Walnut Creek, CA

Walnut Creek, California became the second local government in California to earn Charging Smart designation, and the second Gold designee on the West Coast in 2025! Walnut Creek achieved this major milestone by adopting an EV-ready ordinance for new construction, installing widely accessible public EV chargers, electrifying municipal fleet vehicles, and more.

• Created an online permitting checklist, increasing transparency for community members and solar installers
• Reviewed local zoning codes and identified restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar development
• Allowed solar by-right accessory use in all zones (so solar installations don’t require special permits or hearings)
• Cross-trained both inspection and permitting staff on solar
• Provided a streamlined permitting pathway for small PV systems