Last verified: 5 October 2026
The approval sequence that works
- Step 1 — Meter check: is your parking space near your own meter? That decides everything about cost and complexity.
- Step 2 — Load assessment: an electrician documents spare capacity ($300–600). This document answers the strata's real fear: "will it blow the building supply?"
- Step 3 — Costed quote with load management: dynamic load sharing means the building adds chargers without a supply upgrade.
- Step 4 — Draft by-law: offer the strata a ready-made by-law (fair cost-recovery, insurance, removal obligations). Committees approve paperwork, not ideas.
- Step 5 — Vote: with the above, most motions pass. Without it, they die in "let's form a subcommittee".
Meanwhile: the no-approval options
A portable charger on a standard 10A outlet in your parking space adds 50–100km overnight — enough for most commuters. Some buildings allow it informally; ask. And remember the public network exists precisely for this: Jolt's free kerbside 7kWh and cheap AC destination chargers cover a lot of urban driving while the strata grinds.
Renters
You need landlord consent for anything hardwired, full stop. The portable route plus public charging is usually the honest answer. If you're negotiating a lease renewal, an offered charger install can be attractive to landlords — it lifts the property's rentability.
Frequently asked questions
They can refuse or stall individual applications — there's no national "right to charge" law yet. But a well-prepared application (load assessment, costed quote, draft by-law) succeeds far more often than not. Several states are considering reform.
If the outlet is on your meter and the building wiring is sound, yes — 10–12km of range per hour. Get an electrician to confirm the circuit first, and tell the strata as courtesy even if approval isn't strictly required.
Individual installs run $2,000–6,000 depending on cable run distance from your meter. Building-wide backbone systems with load management cost more upfront but make each subsequent charger far cheaper — worth raising as the long-term play.
Use the portable + public charging stack (Jolt, council AC, workplace) and keep the proposal warm — committees change. Document the refusal; it strengthens the case when state "right to charge" reforms land.