Condo & HOA EV Charging in Fort Myers | CoHarbor Electric

Condo & HOA EV Charging in Fort Myers

We’ve been getting a lot more calls lately from condo boards, HOAs, and property managers around Fort Myers — and they all start the same way:

“We’ve got a few residents with electric cars now. How do we set up charging without blowing the building’s power system or breaking the rules?”

It’s a good question. And it’s one we’re hearing more every month as EV ownership grows across Southwest Florida. Between new Teslas in the garage and electric SUVs in high-rises downtown, everyone’s realizing: shared living and EV charging don’t automatically mix.

That’s where planning — and the right electrical setup — makes all the difference.

At Coharbor Electric, we’ve helped several Fort Myers condos and communities add EV charging the right way — safely, cleanly, and in a way that makes sense for both residents and the association.

Let’s walk through how we approach it.

Why Condo and HOA Charging Is a Different Ballgame

It’s one thing to add a charger in your own single-family home. But condos and townhome communities? Whole different story.

You’ve got:

• Shared power infrastructure.

• Parking spaces that might not be tied directly to a unit.

• Building codes, HOA rules, and insurance considerations.

• Neighbors (and everyone’s opinions) to navigate.

We’ve seen it all — from garages with no spare power to parking lots that would need trenching to run even one new line.

The good news is: it can be done. You just need the right plan and the right equipment to handle multiple users safely.

Step One: Assess the Power System

Every project starts the same way — with a load calculation.

We’ll look at your building’s electrical panel, the existing service capacity, and how much spare amperage you’ve got to work with. Some older condo buildings in Fort Myers run tight, especially those from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Others, like newer mid-rise communities, have plenty of room in the main service for a few chargers.

We also check wiring routes, conduit paths, and where the nearest viable power point is relative to parking. You don’t want to tear up concrete or run 100 feet of conduit if a better option exists.

Once we know your available capacity, we’ll talk about how many chargers you want and how they’ll be used — which leads to the next step.

Step Two: Choose the Right Charging Setup

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for condos or HOAs. It depends on how the community wants to handle costs, access, and management.

Here are the most common setups we install around Fort Myers:

1. Dedicated Resident Chargers:
   Each resident who owns an EV gets their own charger tied to their unit’s meter. Power usage is billed directly to them. This works well for townhome communities or garages with clear ownership.

2. Shared Community Chargers:
   The HOA installs one or more chargers in a common area — think clubhouse parking, guest spaces, or near mailboxes. Usage is tracked with smart software or RFID cards, and residents pay per use or through HOA dues.

3. Smart Load-Managed Systems:
   For larger condos, we install networked chargers that communicate with each other and the building’s main power system. They automatically balance load so multiple EVs can charge without overloading the transformer or tripping breakers.

We’ve used systems like ChargePoint, Enel X, and Wallbox for these setups — they work great in shared-use buildings and are scalable as more residents buy EVs.

Step Three: Work with the HOA or Board

This is where most projects get stuck — not the wiring, but the paperwork.

Before we touch a wire, we make sure the HOA’s on board. We’ll attend meetings (in person or virtual), explain the electrical load, cost breakdown, and code requirements in plain language, and provide stamped drawings if needed for approval.

We’ve learned to speak both languages — electrician and HOA board member. Our job’s to make it clear, not confusing.

Once the board approves, we’ll coordinate permits with Lee County and schedule the install to minimize disruption.

The Biggest Challenges (and How We Solve Them)

1. Limited Power Capacity:
A lot of older buildings just weren’t built for this. We can install load management gear that automatically limits charging when the building’s at peak demand. That way, residents still charge safely without requiring a massive service upgrade.

2. Parking Layouts:
If assigned parking’s far from a power source, we can use trenching, overhead conduit, or shared posts. We’ve even tied chargers into light pole circuits (safely and code-compliant) when the main service was too far.

3. Billing & Access:
Smart chargers can track energy use per vehicle using RFID or app-based systems. That keeps things fair — no more “my neighbor’s stealing my charge.”

4. HOA Policy:
We help HOAs draft clear rules for EV use: who pays for installation, how maintenance works, and what happens when residents move out. Clarity keeps everyone happy.

Real Example: A Fort Myers Condo Retrofit

We recently worked on a mid-rise condo near Whiskey Creek. Five residents had Teslas and were using 120V outlets in the parking garage — which, frankly, wasn’t safe or sustainable.

The HOA reached out to us after one outlet breaker tripped and half the garage lights went out.

We installed a load-managed system with four 240V Level 2 chargers tied into the building’s service room. Each charger had a smart meter connected to the HOA’s account, and residents accessed them through an app that billed them individually.

The install took about a week, including permits and inspections. No trenching, no major construction.

The HOA president called us later and said, “That went smoother than any project we’ve ever done.” That’s always nice to hear.

What About Cost?

Every property’s different, but here’s a rough idea of what we’ve seen locally:

• Single shared charger: $2,000–$4,000 installed

• Multi-unit smart setup: $8,000–$20,000 depending on panel distance and networking

• Per-unit dedicated charger: $1,500–$3,500 each (varies by layout)

If the building’s electrical system needs upgrades, that’s extra — but we can phase it in over time. Some HOAs even offset the cost with grants or energy incentives (and yes, we’ll help with that paperwork too).

Planning for the Future

Here’s the reality: more EVs are coming.

What starts as one or two chargers this year could turn into ten next year. That’s why we encourage boards to plan ahead— even if you’re only installing a few chargers now, design the system to expand later.

We can install conduit runs and subpanels with extra capacity so you don’t have to rip things up again in a few years. Future-proof once, and you’re done.

The Coharbor Electric Way

We handle everything — site assessments, permits, panel work, installation, inspections, even HOA documentation support.

We keep the process clean, compliant, and stress-free. No guessing, no technical jargon. You’ll always know what’s happening and why.

We’re local, licensed, and fully insured — and we know Fort Myers power systems inside out, from older condo towers to new gated communities.

We make it safe, efficient, and ready for whatever’s next.

Wrapping It Up

Condo and HOA EV charging might sound complicated, but with the right plan, it’s totally doable.

It’s about smart design, safe wiring, and teamwork between residents, boards, and professionals who know what they’re doing.

If your community’s starting to talk about EVs — or already has a few drivers fighting over outlets — it’s time to set up a real system.

👉 Call Coharbor Electric today to schedule an EV charging consultation. We’ll walk your property, check your power setup, and show you how to add charging stations the right way — without overloading your system or draining your budget.

We make EV charging work — for condos, HOAs, and the people who live in them.