Image: Voltpost
San Francisco has launched a citywide curbside EV charging program, giving companies a clear path to install public chargers in neighborhoods across the city.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is now accepting applications from charging operators, while residents can use the city’s new ChargeUp SF map to nominate streets, public facilities, and other locations where they want chargers.
That’s particularly useful in a dense city where many residents live in apartments or condos and don’t have a driveway or garage.
“For San Franciscans without a garage or driveway, access to charging can determine whether going electric is even practical,” said San Francisco Environment Department director Tyrone Jue. “We’re now moving from testing curbside charging toward building a reliable network that gives more residents the opportunity to choose electric and helps cut transportation pollution.”
Charging companies that qualify for an operator permit can then scout possible charger locations. They’ll need a separate permit for each site they want to build on. SFMTA has published the complete permit application package, including equipment, maintenance, data reporting, and site requirements.
The city wants to have 100 curbside EV charging stations installed by 2030.
From two pilot chargers to a citywide program
San Francisco began testing public curbside charging in 2025. Its first two chargers went live at 55 Fillmore Street in the Duboce Triangle that April.
The pilot involved three charging companies – it’s electric, Urban EV, and Voltpost – and helped the city study demand, utility connections, site selection, and different charger designs. It also showed that neighborhood outreach needed to be part of the installation process.
The new program will take a few years to roll out – operators still have to qualify, identify viable locations, work with utilities, consult neighborhoods, and receive individual site permits. But San Francisco now has a permanent process for moving those projects forward, and residents have a direct say in where the chargers should go.
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