The question is not how long the installation takes. It is how long the whole process takes — from the first call to the day the generator runs. The installation itself is the shortest part. The permits and the HOA are the longest. This page is the honest timeline, stage by stage.

The short answer

From consultation to approval to operate, allow six to twelve weeks in Palm Beach County. The installation itself — the pad, the unit, the switch, the fuel, and the panel — is usually a day or two of work. The time is in the stages around it: the HOA application, which follows the board’s meeting cycle, and the permits, which follow the city’s review clock.

The sequence, in order:

Consultation and quote
HOA application
Permits
Installation
Inspections and approval to operate

Figures last reviewed November 2026 · Sources: see ‘How we get our numbers’ on the About page.

Talking to an installer — where things stand:

We’re onboarding our Palm Beach County installer partner now, and the consultation request list is contacted first when scheduling opens.

Call (561) 589-2937

Request a consultation

1 — Consultation and quote

The consultation is a site visit, not a phone call. The installer walks the property, looks at the panel, the meter, and the place the generator would sit, and runs the load calculation. The quote that follows should be turnkey — the unit, the switch, the pad, the fuel work, the permits, and the panel, all named and priced. The generator sizing guide.

Allow a week for this stage. The consultation itself is an hour; the quote takes a few days. If the quote comes back the same day, ask what was left out.

2 — HOA application: the stage that surprises people

If you live in a homeowners association, the HOA application is the next stage — and it is the one that most often surprises people, because it does not follow a clock. It follows the board’s meeting cycle. Most associations meet once a month, and an application submitted the day after a meeting waits a month for the next one.

The application needs the installer’s plan: the unit’s location, the screening, and the exercise schedule. Submit it with the plan in hand, not before. The HOA reviews the application and approves, approves with conditions, or denies — and the city will not issue a permit until the HOA has approved. Permits and HOA approval, step by step.

Allow two to six weeks for this stage, depending on when the board meets. It is the longest single stage in the process, and the one least in the installer’s control.

3 — Permits: the verified timelines

Once the HOA has approved, the installer applies for the permits — building, electrical, and fuel. The timelines are verified, and they are shorter than most people expect:

The state clock — under Florida Statute §553.792, the city must act within five business days of receiving a complete application: approve it, deny it, or ask for more information. A complete application is the part you control; an incomplete one restarts the clock.
Boynton Beach — review typically up to 15 calendar days. The permit fee is 2.30% of the job value, $75 minimum.
Unincorporated Palm Beach County — review typically 15–30 working days. The fee is a tiered schedule: $75 for the first $2,000, then 2.50% of the next $8,000, then 1.75% of the next $90,000.
The other cities — Boca Raton 1.60%, Wellington 2.00%, Jupiter 2% of the job value. Delray Beach and West Palm Beach are the two schedules still being confirmed, and this site publishes their fees only once they are verified.

Allow one to three weeks for this stage. The city’s clock is five business days for a complete application; the time around it is the installer preparing the application and the city scheduling the review.

One exemption worth knowing: HB 803, passed in 2025, exempts some small home improvements from the permit requirement — but the exemption excludes electrical and gas work, which is exactly what a generator installation is. Do not expect it to apply here.

4 — Installation: the shortest stage

The installation itself is usually a day or two of work: the pad is poured and cured, the unit is set, the transfer switch is wired, the fuel line is run, and the panel work is done. The pad needs time to cure before the unit is set on it — which is why the installation is two visits, not one.

What takes longer than the work is the scheduling. A good installer books weeks ahead in the months before hurricane season, and days ahead in the quiet months. The consultation request list is contacted first when scheduling opens — which is why the list exists.

5 — Inspections and approval to operate

Once the installation is finished, the city inspects it — building, electrical, and fuel, each in turn — and the permits close. The generator is started, the load is tested, and the homeowner is shown how it works. The approval to operate is the city’s sign-off that the installation is to code.

Allow a week for this stage. The inspections are usually quick; the scheduling is what takes the time.

After the inspections, the generator is yours to maintain. The maintenance & service plans page has the ownership figures; the page on why generators fail to start has the failure list — and the short version is that most failures are maintenance, not brand.

Doing the whole process from up north

If you are not in Florida while this is happening, the sequence is the same — but the paperwork moves by email and phone, and the installer is your eyes on the ground. The HOA application can be submitted remotely; the permits can be applied for by the installer; the inspections happen without you there. What you need is an installer who will send you the approvals as they come in, and a monitoring setup that tells you the generator ran when the installation is finished.

The snowbird generator checklist has the full list of what to arrange before you leave, and what to check when you return.

Get the numbers in one file

The free Cost Guide has the whole-home cost range, the permit fees, and the checklist for your consultation.

Send me the Cost Guide

Installation questions, answered

How long does the installation itself take?

Usually a day or two of work — the pad, the unit, the switch, the fuel, and the panel. The pad needs time to cure before the unit is set on it, so the installation is two visits, not one. The whole process, from consultation to approval to operate, is six to twelve weeks.

What takes the longest?

The HOA application, if you live in an association — it follows the board’s meeting cycle, and a missed meeting can add a month. After that, the permits: the state’s clock is five business days for a complete application, but the preparation and the scheduling around it take longer.

Can the installation happen while I am away?

Yes. The consultation, the HOA application, and the permits can all be handled remotely, and the installation and inspections happen without you there. What you need is an installer who will send you the approvals as they come in, and monitoring that tells you the generator ran.

When should I start, if I want it before hurricane season?

Start in the winter. The process takes six to twelve weeks, and installers book weeks ahead in the months before hurricane season. Starting in January or February means the generator is in before the season; starting in May means you are in the queue with everyone else.

What if the inspection fails?

The installer fixes what the inspector flagged, and the inspection is repeated. A failed inspection is not a disaster — it is the system working. It is also the reason to use an installer who has done this in your city before: the failures are usually the things a local installer already knows.

Palm Beach Backup Power is an independent information service. We are not a generator installer. These figures are published estimates, not quotes — the number for your home comes from your installer’s written quote.

How long does installation take in Palm Beach County?