San Francisco Takes Charging to the Kerb

San Francisco launches citywide curbside EV charging, targeting drivers without off-street parking.

7 Sep 2026

Not every electric vehicle owner has a driveway. San Francisco's newly launched citywide curbside charging programme is aimed squarely at those who do not, giving apartment residents without garages a workable path to home-style charging.

Operators that qualify for a permit can now scout potential charger locations and apply site by site. The city's transportation agency has published a full application package covering equipment, maintenance, data reporting and site requirements.

The rollout follows a pilot that began testing curbside charging in 2025, with the first two chargers going live that April at a Duboce Triangle location. Three companies, including Voltpost, took part, using the pilot to study demand patterns, utility connection requirements and different charger designs. Officials say it also underscored the value of neighbourhood outreach, a lesson now built into the citywide framework.

The city is targeting 100 curbside stations by 2030. That figure reflects a wider trend in dense markets, where kerbside charging is increasingly treated as essential infrastructure rather than a supplementary offering, particularly as multifamily residents make up a growing share of drivers without home charging access.