The 8 Most Electric Vehicle-Friendly Markets for Renters—and How To Find Rentals With EV Chargers

by Patrick Djordjevic

While electric vehicles are growing in popularity, renters are three times less likely than homeowners to own an EV. One possible reason for this is the lack of accessible charging stations.

“Unlike the homeowners who can charge at home, renters, especially those who live in apartment buildings, largely rely on public charging facilities,” notes Realtor.com® economist Jiayi Xu in a recent analysis by Realtor.com and Cox Automotive.

Chargers in public parking lots or at workplaces might be available to some renters, but renters understandably prefer to park—and charge up—close to home, according to a report from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Although renters might have a tougher time finding EV-friendly apartments, some rental communities are leading the charge and stepping up to provide places nearby where drivers can plug in.

How to find rentals with EV chargers

Austin, TX, and Los Angeles boasted the most rental listings mentioning electric vehicles, charging stations, or other EV-friendly terms at 1.7%, according to a Realtor.com analysis of the top 50 U.S. metros.

They were followed by San Jose, CA (1.4%); Orlando, FL (1.4%); Atlanta (1.3%); Phoenix (1.1%); San Francisco (1.0%); and San Diego (1.0%).

Renters might be happy to know EV-friendly rental listings exist, but what’s unclear is exactly how many charging ports are available in these places without contacting the community directly.

Plus, renters will often pay dearly for this privilege since (not surprisingly) “luxury rental communities are more likely to be EV-friendly,” says Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale.

Aerial view of downtown Austin, TX — Austin, TX, and Los Angeles boasted the most rental listings mentioning electric vehicles, charging stations, or other EV-friendly terms at 1.7%
Getty Images

Yet things are improving in certain areas, thanks to local legislation. For instance, since September 2022, California building codes require buildings to have 25% of parking spots EV-ready.

“As the number of EV owners grows, we anticipate increased demand for on-site charging or EV-friendly features from renters,” predicts Xu. “Property managers and landlords who can meet this demand—whether in newer developments or older homes—will clearly stand out in the market.”

Realtor.com/rentals also facilitates this search since rental shoppers can filter for listings with EV chargers, parking spots, and other features. Here’s a ranking of the top cities where folks can find an EV-friendly rental, plus the median rental price for the area.