Can you install an EV charger in a condo?

EV charger in a condo: what the rules say

You cannot add a charger to a condo carpark on your own, because the carpark is common property. The management corporation strata title (MCST) decides whether chargers are installed there, so a charger needs a proposal that owners vote on at a general meeting.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) explains the voting rules in its Electric vehicle guide for MCSTs. Since 2023, amendments to the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act have lowered the vote needed for EV charger installation proposals in strata developments to an ordinary resolution, which is a simple majority of votes at a meeting. LTA says the same lower threshold applies to proposals to uninstall chargers and to by-laws on EV charging lots.

Two conditions come with the lower threshold. LTA's guide says the lease with the charging operator must not exceed 10 years, and the proposal must not draw on MCST funds. If a proposal does not meet both conditions, ask your management office which vote applies. The decision rests with the MCST and the owners, not with a single resident or an installer.

For how MCST approval works on other jobs, see our guide to condo renovation rules.

Approved and registered chargers

The charger itself is regulated too. On its page on the registration of EV chargers, LTA says new chargers must be type approved by LTA before they can be installed, certified and registered. Approved chargers carry an approval label, and buyers should make sure the label is on the charger.

Registration comes before first use. LTA says charger owners must make sure their chargers are registered with LTA before use, and allowing an unregistered charger to be used may be an offence.

LTA's guide for MCSTs explains how. Registration is done through OneMotoring, using the charger's type approval ID, and the registration mark must be affixed within 60 days of registration. If an operator installs chargers under a lease with the MCST, ask who will be the registered owner. Keep the type approval ID and registration details with the charger's paperwork.

Who installs and checks it

LTA says installation, certification, periodic inspection and maintenance of chargers are done by Licensed Electrical Workers (LEWs) and charger equipment specialists, and owners can engage any LEW licensed by the Energy Market Authority (EMA). Before any electrical work starts, EMA says to verify the LEW's licence card, which shows a photograph, name, identity card number and licence number. You can also search licensed workers on EMA's ELISE portal.

Start with power. Before chargers are deployed, LTA's guide for MCSTs advises checking with the building facilities manager whether there is enough spare power, and hiring an LEW to assess power capacity at the substation and switch room. Get this answer before a proposal goes to a vote, so owners know what the building can support.

EMA requires electrical works at consumers' premises to be carried out by LEWs, and the LEW inspects and certifies that the installation is safe before supply is turned on. The class of LEW depends on the scale of the installation, as EMA's guide to engaging LEWs explains, so ask which class of licence the LEW holds.

For other electrical jobs at home, see which electrical jobs are LEW work.

How to raise it with your MCST

These are practical steps, not rules from any agency. Before you raise an MCST EV charger proposal, find out what is already planned.

1. Ask the management office whether chargers are already planned for the carpark.
2. Check whether a charging operator has already proposed an installation, and ask to see the terms, including the lease length.
3. If nothing is planned, put a written proposal to the council for the next general meeting, such as the annual general meeting (AGM). If you want it to pass by ordinary resolution, check that it meets the conditions in LTA's guide.
4. Ask the LEW who assesses power capacity to give you the result in writing, so the council and other owners can see what the building can support.

Keep copies of what you send and receive, so the council and owners work from the same information. If you are unsure whether an issue is yours or the MCST's to handle, see HDB or condo repairs for who to ask.

Finding an electrician

There are no published EV charger rates in the directory, so this page shows no prices. The price depends on the job.

The directory lists electrical companies with their published prices for other jobs, the areas they say they cover and links to their sources. For a charger, ask for quotes from LEWs who install chargers, and ask whether each quote covers the capacity assessment, certification and help with registration.

To check that someone holds a licence first, start with licensed electricians. For what other electrical jobs cost, see electrician costs.

Questions