel to the charging location (garage wall, carport, or driveway-adjacent exterior wall).
• EV load included at full rating in the Article 220 calculation when EV-capable or installed.
• Charging location coordinated with the architectural plans so it doesn't conflict with parking or doors.

Picking the charging location

Because the conduit and (for EV-capable) the conductors are run during framing, the charging spot has to be chosen before walls close. A few practical pointers:

• Locate it within reach of where the EV will actually park — garage interior wall, carport post, or an exterior wall adjacent to the driveway.
• Keep the conduit run as short and direct as practical to the panel to control conductor cost and voltage drop.
• Coordinate the location with the architectural and site plans so it doesn't land behind a swinging door, a parked car's path, or required clearances.
• If the ADU shares a driveway with the main house, confirm whose panel the charger draws from — it affects both load calcs.

Requirements vary by jurisdiction — confirm whether your city requires EV-ready, EV-capable, or an installed charger with your local building department.

Our electrical plans show the EV conduit and reserved circuit so it clears plan check the first time.