Straight answers to the questions Palm Beach County homeowners ask before buying a standby generator. For pricing detail, see the cost guide.
In practice, yes. Palm Beach County and its municipalities require electrical (and usually gas) permits for standby generator installs, and the Florida Building Code sets pad, anchoring, and clearance rules. Reputable installers pull the permits for you — treat any installer who suggests skipping permits as a red flag, because an unpermitted unit can complicate insurance claims and resale.
Most homes land at 18–22 kW with load management — enough for one central AC, kitchen, laundry, and lights. Homes with two AC units, a pool, and a large kitchen usually go 24–26 kW. A good installer does a load calculation at your home rather than guessing from square footage.
Usually 2–5 weeks from signed quote in the off-season: site visit and load calculation, permits (often the slowest step), pad and gas work, then a one-day equipment install and startup. During and right after hurricane season, lead times of 8–12 weeks are common.
Where natural gas service exists, it's the convenient default: unlimited fuel, no tank, no deliveries. Propane gives the generator its full rated output and keeps you independent of the gas grid, but requires a tank — usually buried in Palm Beach County — and delivery planning for long outages. Your installer can price both.
No. Portable generators must never be connected to a home's wiring without a transfer switch or interlock, and they're far noisier, need manual refueling, and produce deadly carbon monoxide if run in a garage. A standby system starts automatically in about 10–30 seconds, runs on gas or propane, and is installed to code outdoors.
Plan on an annual service visit — oil, filters, spark plugs, battery, and a full exercise test — typically $300–$500 per year on a maintenance plan. Manufacturers require documented maintenance to keep extended warranties valid.
Yes — they're effective in closings. Appraisers and buyers in hurricane-exposed Palm Beach County treat a permitted, whole-home standby generator as a real amenity, and listing agents routinely feature it. Keep your permit records and maintenance history for the buyer's file.