Short answers, each with the page that has the full story. This page introduces no numbers of its own — every figure here is published, with its sources, on the page it links to.
Figures last reviewed November 2026 · Sources: see “How we get our numbers” on the About page.
How much does a whole-home generator cost in Palm Beach County?
Installed and permitted, $11,000–$17,000 — the range our county cost research keeps returning to. Read the full Palm Beach County cost breakdown for the line items.
What size generator does my house need?
For a whole home, the 22–26 kW class — the range that covers air conditioning, refrigeration, and the rest of the house together. The generator sizing guide explains what that covers, and what it does not.
Do I need a permit for a generator in Palm Beach County?
Yes. A standby generator is a permitted installation in every municipality in the county, and the permit fee is a percentage of the job value — between 1.6% and 2.3% in the cities that have published a schedule. The permits and HOA approval, step by step page has the five published schedules, and the two cities that have not published one.
How long does installation take?
The installation itself is usually a matter of days. The permit is what takes the time — up to 15 calendar days in Boynton Beach, up to 10 business days in Boca Raton. The installation process page walks the timeline, step by step.
Generac or Kohler — which is better?
Both are good machines, and the difference is in the details: monitoring, noise, warranty. Generac’s Mobile Link Basic is free, Premium from $54.99 a year; Kohler’s OnCue Plus is included, with no annual fee. Both flagships run at 67 dB(A) at full load. The Generac vs. Kohler page compares them, figure for figure.
Propane or natural gas — which fuel should I choose?
Natural gas, if the house has it: no tank, no delivery, no running out. Propane, if it does not — with a tank sized for the outage, not the week. A 250-gallon tank at 80% fill is about 200 gallons, which is about 80 hours at half load. The propane vs. natural gas page has the runtime maths.
What does a generator cost in my city?
The county range is $11,000–$17,000, but the permit fee — and the review time — varies by city. Boynton Beach charges 2.30%, Boca Raton 1.60%, Wellington 2.00%, Jupiter 2%. Delray Beach and West Palm Beach have not published a schedule we can confirm. The city guides: Boynton Beach · Delray Beach · Boca Raton · Wellington · West Palm Beach · Jupiter.
What happens to my house if the power goes out while I am away?
The air conditioning stops, the humidity climbs, and the house starts the slow process of growing mold — which the EPA says needs wet or damp conditions dried within 24 to 48 hours. A standby generator keeps the air conditioning running, and the house dry. The empty-house problem page explains the process, in order.
Can I see what the generator is doing from another state?
Yes. Remote monitoring — Generac Mobile Link, Kohler OnCue Plus — shows you on your phone whether the generator exercised, ran, or faulted. Basic is free for Generac, Premium from $54.99 a year; OnCue Plus is included with Kohler. The remote monitoring page explains what the app can and cannot tell you.
What should I do before I leave for the summer?
Confirm the generator is in automatic mode, run it once and listen, check the fuel, confirm the exercise schedule, check the battery age, and tell one person. The snowbird’s checklist has the full departure and arrival routine.
Does a generator add value when I sell the house?
The 2025 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report puts the recoup at about 95.3% of cost, nationally — a survey estimate, not a Palm Beach County sale price. What matters more is the paperwork: the permit, the service record, the monitoring app handed over at closing. The selling a home with a generator page explains how to make it worth something.
What does it cost to maintain a generator?
One service visit a year: about $350–$500 bought one-off, or $499–$695 a year on a published Palm Beach County-area service plan. A replacement battery is about $200 or more. The maintenance and service plans page explains what a visit includes, and whether a plan is worth it.
Why would a generator fail to start?
Most often, the battery — which is why it is replaced about every three years, on a schedule. Then the mode switch left in manual, the fuel not getting there, the oil, the exercise cycle disabled, a fault the controller already logged, or the transfer switch not transferring. The why generators fail to start page lists them in order, with the five-minute check that catches most of them.
What do I do after a storm, once the power is back?
Let the generator cool, shut it down, check the oil, the fuel, and the fault log — and remember the 24-hour rule: after 24 hours of continuous running, shut it down for 30 minutes. The after the storm page has the full post-storm routine and the fuel maths.
How does the consultation work — and what does it cost?
There is no charge to you for the consultation. You tell us your ZIP, whether you own the home, and when you are thinking of installing. We match you with the installer partner for Palm Beach County, who calls or texts you to schedule. You are on a request list, not a booking — and you can withdraw at any time through the contact page. How our matching works explains the whole process.
How do I get the Cost Guide?
The free Palm Beach County Generator Cost Guide puts the county numbers — the $11,000–$17,000 range, the permit fees, the fuel maths — in one PDF. We email it to you; we do not call you about it unless you ask us to. Send me the Cost Guide.
Ready when you are:
Researching first?
The free Palm Beach County Generator Cost Guide puts the county numbers in one PDF. We email it to you; we do not call you about it unless you ask us to.
Palm Beach Backup Power is an information and matching service — we do not install generators. We do not take a fee from you. Our installer partner pays us when a consultation they receive through us becomes an installed generator. The price you pay is the installer’s price either way.