Where EV Charging Approvals Are Already Happening

Opening Insight

Most EV infrastructure conversations start with the wrong question. Companies ask which cities want EV charging. The better question: which cities are already spending money on it?

We analyzed the political records of 62 municipalities across five states – Texas, Florida, North Carolina, California, and Arizona- tracking every mention of electric vehicle infrastructure across 25,000+ public meetings. The data sorts into three tiers, and the boundaries between them are sharper than most operators expect.

Nine municipalities have moved past discussion into active procurement. They’re writing purchase orders, submitting federal grant applications, and executing vendor framework agreements. Houston authorized a $15 million USDOT grant application for public charging deployment. Pinellas County reallocated $7.3 million in ARPA funds to a countywide EV infrastructure master plan. Missouri City approved a framework agreement with OnPoint EV Solutions, unanimously, to build and maintain charging stations across city properties.

Eight more municipalities have embedded EV requirements directly into their zoning ordinances and building codes. In these markets, EV charging isn’t a policy goal. It’s a permit condition. Every new development application triggers compliance.

The remaining 45 municipalities are still talking. Some are talking a lot. Morrisville, NC leads the dataset with 711 EV mentions across 2,221 meetings, and zero procurement dollars committed. Cary logs 3.87 EV mentions per meeting, the highest density in the dataset, but the references are procedural site plan language, not budget decisions.

The gap between mentions and money is the signal. Political talk is not political will. The data shows exactly where that line has been crossed.

Market Snapshot

Houston, TX – $15M committed, procurement underway

Houston authorized a $15 million application to the USDOT Charging and Fueling Infrastructure grant program in August 2023, spanning deployment through December 2027. The city logged 78 EV mentions across 424 meetings, modest volume, but with a federal grant application attached. The spending is real and the timeline is public.

Population: 2.3M | Median household income: $62,894

Chandler, AZ – Building an EV mandate without passing one

Chandler has no blanket EV ordinance. Instead, it’s attaching EV requirements to individual development approvals through planning stipulations. The Price Road Tech Campus rezoning required a minimum 3% of parking as EV charging stations. The Nirvana residential project was stipulated to pre-wire all units and provide a minimum of two stations. A new Costco was required to provide six EV stations after a council member negotiated the condition directly with the applicant. The city granted an $18,500 high-voltage power easement to SRP specifically to accommodate EV charging at an Amazon facility. A Sustainability & Technology Subcommittee now carries “Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy” as a standing agenda item. No single vote created this. The pattern built deal by deal.

Population: 278,123 | Median household income: $103,691

Missouri City, TX – Framework agreement, unanimous vote

Missouri City authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a framework agreement with OnPoint EV Solutions for construction and maintenance of EV charging stations across city properties in March 2025. Approved unanimously. The city is simultaneously updating its zoning ordinance to define EV charging stations, permit them in all districts, and establish screening and safety standards. Ninety-two EV mentions across just 120 meetings, 0.77 per meeting, one of the highest densities in the Texas dataset.

Population: 75,234 | Median household income: $96,746

What This Means for Operators

For EV charging companies and electrical contractors: The nine Active Demand municipalities have budget authority and political cover. Houston, Pinellas County, and Missouri City are in procurement cycles now. Lewisville and Johnston County used grant funds – the procurement path is already cleared. These are not speculative markets.

For commercial developers: In the eight Code-Driven markets, EV infrastructure is a site plan cost, not an amenity decision. McKinney lists EV charging as a required multifamily amenity. Apex has integrated EV diagrams and standards into its UDO. Price it in at underwriting, not at permit review.

For site selectors and land teams: The political record distinguishes between markets that talk about EV and markets that fund it. Morrisville’s 711 mentions sound impressive until you compare them to Missouri City’s 92 mentions backed by a unanimous framework agreement. Mention counts without procurement signals are noise.

For everyone tracking timelines: Watch the Emerging tier. Surprise, AZ just accepted a $100,000 MAG grant for a siting plan. Gilbert approved a siting study on a 6-1 vote over active council opposition. St. Petersburg logged 98 EV mentions with strong sustainability language but no procurement. These are the next markets to cross the line, and the political record will show it before the press release does.

Full Study Link

Access the complete EV Momentum Index – 62 municipalities, five states, full tier breakdowns, and individual municipality profiles with political record citations.

This report scratches the surface of EV requirements and momentum nationwide. If you need deeper insights, contact [charlie@yokleyes.com](mailto:charlie@yokleyes.com).

Political intelligence isn’t optional. It’s underwriting.