Building Electrification

On June 20, 2023, the Village of Oak Park's Board of Trustees adopted an all-electric new construction ordinance as part of the building code. According to the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA), this makes Oak Park the first municipality in Illinois, and all of the Midwest, to pass an electrification ordinance. The new ordinance, which only impacts newly constructed buildings at this time, will go into effect on January 1, 2024.

Electrification is one steps identified as necessary to achieve community-wide net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 as set forth in the Climate Ready Oak Park plan adopted in 2022.

Questions

Do you have a question about the new electrification ordinance? Please submit it here and member of the Village staff will respond as soon as possible.

Share Are tandem circuit breakers allowed in electrical panels in Oak Park? on Facebook Share Are tandem circuit breakers allowed in electrical panels in Oak Park? on Twitter Share Are tandem circuit breakers allowed in electrical panels in Oak Park? on Linkedin Email Are tandem circuit breakers allowed in electrical panels in Oak Park? link

Are tandem circuit breakers allowed in electrical panels in Oak Park?

Eric Veith asked about 2 months ago

Thanks for contacting us with your question. Tandem breakers are only allowed if the manufacturer allows them in the panel. The buss has to be dual rated. For more information call 708.358.5420 or email permits@oak-park.us
Share for a new garage am i required to install a car charging station? on Facebook Share for a new garage am i required to install a car charging station? on Twitter Share for a new garage am i required to install a car charging station? on Linkedin Email for a new garage am i required to install a car charging station? link

for a new garage am i required to install a car charging station?

derrick asked 8 months ago

Yes, the electrification ordinance does require an EV charging station in new garages if the new garage is part of the construction of a new residential building.
The ordinance states that "New residential buildings shall be designed and constructed as follows... Chapter 7, Article 6, Section X301.1 (7) states: “ A building shall contain at least one level 2 electric vehicle charging station at one parking location if a building contains a parking space/garage." The "station" can be of any device that an EV can attached. This means that a simple EV rated outlet with proper wiring to the service panel would suffice, such as the one attached.
The EV charging station requirement also applies to commercial buildings for new construction only, and it is "A minimum of one Level 2 electric vehicle charging station at each onsite parking area shall be installed for every 5 parking spaces. One charging station may serve an adjacent pair of spaces. Electrical vehicle charging stations in Group R-3 and R-4 occupancies are not required." The Village's electrification ordinance requires one level 2 charging station installed in garages for new construction single-family homes.
The Illinois Electric Vehicle Charging Act was adopted shortly after our electrification ordinance passed, and between the two laws, there are different requirements depending on the building type and size.”
For more information, you can contact 708.358.5430 or email permits@oak-park.us.
Share Following up on Tom's question below. We know that once a house hits a renovation threshold of 50.1% the existing building code amendments require fire sprinklers similar to if the house was new construction. Wondering if there would / could be reason to have the new electrification codes to apply in the same manner? Otherwise the new code will only go so far. on Facebook Share Following up on Tom's question below. We know that once a house hits a renovation threshold of 50.1% the existing building code amendments require fire sprinklers similar to if the house was new construction. Wondering if there would / could be reason to have the new electrification codes to apply in the same manner? Otherwise the new code will only go so far. on Twitter Share Following up on Tom's question below. We know that once a house hits a renovation threshold of 50.1% the existing building code amendments require fire sprinklers similar to if the house was new construction. Wondering if there would / could be reason to have the new electrification codes to apply in the same manner? Otherwise the new code will only go so far. on Linkedin Email Following up on Tom's question below. We know that once a house hits a renovation threshold of 50.1% the existing building code amendments require fire sprinklers similar to if the house was new construction. Wondering if there would / could be reason to have the new electrification codes to apply in the same manner? Otherwise the new code will only go so far. link

Following up on Tom's question below. We know that once a house hits a renovation threshold of 50.1% the existing building code amendments require fire sprinklers similar to if the house was new construction. Wondering if there would / could be reason to have the new electrification codes to apply in the same manner? Otherwise the new code will only go so far.

dburke asked about 1 year ago

Thanks for your question and feedback. At this time this electrification code only applies to entirely new structures, not gut jobs, interior alterations, or remodels, etc. For further discussion of the electrification ordinance, you are welcome to contact Chief Building Official Steve Cutaia at scutaia@oak-park.us.
Share I am grateful for Oak Park's leadership on the electrification ordinance for construction. Is there a plan in place to electrify the city's car fleet? Police & public works vehicles would be the best candidates. It is understandable that Fire and Ambulance is still a long ways away as those are specialty vehicles. on Facebook Share I am grateful for Oak Park's leadership on the electrification ordinance for construction. Is there a plan in place to electrify the city's car fleet? Police & public works vehicles would be the best candidates. It is understandable that Fire and Ambulance is still a long ways away as those are specialty vehicles. on Twitter Share I am grateful for Oak Park's leadership on the electrification ordinance for construction. Is there a plan in place to electrify the city's car fleet? Police & public works vehicles would be the best candidates. It is understandable that Fire and Ambulance is still a long ways away as those are specialty vehicles. on Linkedin Email I am grateful for Oak Park's leadership on the electrification ordinance for construction. Is there a plan in place to electrify the city's car fleet? Police & public works vehicles would be the best candidates. It is understandable that Fire and Ambulance is still a long ways away as those are specialty vehicles. link

I am grateful for Oak Park's leadership on the electrification ordinance for construction. Is there a plan in place to electrify the city's car fleet? Police & public works vehicles would be the best candidates. It is understandable that Fire and Ambulance is still a long ways away as those are specialty vehicles.

kfroche2 asked about 1 year ago

Thanks for your feedback and your question. The Village employs 17 all-electric sedans as part its fleet of vehicles used by employees who must drive around Oak Park on official duty as part of the normal work day. Plans are in place to continue to purcase electric vehicles to replace vehicles that have reached the end of their lifespan. The Village also employs dozens of other hybrid vehicles, and most of its heavy-duty equipment such as fire trucks and snow plows run on B20 fuel, a lower-emission diesel fuel made in part from agriculture waste products.
Share Does this mean the HVAC furnace, Clothes Dryer, Stove, and Hot Water Tank must all be electric and use no gas? on Facebook Share Does this mean the HVAC furnace, Clothes Dryer, Stove, and Hot Water Tank must all be electric and use no gas? on Twitter Share Does this mean the HVAC furnace, Clothes Dryer, Stove, and Hot Water Tank must all be electric and use no gas? on Linkedin Email Does this mean the HVAC furnace, Clothes Dryer, Stove, and Hot Water Tank must all be electric and use no gas? link

Does this mean the HVAC furnace, Clothes Dryer, Stove, and Hot Water Tank must all be electric and use no gas?

Tango asked about 1 year ago

Thank you for reaching out. For only entirely new buildings, yes, they must be all electric and use no gas.
Share Will the new codes only apply to new building construction or will they also impact remodeling of existing homes? on Facebook Share Will the new codes only apply to new building construction or will they also impact remodeling of existing homes? on Twitter Share Will the new codes only apply to new building construction or will they also impact remodeling of existing homes? on Linkedin Email Will the new codes only apply to new building construction or will they also impact remodeling of existing homes? link

Will the new codes only apply to new building construction or will they also impact remodeling of existing homes?

Tom asked over 1 year ago

Thank you for the question, Tom. The new electrification codes only apply to new building construction. The newly adopted published international codes apply to all types of construction (new and/or remodeling). For further information or clarification, please e-mail Chief Building Official Steve Cutaia at scutaia@oak-park.us.