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EV charging

Level 2 EV charger at home: what installation involves

Written by the Soleil Energy Corp Team Last updated Editorial guidelines

Wall-mounted home EV charger plugged into an electric car beside a brick garage.

A Level 2 charger installation adds a dedicated 240-volt circuit from your electrical panel to the spot where the electric vehicle (EV) parks. It needs an electrical permit and an electrician with a State license, and Montgomery County requires final inspection approval before the circuit is energized. Each county sets its own permit steps.123

What does a Level 2 charger installation involve?

A Level 2 installation runs in six stages: a capacity check, a location choice, a permit, the circuit and mounting work, inspection, and energizing. An electrician with a State license does the electrical work. If your home’s service or meter has to change, your utility gets involved too.42

  1. Capacity check. An electrician reviews the panel, the service and the existing loads. The U.S. Department of Energy says electricians can tell you whether your home has adequate capacity for Level 2 equipment.4
  2. Location and route. You pick where the car parks, and the installer plans the path from the panel to the charger. Depending on the house, that can mean conduit along walls, holes drilled through framing or a trench outdoors.
  3. Permit. The application goes to your county permit office. Rules differ by county, as the table below shows.
  4. Circuit and mounting. The electrician installs the circuit and mounts the charger to the manufacturer’s instructions. Prince George’s County requires equipment listed by an approved agency and rated for its indoor or outdoor location.5
  5. Inspection. Montgomery County’s final inspection covers the wiring and the connection to the panel, and its approval is required before the circuit is energized.3 The Prince George’s, Howard and Arlington pages don’t describe home inspection steps, so confirm them with each office.
  6. Energizing and records. The electrician energizes the circuit once the office allows it. Keep the permit and the final inspection approval with your home records.

Connection method varies by office. Montgomery County’s standard for new homes describes a 40-amp circuit with a receptacle. Prince George’s County’s guidelines require charging stations to be permanently connected and fastened in place. Ask your permit office whether a plug-in unit is acceptable before you buy a model.25

Leave the wiring to the electrician. Howard County’s EV page says a homeowner shouldn’t install a charger, because an incorrectly installed charger is an electrical hazard.6

Level 1 or Level 2, which do you need?

A Level 1 cord on a 120-volt outlet adds about 5 miles of range per hour, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. A Level 2 unit on a 240-volt circuit adds about 25 miles per hour. Level 2 suits longer commutes and larger batteries, while Level 1 covers many overnight needs.74

Those figures are approximations. Charging time varies with the vehicle, its battery and its state of charge.7 Level 1 can meet daily needs overnight when an outlet on a dedicated branch circuit sits near the parking spot. Level 2 fits drivers with less regular schedules, longer commutes or large batteries.4

Does your electrical panel have room for a Level 2 charger?

Only an electrician’s review can say. The National Electrical Code (NEC) treats EV charging as a continuous load, so the circuit is rated above the charger itself. Some homes lack the capacity, and an electrician can add circuits to supply it. A utility service or meter change is a separate step.4

Two public sources point to a 40-amp circuit for typical home chargers.

Source Charger rating stated Circuit rating stated
U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center Most residential Level 2 units: up to 30 amps (7.2 kilowatts) Dedicated 40-amp circuit, to comply with NEC Article 6257
Prince George’s County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) Level 2 maximum: 32 amps (7.7 kilovolt-amperes at 240 volts) Minimum overcurrent rating of 40 amps5

DPIE adds that each charging outlet needs its own branch circuit with no other outlets on it.5

If the review turns up a problem, three things can change the job:

  • A small or full panel. The electrician may propose a panel change, a subpanel or a service upgrade.
  • Utility work. A new service or meter is utility work, and Arlington County’s page recommends contacting Dominion Energy early in the process.8
  • Which utility you have. The Maryland Office of People’s Counsel says Pepco serves most of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) serves most of Howard County, while other utilities serve parts of those counties. Your bill names yours.9

The sources here give no standard installation price, so get itemized quotes. Maryland’s rebate rules list what counts as an eligible cost: the charger, installation, labor, permitting and utility-connection upgrades. Those are the same lines to look for on a quote.10

Do you need a permit for a Level 2 charger in Maryland or Arlington?

Yes. Each office below requires an electrical permit for a new charger circuit. Montgomery County’s page says the applicant must hold a valid Maryland master-level electrician’s license. Howard County says the electrician must apply. Arlington County requires an Electrical Permit for new charging infrastructure.268

The State Board of Electricians sets the baseline in its public notice: all electrical work in the state must be performed by a master, journeyperson or supervised apprentice electrician with a State license, and unlicensed electrical work is illegal.1 The Maryland Electricians Act defines providing electrical services to include installing or altering wiring and equipment that uses electrical energy, and it says local jurisdictions may set up registrations, permits, fees and inspections of their own.11

Office What its page says Who applies Inspection and timing
Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) Electrical permit required if you aren’t using an existing outlet Applicant must hold a valid Maryland master-level electrician’s license and apply online Permit issues automatically once the application is complete and the fee is paid, with no violations on the property. Final inspection approval comes before energizing.23
Prince George’s County DPIE Electrical trade permit only, when the charger sits entirely on the owner’s private property: inside a garage, in a driveway or attached to the house The guidelines have a master-level electrician apply online for commercial installs; they don’t say for homes Guidelines revised November 25, 2024. They don’t describe home inspection steps.5
Howard County Department of Inspections, Licenses & Permits (DILP) Standard residential electrical permit if conduit and wiring stay within the property The electrician applies Inspection steps aren’t listed on the EV page.6
Arlington County, Virginia Electrical Permit for a charging station, new outlet or new or expanded panel; a permit is likely not needed to plug into an existing outlet Not stated on the page Inspection steps aren’t listed. The county asks you to contact its Inspection Services Division if you’re unsure.8

Arlington’s wording covers plugging the car into an existing outlet. It says nothing about adding a Level 2 unit to an old circuit, so treat that as a question for the permit office.

For the rest of the solar paperwork in these counties, see our guides to Montgomery County solar permits and Prince George’s County solar permits.

How long is an electrical permit good for?

Montgomery County’s Bill 12-22 (effective February 13, 2023) voids a permit if work doesn’t start within 180 days of issuance or more than 180 days pass between inspections. Howard County’s posted form says six months. Prince George’s and Arlington state no term on the pages read.1213

Montgomery’s department may extend a permit for good cause, in steps of up to 60 days each.12 Its electrical page also lists “Final Only for Expired Residential Permits” as its own topic, so lapsed permits are handled separately.12

Here’s how a permit lapses. Say it issues in March and the electrician’s schedule slips by more than six months. Under the Montgomery bill’s wording, that permit would have expired before work began, so call the department before the 180 days run out. Get the issue date and each inspection date in writing. In Howard County, confirm the current term with the Department of Inspections, Licenses & Permits, since the posted form is from 2015.

What help is there with the cost?

Maryland’s residential EV charger rebate pays 50 percent of eligible costs, up to $700, for one Level 2 charger.1410 The federal 30C credit for home chargers ended for equipment placed in service after June 30, 2026.1516 Maryland’s rebate is open to applications as of October 25, 2026.14

Program Status Amounts and limits
Federal alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit (Section 30C) Not allowed for property placed in service after June 30, 202616 Through that date: 30 percent of cost, up to $1,000 per item of property, for personal-use property at a main home in an eligible census tract (a low-income community or non-urban tract)1517
Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), fiscal year 2027 (FY27) Residential Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Rebate Open to applications; portal may close early if requests exceed the budget14 50 percent of eligible costs, up to $700, for one Level 2 charger; applications due by 3:00 p.m. Eastern on May 31, 202710
MEA rebate funding Budget of $1.5 million; 42.49 percent requested and 33.72 percent reserved, last updated October 19, 202614 First-come, first-served10

Maryland’s rebate has a few rules worth knowing before you buy. You apply after the charger is installed, in operation and paid in full, and within six months of the final payment. One rebate goes to each Maryland resident, whatever the address. Eligible costs include the charger, installation, labor, permitting and utility-connection upgrades, but not taxes, shipping or card fees. If you claim installation costs, the work must be done by someone holding a Maryland electrical license, and self-installs don’t qualify unless you hold that license.10

Watch the invoice format. MEA asks for paid-in-full invoices with line items for equipment and installation, plus photos of the mounted charger and of it powered on or charging a car, so a lump-sum bill can cause trouble.10 Get that format into the quote before you sign.

The rebate isn’t tax-free by default. MEA says rebates issued by the State may be taxable and may produce a 1099-G form, and it points tax questions to a tax professional.10 Have a tax professional check any tax credit. The rebate covers Maryland property only.

Can rooftop solar charge your EV?

Over a year, yes. The U.S. Department of Energy says small-scale renewables such as rooftop solar can provide energy for vehicles. Panels produce in daylight while many owners plug in overnight, and Maryland net metering carries surplus generation forward against later grid use, which can offset evening charging.1819

Maryland’s net metering statute, Public Utilities Article Section 7-306, carries net excess generation forward until the customer’s grid use eliminates it, the accrual period ends or the account closes.19 New enrollment is limited. A 2026 amendment keeps the standard net-metering tariff available until the earlier of 3,000 megawatts of statewide capacity or July 1, 2027.20 The law text doesn’t say which application step reserves a place, so get that answer from your utility before the date, and read our guide to the Maryland net metering successor program. Arlington sits in Virginia, which has its own net metering rules.

Illustrative example, not a quote and not a Soleil project.

Assumptions: the three yearly mileage levels are examples. The EV uses 27 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per 100 miles, the Department of Energy’s worked example.4 The yield is 1,377.9 kWh per kilowatt (kW) of direct-current (DC) capacity per year, from a National Laboratory of the Rockies PVWatts run stored on October 16, 2026, for Silver Spring in Montgomery County: fixed roof mount, 20-degree tilt, south-facing (azimuth 180) and 14 percent losses. The modules are hypothetical 410-watt units. The comparison matches annual energy only and ignores the hour of day.

Miles driven per year EV electricity per year Modules needed Array size Modeled year-1 output
6,000 1,620 kWh 3 1.23 kW DC 1,695 kWh
10,000 2,700 kWh 5 2.05 kW DC 2,825 kWh
14,000 3,780 kWh 7 2.87 kW DC 3,955 kWh

Shading, roof direction and weather change the real output. Rounding up to whole modules causes the overshoot in each row.21

Tell any solar designer about the car before sizing the system. The charger adds load, and a residential solar assessment can include it in the usage figure. Soleil Energy’s EV charging page lists installing a charger alongside solar among its EV services.22

When do the answers change?

Condos and homeowners associations, curbside spots, towns with their own permit offices, and new homes each add a review, a letter or a different permit. If one of these describes your situation, confirm the extra step with your permit office before you order equipment.

  • Condos, townhouse rows and homeowners associations (HOAs). For a charger on condo or HOA property, Howard County adds a Department of Planning and Zoning review and an association letter. The page also says buried conduit that crosses property lines, most common in townhomes, needs an outdoor emergency power shutoff, so ask the county how it applies to your lot.6
  • Curbside charging. Montgomery County considers the public right-of-way only when no on-site option exists. Prince George’s County requires a Site/Road Special Permit as well.25
  • Cities and towns inside a county. DPIE’s guidelines, in their commercial EV2 section, say approvals required by incorporated municipalities are the applicant’s responsibility, so ask whether your city or town has its own permit step.5
  • New homes. Montgomery County’s page says a State law effective October 1, 2023 requires new housing units (single-family detached houses, duplexes and townhouses under the International Residential Code) with a separate garage, carport or driveway to include a Level 2 charging space or an EV-ready space.2
  • Washington, DC. DC runs its own permit process, separate from the offices above.
  • Utility rates. The Department of Energy notes that some utilities offer time-of-use rates for charging, so look at your utility’s rate options before you pick a charging schedule.4

What should you get in writing before you hire an installer?

Put these five questions to each installer and keep the answers in writing, so the quotes compare cleanly. Vague answers on any of them usually mean the scope isn’t settled yet, and you want it settled before a permit is filed:

  1. Who applies for the permit, and who books each inspection?
  2. What did the load calculation show, and is panel or service work expected?
  3. Where will the circuit run, and what wall, conduit or trenching work does that need?
  4. Is the charger listed for its indoor or outdoor location?5
  5. Does the quote itemize the charger, installation and permit fee the way MEA’s rebate paperwork asks?10

Soleil Energy’s EV charging service page describes a home charger on its own circuit, panel and service upgrades, load management and solar plus EV together.22

Tell us where the car parks and we’ll talk through the options. Discuss EV charging or call (301) 953-4140.

Solar savings and incentive eligibility depend on your roof, your usage, your utility, and your tax situation. Incentive programs change and some have limited funding. We are not tax advisors — we will review your bill with you and tell you what you may qualify for. Confirm any tax credit with a qualified tax professional.

Program rules decide who qualifies. Ask any installer whether it is on the program’s contractor list.

Sources (22)

  1. Maryland Department of Labor, State Board of Electricians, Maryland State Board of Electricians (includes the Maryland Electricians License Search), https://labor.maryland.gov/license/elec/ , undated page, current page read October 24, 2026. ↩ ↩2

  2. Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services, Residential Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permit Process, https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/department-permitting-services/all-permits/residential-permits/residential-electric-vehicle-charging-station-permit-process , undated page, current page read October 25, 2026. Right-of-way: Montgomery County, Residential Electric Vehicles (EV) Charging Permitting Guidelines, revised March 2021, https://assets.montgomerycountymd.gov/files/2026-07/DPS_EV_Charging_Stations_in_the_ROW.pdf , file hosted July 2026, read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  3. Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services, Residential Electric Vehicle Charging Station Inspections, file modified April 15, 2026, https://assets.montgomerycountymd.gov/files/2026-04/ResidentialElectricalVehicleChargingStationInspections.pdf , read October 24, 2026. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  4. U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center, Charging Electric Vehicles at Home, https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity-charging-home , undated page, current page read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  5. Prince George’s County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement, Revised Guidelines for Permitting Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, revised November 25, 2024; PDF read October 25, 2026: https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/sites/default/files/media-document/DPIE%20Guidelines%20for%20Permitting%20Electric%20Vehicle%20Charging%20Stations_10.18.23%20F.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  6. Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning, Residential Electric Vehicle Charging, https://www.howardcountymd.gov/planning-zoning/residential-electric-vehicle-charging , undated page, current page read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  7. U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center, Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Basics, https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity-stations , undated page, current page read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  8. Arlington County, Installing EV Charging, current page (undated), read October 25, 2026: https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Sustainability/AIRE/Transportation/Installing-EV-Charging ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  9. Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, Your Local Electricity Companies, https://opc.maryland.gov/Consumer-Learning/Electricity/Your-Local-Electricity-Companies , undated page, current page read October 24, 2026. ↩

  10. Maryland Energy Administration, FY27 Residential EVSE Rebate Program Funding Opportunity Announcement, issued July 8, 2026, https://energy.maryland.gov/transportation/SiteAssets/pages/incentives_evserebate/FY2027%20Residential%20EVSE%20Program%20FOA%20Modification%201%2010.14.26%20%20%281%29.pdf , text marked modified October 9, 2026 (cover lists Modification 1, October 14, 2026), read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  11. Maryland General Assembly, Business Occupations and Professions Article, Sections 6-101, 6-103 and 6-701 (Maryland Electricians Act), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gbo&section=6-101&enactments=false , current code text read October 24, 2026. ↩

  12. Montgomery County Council, Bill 12-22, Electricity - Board of Electrical Examiners - Licenses - Permit Requirements, signed November 2022, effective February 13, 2023, https://apps.montgomerycountymd.gov/ccllims/DownloadFilePage?FileName=2753_1_22660_Bill_12-22_Signed_20221114.pdf , read October 24, 2026. Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services, Electrical & Mechanical Codes, Licenses and Permits, https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/department-permitting-services/codes/electrical-mechanical-codes-licenses-permits , undated page, current page read October 24, 2026. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  13. Howard County Department of Inspections, Licenses & Permits, Electrical Permit Application (current posted form; the form’s file path shows a July 2015 version), https://www.howardcountymd.gov/inspections-licenses-permits/resource/electrical-permit , read October 24, 2026. ↩

  14. Maryland Energy Administration, Residential Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Rebate Program (FY27), https://energy.maryland.gov/transportation/Pages/incentives_evserebate.aspx , page shows funding opportunity issued July 8, 2026 and modified October 9, 2026, budget table last updated October 19, 2026, read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  15. Internal Revenue Service, Alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit, https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/alternative-fuel-vehicle-refueling-property-credit , page last reviewed or updated May 26, 2026, read October 24 and 25, 2026. ↩ ↩2

  16. Internal Revenue Service, FAQs for modification of sections 25C, 25D, 25E, 30C, 30D, 45L, 45W, and 179D under Public Law 119-21 (One, Big, Beautiful Bill), FS-2025-05, August 21, 2025, question 1, https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-for-modification-of-sections-25c-25d-25e-30c-30d-45l-45w-and-179d-under-public-law-119-21-139-stat-72-july-4-2025-commonly-known-as-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-obbb , read October 24 and 25, 2026. ↩ ↩2

  17. U.S. Code, 26 U.S.C. section 30C(a), (b)(2), (c)(3) and (i), as amended by Public Law 119-21, Cornell Legal Information Institute, current text (undated page; amendment note shows “June 30, 2026” substituted for “December 31, 2032”), read October 25, 2026. ↩

  18. U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center, Electricity Production and Distribution, https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity-production , undated page, current page read October 24, 2026. ↩

  19. Maryland General Assembly, Public Utilities Article, Section 7-306, https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gpu&section=7-306&enactments=false , current code text read October 24, 2026. ↩ ↩2

  20. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, 2026 Laws of Maryland (House Bill 1532, Utility RELIEF Act), amending Public Utilities Article Section 7-306(d), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf , 2026 session law, read October 25, 2026. ↩

  21. Illustrative calculation, run October 2026, with the inputs sourced at 4 and the stored PVWatts run named in the example. ↩

  22. Soleil Energy, EV Charging (service description only), https://soleilenergycorp.com/renewable-energy/ev-charging/ , undated page, current page read October 25, 2026. ↩ ↩2

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