Connecticut turns out to be a right-to-charge state

Charging barriers.

A recent move has taken away the opportunity to charge the Kia Niro EV at home, and the new landlord remains resistant to a charger installation at the new apartment. But it turns out that my state has a “right-to-charge” law in place.

The preference remains for the landlord to be on board with the idea first, so I have not yet pressed the matter.

Nevertheless, the law’s existence was a surprise and curiosity prompted a search of other states with right-to-charge laws. The news is good and bad…

Right-to-charge states

As of May 2026, 15 states and the District of Columbia have passed “right-to-charge” laws for consumers. These laws primarily prevent stick-the-mud homeowners’ associations (HOAs), condo boards, and landlords from unreasonably restricting residents who want to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in their assigned parking spaces.

The following jurisdictions — in alphabetical order — have enacted these consumer protections: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, D.C.

All 15 of these jurisdictions protect homeowners or condo owners. But only a subset extends these full “right-to-charge” protections to renters. These are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington, D.C., and they provide legal protections for these groups.

Regulations in the remaining states primarily focus on common-interest communities and single-family homeowners.

Unnecessary backlash

Predictably, what began as the expansion of consumer charging rights, became a growing “freedom of choice” trend that proffers legislation to protect internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles or preventing the implementing of new fees.

This is because of a risen tide of misinformation that somehow the “government” was going to force everyone to buy EVs and thus ban ICE vehicles during the last Democratic administration.

This was never in the offing. Nevertheless, Tennessee and Missouri have introduced measures to prohibit agencies from enforcing EV mandates, favoring voluntary adoption over legislative requirements.

Incentives were never mandates. And if the price of a gallon of gasoline would ever be an incentive…

New development options

In other areas, Minnesota has introduced bills to ensure charging is built into new developments. Connecticut has this rule in place.

This is a big plus. It covers all the bases, giving renters options for their transportation needs and desires without forcing anything down anyone’s throat.

It allows the freedom, or the right, to charge. Or not charge.

Follow this link to Plug-in America for a more in-depth look at the issues.

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