Mayor Lurie Takes Major Step to Expand Curbside Electric Vehicle Charging in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today launched San Francisco’s Curbside Electric Vehicle Charging Program, unlocking opportunities for curbside charging at locations across the city. As curbside charging becomes more broadly available, electric vehicle ownership will become more accessible for more San Franciscans, especially those who live in multifamily buildings or do not have private garages—empowering more San Franciscans to use clean energy and helping the city work towards its climate goals. The program’s launch delivers on legislation introduced by Mayor Lurie and Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman in March, which passed the Board of Supervisors earlier this year. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is now accepting permit applications under the new program.

The new curbside electric vehicle charging program continues Mayor Lurie’s progress under the city’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) to lower household costs, reduce emissions, and build a healthier, more resilient San Francisco. In April, Mayor Lurie released the first CAP update in five years and signed legislation updating the city’s official climate goals to align with the new plan, reinforcing the city’s place as a leader on sustainability and climate innovation. Under Mayor Lurie’s Family Opportunity Agenda, the city is also lowering costs for families by expanding access to childcare, building more housing through the Family Zoning plan, and advancing a transformative investment in affordable housing. The curbside charging program builds on that work, giving families more affordable transportation choices by making electric vehicle ownership a more practical option.  

“Starting today, San Francisco has a clear process to bring accessible curbside charging to our residents. This program is a common-sense way to make it easier for San Franciscans to own an electric vehicle and help us achieve our climate goals together,” said Mayor Lurie. “Curbside charging will help families save money and do their part to improve air quality—making our city more affordable, more resilient, and cleaner. We are excited for families to benefit from the convenience of new curbside chargers, and I want to thank President Mandelman for his leadership in getting us here.”

“With today's launch, years of feasibility studies, rallies, hearings, and pilot chargers are turning into a real, citywide program,” said President Mandelman. “For San Franciscans without a driveway or a garage, this permitting process will make owning an EV more accessible. My thanks to Mayor Lurie for partnering with the Board to build this program, and to SFMTA for getting it off the ground.”

The Curbside Electric Vehicle Charging Program formalizes a pilot program that brought the city’s first curbside chargers online in April 2025. The pilot confirmed that charger availability remains one of the biggest barriers to wider electric vehicle adoption, while also revealing neighborhood-level demand and informing the city’s approach to grid access and readiness. It also helped city agencies refine the site selection process, reduce regulatory complexity, and better understand the feasibility of different charging technologies ahead of the program’s formal launch. The pilot also underscored the importance of community engagement, leading the city to require vendors to conduct outreach as part of the permitting process. As part of the Climate Action Plan, the city’s goal is to have 100 curbside electric vehicle charging stations by 2030.

The permitting process will consist of two phases, including an initial screening where SFTMA staff will evaluate each application for the company’s experience, qualifications, financial readiness, and ability to meet reliability requirements, among other criteria, before issuing an operator permit to explore potential site locations. After securing an operator permit, qualified companies will need to obtain a site permit for each proposed location. Applications for a site permit must include details on the specific site plan, installation, infrastructure, and equipment specifics, as well as a neighborhood outreach plan to ensure that chargers are deployed where there is demand.

“The full launch of the Curbside EV Charging program will let us apply the valuable lessons learned during the year-long pilot citywide,” said Julie Kirschbaum, SFMTA Director of Transportation. “We heard from the community that one of the biggest barriers to wider EV ownership is the availability of charging stations. With this new program, we will be making it easier for people who rent or live in apartments and condos to charge their car.”

“Through CleanPowerSF and Hetch Hetchy Power, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission provides about 75% of the electricity used in the city. Expanding curbside electric vehicle charging gives more residents, especially those without access to charging at home, a practical way to use that clean electricity instead of gasoline,” said Dennis Herrera, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission General Manager. “As more San Franciscans make the switch to electric vehicles, this is a great way to make clean, convenient charging options more accessible in neighborhoods across the city.”

As part of the launch of the Curbside Electric Vehicle Charging Program, the San Francisco Environment Department has created a new feedback tool for residents to recommend locations for new publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations in the city. Residents can explore the map, then nominate potential sites for charging infrastructure. Resident input will inform city planning efforts and help improve access to electric vehicle charging across the city.

“For San Franciscans without a garage or driveway, access to charging can determine whether going electric is even practical,” said Tyrone Jue, Director of the San Francisco Environment Department. “We’re now moving from testing curbside charging toward building a reliable network that gives more residents the opportunity to choose electric and helps cut transportation pollution.” 

The Curbside Electric Vehicle Charging Program was developed with additional support from San Francisco Public Works, the Office on Disability and Accessibility, the City Attorney’s Office, San Francisco County Transportation Authority, and PG&E.