The growing number of electric cars on Polish roads means that the topic of charging infrastructure keeps coming back. New legal regulations regarding the presence of EV stations in residential and commercial buildings will revolutionize the current standards.
Owning an electric car provides great comfort when traveling over increasingly greater distances. Unfortunately, access to charging stations is not easy everywhere. That is why more and more people decide to install their own charger or use the points of large retail chains, such as Lidl or Biedronka. Until recently, it was vain to look for devices in their parking lots. This has been changed by the legal regulations introduced this year.
Stations in commercial parking lots
A major revolution was the legal regulations regarding parking lots adjacent to existing commercial buildings, such as shopping malls or service buildings. From 2024, such places, where 20 or more parking spaces are designated, must provide at least one EV charging station. And while last year companies did not have to hurry with this, from January 1, 2025, they face financial penalties for failure to comply with the obligation.
The situation is similar for new non-residential buildings, where there is 1 station for every 10 spaces. Owners of small and medium-sized enterprises can breathe a sigh of relief - this regulation does not apply to them. At least for now.
Charging in a multi-family building
The new regulations provide for the possibility of installing your own charger not only on your own property, but also in the case of a multi-family building, e.g. a block of flats. However, this option is subject to the requirement to install a separate meter that will indicate the level of electricity consumption for charging the car.
Another requirement that accompanies the installation of an EV station within a multi-family building is to obtain a number of consents: from the community board, if the power of the device does not exceed 11 W. Technical consent and a positive opinion of the community board, if the charger has power greater than 11 W.
Categories of charging devices
The categorization of EV chargers is also subject to legal restrictions. The law refers to charging points and publicly available and non-publicly available charging stations. Charging points may be part of the station or be an independent socket.
Some of the stations may be used to charge third-party vehicles, which means that they must be subject to regular tests conducted by the Office of Technical Inspection.
Non-publicly available stations are also subject to tests. The only exception is when the charger is used exclusively to charge its own fleet of vehicles. When it is used by different tenants, the facility must meet UDT requirements, including: in terms of safety.
🔋 What is changing from 2025?
- Mandatory installation of EV stations in commercial parking lots with 20+ spaces.
- New non-residential buildings: 1 station for every 10 parking spaces.
🏢 Residents of apartment blocks can also charge their cars!
- Possibility of installing a private charger in the garage or parking space.
- Community consent and a separate electricity meter required.
⚠️ Who needs to prepare?
- Owners of shopping malls, office buildings and new service facilities.
- Property managers must ensure compliance with UDT regulations.
💡 What chargers are subject to inspection?
- Publicly accessible and shared charging stations.
- Devices used by multiple tenants in one facility.
❓ FAQ – frequently asked questions:
- Will a charging station be mandatory for every apartment building from 2025?
No. The obligation applies mainly to new investments and non-residential buildings. In multi-family buildings, it is possible to install a charger individually after meeting certain requirements. - Can the owner of an apartment in a block of flats install their own charger?
Yes, but it is necessary to install a separate meter and obtain the appropriate consents from the housing community, especially if the power of the device exceeds 11 kW. - What are the risks for companies that do not install a charging station in the car park by 2025?
From 1 January 2025, they are at risk of financial penalties for failing to comply with the obligation resulting from the regulations. - Is a charger used only for private purposes subject to UDT?
No, if the charger is used only for charging own vehicles. In the case of sharing it with other users - UDT obligations apply.
