Installing a whole-house generator in Florida
Standby versus portable, transfer switches, fuel, sizing, permits, hurricane-season placement and what a generator quote should list.
Florida's hurricane season turns a generator from a luxury into a question many households ask. A permanently installed standby generator starts automatically when the power fails and runs on natural gas or propane. A portable generator is cheaper but needs you at home to set it up, and it brings serious safety risks if misused.
Standby or portable
Standby generators are installed outside on a pad, connected to a fuel supply and wired to the home through an automatic transfer switch. Portable generators are plugged into appliances with extension cords or connected through a manually operated transfer switch or interlock. The big difference is safety and convenience: standby units run without anyone at home and are built to be installed outdoors in a fixed location.
The transfer switch matters
A generator must not be connected to the home's wiring without equipment that disconnects the house from the utility grid. Without that, power can flow back onto the utility lines, which is lethal to line workers who think the line is dead. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet or "backfeed" through a dryer outlet. Hiring a licensed electrical contractor to install the transfer equipment is the point of a permitted installation.
Sizing
A generator quote should be based on the loads you want to run, not on a rule of thumb. Ask the electrician to do a load calculation covering your air conditioner, well pump, water heater, refrigerators and other essentials. Whole-house units carry everything; smaller systems use load-shedding or a critical-loads subpanel so that heavy loads such as air conditioning and electric ranges share capacity. Ask the contractor to explain what will and will not run at the same time.
Fuel
Natural gas is convenient where it is available, with no refilling during a storm, but gas service can be interrupted. Propane is stored in a tank on your property, and the quote should tell you how many hours it will run at a typical load. Gas piping work must be done by someone licensed to do it; ask who is responsible for it and who pulls its permit. An electrical contractor and a gas contractor often coordinate on the same job.
Permits, placement and hurricane season
Installing a standby generator is regulated work. Expect a permit and an inspection from your city or county, and expect rules about placement relative to windows, doors, property lines and the home's air intakes. Manufacturers also specify clearances. In flood-prone areas, ask where the pad should sit relative to the flood elevation at your address; your local building department can tell you what applies. Condominium and HOA properties may require approval before work begins.
What a quote should include
- The contractor's name and Florida electrical licence number, which you can check on this site or on DBPR.
- The generator model, output rating and warranty terms, and who services it.
- The transfer switch type and circuits it serves.
- The concrete or composite pad, conduit, fuel connection and any new gas meter or regulator.
- Permit fees, inspection, and the commissioning test.
- A maintenance plan, including exercising the unit regularly.
Portable generator safety
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that carbon monoxide from generators kills people every year. Operate a portable generator outdoors only, well away from windows, doors and vents; the CPSC advises keeping it at least 20 feet from the home. Install battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms, and keep fuel stored safely. Never run a generator in a garage, even with the door open.
Payment
For residential work, a contractor who collects more than 10 percent of the price up front must apply for permits within 30 days and begin work within 90 days of the permits issuing, unless there is just cause (section 489.126). Generator suppliers can have long lead times in the weeks before a storm; ask for a written delivery estimate before paying a deposit.
General information only, current as of the date above. The information on Florida Electrician Check is not a recommendation or a guarantee of anyone's work. A license record shows registration status on the date shown, not workmanship, insurance coverage at the time of your job, or suitability for your project. Confirm license, insurance and permits directly before you hire. Rules and programs change; check the official sources linked in this guide.