Estudio normativo y técnico para la instalación de cargadores eléctricos residenciales en edificios existentes

This report analyzes the legal and technical obstacles to installing electric vehicle chargers in existing residential buildings in Chile, specifically the conflict between individual property rights and the collective ownership of electrical infrastructure under Law N°21.442. It finds that high community approval quorums lead to an 80% rejection rate for projects. By comparing legislation in the US, Europe, and Brazil, the report recommends modifying Chilean law to establish a 'right to plug', allowing owners to install chargers via simple notification, provided they bear all costs and adhere to SEC technical standards.

• In Chile, approximately 80% of projects to install EV chargers in residential buildings are rejected by co-owner communities due to complex approval and permit requirements.
• Under Law N°21.442, while parking spaces are exclusive domain, electrical networks and installations are classified as common domain. Consequently, any installation requiring the alteration of common areas—such as ducts, slabs, or walls—requires approval from the assembly of co-owners.
• The process for obtaining community approval for charger installation is hindered by high quorums. Both the constitution of an extraordinary session and the adoption of agreements require an absolute majority of rights, which can lead to 'lack of agreement' if members leave before voting.
• Technical standards for EV charging infrastructure (IRVE) in Chile are regulated by the RIC N°15 (March 2024) from the Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels (SEC). While it defines safety standards and requires SEC-authorized installers, it does not resolve ownership conflicts regarding the use of common spaces.
• The General Ordinance of Urbanism and Constructions (OGUC) provides three administrative paths for charger installation based on the impact on the building: Option A (exempt from prior permit for non-structural installations), Option B (minor work permit for facade or use changes), and Option C (alteration permit for structural interventions like drilling slabs).
• International comparisons show a trend toward recognizing an individual 'right to plug'. In Spain, installing a private charger in an individual garage space only requires prior communication to the community. In France, the 'droit à la prise' prevents co-ownership syndicates from opposing installation without a serious and legitimate reason.
• In the United States, Washington D.C. law (2024) renders any regulation that 'unreasonably restricts' EV charger installation null and void, imposing fines of up to US$ 1,000 on associations for non-compliance. Similarly, Brazil's state of Sao Paulo (Law N°18.403) prohibits community opposition without documented technical or security justifications.
• The report concludes that the only effective way to resolve the conflict in Chile is a punctual modification of Law N°21.442 to establish a legal 'right to charge'. This would eliminate the need for discretionary community approval and replace it with a notification system, provided the owner assumes all costs and follows technical safety standards.

APA

Centro de Movilidad Sostenible (2026). Estudio normativo y técnico para la instalación de cargadores eléctricos residenciales en edificios existentes. https://cmsostenible.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Estudio-normativo-y-tecnico-para-la-instalacion-de-cargadores-electricos-residenciales-en-edificios-existentes.pdf

Chicago

Centro de Movilidad Sostenible. Estudio normativo y técnico para la instalación de cargadores eléctricos residenciales en edificios existentes. 2026. https://cmsostenible.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Estudio-normativo-y-tecnico-para-la-instalacion-de-cargadores-electricos-residenciales-en-edificios-existentes.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centro de Movilidad Sostenible |title=Estudio normativo y técnico para la instalación de cargadores eléctricos residenciales en edificios existentes |date=20 May 2026 |url=https://cmsostenible.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Estudio-normativo-y-tecnico-para-la-instalacion-de-cargadores-electricos-residenciales-en-edificios-existentes.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centrodemovilidadsostenible2026estudio, author = {{Centro de Movilidad Sostenible}}, title = {{Estudio normativo y técnico para la instalación de cargadores eléctricos residenciales en edificios existentes}}, institution = {Centro de Movilidad Sostenible}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://cmsostenible.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Estudio-normativo-y-tecnico-para-la-instalacion-de-cargadores-electricos-residenciales-en-edificios-existentes.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }