Electric Vehicles
& Charging Outside Units

Florida protects qualifying owner installations

Under § 718.113(8), a board cannot prohibit an owner’s qualifying charger within the owner’s limited common element or exclusively designated parking area. The protection is subject to statutory conditions.

Electricity must be separately or embedded-metered and paid by the owner. The owner bears installation, operation, maintenance, repair, insurance, and eventual removal costs. The law allows genuine safety requirements and reasonable architectural standards that do not prohibit installation or substantially increase cost, plus specified contractor and insurance requirements.

The statute also provides an implied easement across common elements for installation and power supply, subject to its requirements. Section 718.113(9) permits association-operated shared stations and user charges.

Source: Florida Statutes § 718.113(8)–(9). Counsel should review the proposed location and lawful conditions.

Can I install a charger outside my unit?

Possibly—but proximity to the unit is only one part of the analysis. A wall, lawn, walkway, or parking space may belong to the common elements or another entity. Determine the charging equipment’s location, cable route, power source, and the owner’s rights to the parking area.

Do not begin drilling, trenching, or attaching equipment based on a verbal conversation alone. Use a documented proposal and coordinated review.

Safe charging starts with thoughtful planning.

Understand the charging options

DC fast charging is a different infrastructure project and should not be assumed practical for a small association. Public charging can provide an alternative while a home installation is evaluated.

A practical installation-review checklist

1. Map the location and rights. Include the unit, parking space, mounting point, proposed cable/conduit route, and relevant parking documents.
2. Use a qualified electrical contractor. Request a load assessment, equipment specifications, outdoor rating, protective features, and a plan for future charging demand.
3. Confirm permits and inspections. Ask Palm Beach County’s Building Division what applies to the specific electrical work. Association approval does not replace governmental authorization.
4. Explain how electricity is measured and billed. Identify the supply, meter arrangement, payment responsibility, and ongoing administrative costs.
5. Review insurance and responsibility. Document maintenance, damage repair, restoration, removal, and applicable insurance conditions with the association’s advisers.
6. Coordinate physical work. Plan access, outages, trenching, waterproofing, and restoration. Keep pedestrian and emergency routes usable.
7. Keep the completed file. Retain approvals, permits, inspection results, contractor details, equipment information, and the agreement governing ongoing responsibilities.

These are recommended planning steps, not a substitute for the statute. Conditions should support a lawful, safe installation rather than become a disguised blanket ban.

Could the association install shared charging?

A shared station may suit a site with unassigned parking or several interested residents. Compare demand and total ownership costs before committing.

• Electrical capacity: service upgrades, load management, and future expansion.
• Costs: equipment, installation, permits, electricity, networking, billing, maintenance, and replacement.
• Access: resident or guest use, parking allocation, accessible routes, and charger availability.
• Operating rules: charging hours, time limits, completed-session parking, and reporting damaged equipment.
• Contracts: service obligations, fees, data handling, warranties, termination, and who owns the equipment.

Have counsel confirm the decision and funding procedure. Verify who controls the land and electrical service; an association should not assume it can install equipment on property operated by another organization.

Fair access. Clear costs. Reliable maintenance.

Charging safety matters

• Use appropriately safety-certified equipment installed for the conditions where it will operate.
• Follow vehicle and charger manufacturer instructions.
• Do not use extension cords or multi-plug adapters for EV charging.
• Stop using equipment with visible damage and arrange qualified inspection.
• Protect charging equipment from vehicle impacts and keep walkways clear.
• After flooding, impact, overheating, or storm damage, obtain professional guidance before reuse.

Source: U.S. Fire Administration EV charging safety. Site planning recommendations supplement the agency’s guidance.

Owning an electric vehicle does not resolve every charging or parking question. Review vehicle use and installation separately. E-bikes, scooters, and golf carts may involve different equipment and rules.

Questions residents often ask

Official resources

Florida Statutes § 718.113 · Condominium charging installations.

DOE multifamily charging resources · Planning for condominiums and apartments.

U.S. Fire Administration · EV charging safety.

Palm Beach County Planning, Zoning & Building · Permit and inspection guidance.

Reviewed October 17, 2026. Educational guidance; obtain electrical, permit, insurance, and legal review for the proposed installation. No current Century Village charger locations are asserted.

Plan for the charger after installation

Keep the approved location, parking rights, electrical design, metering and billing arrangement, permit closeout, maintenance duties, insurance terms, and removal or restoration obligations in one file.

• Identify the person responsible for faults and emergency shutdown coordination.
• Record inspections, servicing, damage reports, and billing questions.
• Review account and vendor access when management changes.
• Document how a sale or change of user affects the arrangement.

Use qualified electrical personnel for faults and changes. An installed charger does not authorize a different parking allocation, an unsafe cord route, or unmetered use of shared electricity.

Connected resources

• Second-car parking options →
• Wind mitigation reports →
• Permits →
• Contractor verification →
• Understanding UCO and separate community responsibilities →