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Operating a charging station

Are you planning to build and operate a public charging station? 
Is a permit required? 
When and in which cases?

From a legislative perspective, electric vehicles are defined by Directive 2014/94/EU and by Act No. 311/2006 Coll. on fuels and fuel filling stations. Further regulation of these vehicles is set out in Act No. 56/2001 Coll. on the conditions for the operation of vehicles on roads.

The term charging station is defined in Act No. 311/2006 Coll. on fuels, which implements Directive 2014/94/EU on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure.

This categorisation is important above all for the monitoring and registration of charging points/stations, but also for defining the type of charging station and the associated obligations or any available support. Accessibility is defined at the level of the charging station or the charging point. Both charging stations accessible to the general public and charging stations with restricted access may be installed at a single location, whereby this distinction must be clear to the end user

Obligations of the charging station operator

Charging station operators have various obligations under the legislation, which differ depending on whether the station is public or non-public.

Publicly accessible charging stations: These are stations with unrestricted public access offering the option to charge via payment. 
The operator must ensure non-discriminatory access for all users from the EU and enable one-off charging. Various conditions may be set for verification, use and payment.

Non-public charging stations: These stations are used only for specific purposes, such as charging at home, in the garages of residential buildings intended for tenants and residents, at vehicle dealerships, car repair shops, or for the internal needs of businesses and their employees.

Obligations of public charging station operators:

  1. Enable one-off charging.
  2. Make available information on the station's compatibility with the electric vehicle.
  3. Publish the prices charged.
  4. Publish the payment terms and method of payment.
  5. Mark the station in accordance with the approved pictograms.
  6. Register the station with the Register of charging stations at the MPO using the form in Word format for a single charging station a in Excel format for multiple charging stations.
  7. report consumption once a year ZDE

Notification obligation: Operators of public charging stations must inform the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO) before putting the station into operation and provide basic identification and technical details.

Exemptions: These obligations do not apply to charging stations of non-business natural persons used for free-of-charge charging, or to stations in housing cooperatives and unit owners' associations for their members. By contrast, the Fuels Act (Act No. 311/2006 Coll. on fuels and fuel (charging) filling stations) does apply to legal entities, even where the stations are not used for business purposes. It should be added that a charging station operator is not an electricity distributor. They do not need a trade licence for the distribution of fuels and do not have to register as a distributor with the customs office.


Building charging stations

To build charging stations with an output above 22 kW, a permit from the building authority is required. The building authority will assess whether it is a structure or a product performing the function of a structure, which affects the permit required and the procedures involved. This does not apply to charging stations up to 22 kW!

Siting the charging station:

  • A planning decision or consent under the Building Act.
  • A public-law contract or a certificate from an authorised inspector may replace the building permit.

Building permit:

  • A building permit is required unless the station is exempted under specific sections of the Building Act.
  • Small structures up to 25 m² and 5 m in height require neither notification nor a permit.

Kolaudace:

  • A completed station may only be used on the basis of a final approval (occupancy) consent or decision.


Inspections of charging stations

Inspections of electrical equipment are essential for the safety and protection of the owner, operator and users. Periodic inspections are required by law and failure to comply may have serious consequences, including heavy fines from the labour safety inspectorate and the loss of validity of liability insurance.


The AFIR Directive

AFIR governs the requirements for station operators and providers of charging services.  Specifically, it concerns payment methods at chargers up to 50 kW and above 50 kW of output.

Stations up to 50 kW must be fitted with:

  • a payment card reader, or
  • a device with a contactless function which is at least able to read payment cards, or
  • an internet connection allowing a dynamic QR code to be used for the payment transaction.

Stations above 50 kW must be fitted with:

  • a payment card reader, or
  • a device with a contactless function that is able to read payment cards, 


Laws and standards relating to charging infrastructure:

  1. Energy Act: Section 3(4)(c) of Act No. 458/2000 Coll.
  2. Amendment to Act No. 311/2006 Coll.: Act No. 152/2017 Coll.
  3. Fuels Act: Act No. 311/2006 Coll.
  4. Building Act: Section 21 of Act No. 183/2006 Coll.
  5. Technical requirements for structures: Decree No. 268/2009 Coll.
  6. Standards for charging stations: ČSN EN 62196-2, ČSN EN 62196-3, ČSN EN 61851-23.