Dublin EV Owners Face Refusal for On-Street Chargers Amid Regulatory Review
A Dublin EV owner was denied permission for his on-street charging arm, highlighting a broader issue for residents without off-street parking. Another owner has appealed a similar refusal. The government is drafting legislation to permit cross-pavement charging and reviewing regulations to expand exempted developments, with updates expected by 2026.
An electric vehicle (EV) owner in Dublin was refused planning permission last month to retain his on-street charging arm, which he has tried to keep for three years. His home is in a Victorian neighborhood with conservation rules, where removing railings for off-street parking is generally denied. His only option was an EV charging arm, a unit with a retractable gantry and power cable extending over the footpath to his car.
Dublin City Council's Transportation Planning Division cited concerns about private EV charging relying on public roads, despite the planner noting the gantry's slender, black finish was consistent with the area's character. The council's EV strategy states that charging for users without off-street parking will be provided by council-led neighborhood charging, which the homeowner says is currently nonexistent. He expressed frustration, stating that without the charger, he would have to switch back to a petrol car.
Another EV owner has appealed Dublin City Council's refusal to declare her charging arm an exempted development, with An Coimisiún Pleanála due to decide next month. The Irish EV Association advocates for a «right to charge,» similar to other EU countries. The Department of Transport's draft EV charging infrastructure strategy for 2026-2028 acknowledges that cross-pavement charging is currently not permitted due to private wires legislation, but new legislation is being drafted. A proposed option involves homeowners installing cables through narrow footpath channels at their own expense, a method being piloted in Northern Ireland since October. EV owners in the Republic fear this could be costly and protracted. The Government is also reviewing exempted development regulations, with an updated list expected across 2026, potentially including more charging options.