Maryland Delays EV Charger Fees Amid Intense Criticism From Advocates, Industry

By Christine Condon, Maryland Matters

December 24, 2025

Maryland is delaying a new inspection fee for electric vehicle chargers that was set to take effect next week, amid concerns that the payments could slow chargers’ rollout in the state.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture, which is planning to inspect public chargers for functionality and accuracy, announced Tuesday that it won’t require charger owners to pay the fee of $150 per port until July 1 — as opposed to Jan. 1 was originally planned.

Electric vehicle advocates have argued that the fee could compel Maryland businesses to install fewer chargers — or even rip out existing chargers to avoid incurring the fees. They worry in particular about chargers installed at housing complexes around the state, which are mainly intended for residents’ use and often do not generate anywhere near the same profit as a fast charger installed along a busy highway corridor.

The Agriculture Department has argued that because the chargers are public, and charge consumers a fee, they ought to be regulated just like any others. And the state says the fee is set at $150 per port because testing EV chargers comes at a fairly high cost: Inspectors plan to use an expensive piece of equipment called a “standard,” and they have to pay for the power they consume during testing.

Maryland’s EV charger inspection program rolls on, despite consumer and industry pushback

But the department issued a number of clarifications in its news release Tuesday, adding that multi-unit dwellings can receive exemptions if they meet a number of conditions. Equipment, for example, must be exclusively designated for residents of the complex, and cannot be accessible to members of the public. It must have signage stating as such, and it cannot be advertised on public websites as an available charging location.

Chargers located at workplaces can also be exempt if they are designated only for employees and located in areas restricted to employees. Chargers at private residences and free chargers are automatically exempt.

“The decision to extend the registration deadline to July 1, 2026, will allow the department to facilitate more extensive and meaningful dialogue with the electric vehicle charging industry, local governments, and the community at large,” Maryland Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks said in a news release.

“This extended timeline will allow us to incorporate critical feedback and make the necessary formal amendments to the program’s structure and regulations, ensuring the program is effective, fair, and supportive of the state’s electric vehicle adoption goals while meeting the practical needs of all stakeholders,” his statement said.

Some in the EV charging industry, though, remain concerned that the new fee will be prohibitive and stymie the state’s effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through greater use of electric vehicles.

Robert Borkowski, owner of Plug IO, an EV-charging company focused on installations at housing and condo complexes, said he recently received an exemption for chargers he is installing in Frederick. But he’s concerned that many multi-unit dwellings won’t be able to meet the requirements to become exempt. It may be difficult for the complexes to prevent members of the public from using their chargers, for example.

“The requirements are extremely restrictive,” Borkowski said in an email.

Borkowski also argued that complexes should be allowed to list chargers on their websites.

“How else would potential residents learn about the property’s EV charging infrastructure?” Borkowski said. “Why penalize MUDs [multi-unit dwellings] for promoting their forward-thinking properties and supporting Maryland’s goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?”