Can I Install an EV Charger in My Garage?
For most Spokane homeowners, yes. The installation is usually routine in newer homes. Here's what determines how involved it gets, and what to know about Avista's EV programs.
Yes, installing an EV charger in your Spokane garage is entirely doable for most homeowners. Newer homes in the South Hill, Shadle Park, and Valley areas are often straightforward half-day jobs. The variables that change the scope are panel age and capacity, distance from the panel to the garage, and whether the garage is attached or freestanding.
Attached vs. Detached Garage
Attached garages are the easy scenario. The main electrical panel is usually on an interior wall nearby, and running a new 240V circuit to the garage wall is 2 to 4 hours of work for a licensed electrician.
Detached garages, common in older Spokane neighborhoods and properties in the Inland Northwest with outbuildings or shops, require either an underground conduit run from the main panel or a subpanel installed in the detached structure. Both approaches are solid. Expect $500 to $1,500 more than an attached garage install, depending on distance and whether any trenching is needed. Spokane's soil is workable but the trenching still adds time.
Panel Capacity
A Level 2 charger needs a dedicated 240V, 50-amp circuit. Your panel needs an open slot and enough available amperage.
Newer Spokane homes have 200-amp service and handle this easily. Older homes, particularly in Browne's Addition, Cliff-Cannon, and parts of the lower South Hill built before 1980, sometimes have 100-amp panels that are at or near capacity. Options if that's you:
- Panel upgrade: Replace the 100-amp panel with 200-amp service. Runs $1,200 to $2,500 in Spokane. See the panel upgrade guide.
- Load management device: A smart controller that limits the charger's draw when other large loads are running. Costs $200 to $400 and avoids the panel upgrade at the expense of maximum charging speed.
Washington State and Spokane Permit Requirements
Washington State requires a licensed electrician for any 240V circuit installation, and the City of Spokane requires a permit before work starts. Your electrician handles the permit through the City of Spokane Building Services. This is non-negotiable and standard for any legitimate licensed electrical contractor in the area.
Coeur d'Alene is across the state line in Idaho. If you're there, permits go through Coeur d'Alene's building department and Idaho electrical licensing applies, not Washington's.
Avista EV Programs
Avista is the utility for most of Spokane and eastern Washington. Avista's residential EV programs have evolved over the years. They've had rebates, rate options, and EV-specific pricing at various times. The most current information is at electrictransportation@avistacorp.com. It's worth emailing before you buy a charger to ask what's currently available.
Avista also has time-of-use pricing that makes overnight EV charging cheaper than daytime charging. Ask when you contact them.
WA State Sales Tax Exemption Note
Washington offers a sales tax exemption on qualifying EV purchases under $45,000. This applies to the vehicle purchase, not the charger installation. If you bought your EV in Washington and it qualified, you've already received that benefit. It doesn't reduce the cost of the electrical work.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can, but Level 1 is slow: 3 to 5 miles of range per hour. Spokane winters can be hard on EV range, and coming home with a partially charged battery and slow overnight charging adds stress to the equation. Level 2 is worth it.
Both are code-compliant. A 14-50 outlet lets you swap chargers without rewiring. A hardwired install is a bit cleaner. Most Spokane electricians are comfortable with either. Ask during the quote which works better for your setup.
Labor for a straightforward attached garage install typically runs $300 to $600. Detached garages and panel upgrades add cost. See the full cost guide for Spokane-area pricing.
Yes, most of the Spokane metro including Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, and parts of the Inland Northwest are Avista territory. Permits for unincorporated Spokane County go through the county rather than the City of Spokane Building Services. Your electrician knows which jurisdiction applies.
Want the full picture from start to finish? See our complete installation roadmap.