Apartment EV Charging: Why Permission and Wiring Matter

Published 3 Oct 2025

Apartment EV charging is an infrastructure and permission problem before it is a charger problem. Unlike a standalone home where you can plug a portable EVSE into a garage socket tonight, an apartment requires: access to the car park, a power source at the parking bay, permission from the owners' corporation (strata), and — for a dedicated charger — professional installation. Understanding which of these barriers exist at your building is the first step.

The three barriers, in order

Barrier 1: Access to a power source at the parking bay

Many apartment car parks have no power at all near individual bays. Some have common power points for car park lighting or cleaning equipment — these are not available for individual resident use.

Check: is there a power point within extension cord reach of your parking bay? If yes, ask building management whether residents are permitted to use it and what the load limits are.

If a power point is accessible and permitted: a portable EVSE can charge from it. A 10A standard socket adds ~13km of range per hour. Overnight charging (8–10 hours) adds 100–130km — sufficient for most urban daily driving.

Barrier 2: Owners' corporation permission

Installing a dedicated EV charger in an apartment building requires drilling into walls, running cable, and modifying common electrical infrastructure — all of which require owners' corporation approval.

The permission process:

1. Submit a written request to the strata manager or owners' corporation committee

2. The request typically goes to a general meeting for a vote

3. Approval may require a simple majority (50%+1) or special resolution (75%) depending on the state and whether the work is on common property

4. Conditions may include cost responsibility, metering arrangements and what happens when you sell

Note on right-to-charge legislation: some states have introduced or are introducing legislation that prevents owners' corporations from unreasonably refusing EV charger installation requests. The specific rules vary by state and are evolving. Verify current legislation in your state before assuming approval is either required or not.

Barrier 3: Wiring and metering

Even with permission, the technical solution depends on the building's electrical infrastructure:

Option A — Individual sub-meter: a licensed electrician runs a dedicated circuit from the building's switchboard to the parking bay, with a separate meter for the EV charger. The resident pays for power used at their tariff rate. This is the cleanest solution — costs typically $2,000–$5,000+ depending on the cable run distance.

Option B — Shared infrastructure: the building installs shared EV chargers (multiple bays with a managed charging system) billed per use. This is increasingly common in new buildings; retrofitting is a larger project.

Option C — No fixed charger: the resident relies on portable EVSE from an accessible socket (if permitted), public charging networks, or workplace charging.

The portable EVSE as a starting point

For apartments where dedicated installation is not yet resolved, a portable EVSE provides charging capability now while the longer process unfolds.

What to check before using it:

• Building management permission to use the power point
• Extension cord rating — use a heavy-duty outdoor-rated cord if needed
• Circuit load — a standard 10A circuit supports one EVSE; do not daisy-chain power boards

A portable EVSE travels with the car — it can also charge at friends' properties, holiday rentals and anywhere a standard socket is accessible.

Browse EV Charging Accessories for portable EVSE cables suited to apartment and shared-access charging.